When ordering a custom pet portrait, one of the most common questions is: canvas or poster? Both produce a beautiful result from the same artwork — but there are real differences in quality, appearance, price, and what they are best suited to. This guide breaks it down clearly.

The Key Differences at a Glance

Canvas Prints: What You Get

A canvas print stretches the artwork across a solid wooden frame — called a stretcher bar — so the print stands approximately 2cm off the wall. The result is a three-dimensional display piece that looks like a genuine painting rather than a flat print.

Advantages of Canvas

• Ready to hang immediately — no frame to buy, no glass to worry about
• Gallery-quality appearance — the canvas texture gives it a painterly, premium look
• Stands off the wall — the 3D depth adds visual interest and weight to the piece
• Suits Renaissance and oil painting styles especially well — these styles were designed to be displayed on canvas
• Very durable — canvas prints last decades with basic care

When to Choose Canvas

• You want to hang the portrait immediately without additional cost
• You want a premium, gift-quality result
• The portrait is for a prominent wall in a living room or bedroom
• You are ordering a Renaissance or oil painting style portrait
• It is a gift for a special occasion

Poster Prints: What You Get

A poster print produces the same artwork on high-quality photographic paper. The result is a smooth, vibrant print that looks excellent when framed. Poster prints need a frame to be displayed on a wall — this is the main additional consideration.

Advantages of Poster Prints

• Lower starting price — from £15.99 versus £55.98 for canvas
• Works with any frame — you can choose a frame that matches your existing décor
• Easy to swap and replace — if you want to update the portrait later, the frame stays
• Suits watercolour and Disney styles — these styles look particularly clean on smooth photographic paper
• Good for ordering multiple sizes — the lower price makes it practical to order the same portrait in several sizes

When to Choose Poster

• Budget is a primary consideration
• You already have frames at home or prefer to choose your own
• You want to order the same portrait in multiple sizes
• You are ordering a watercolour or Disney-style portrait
• You want to try a style before committing to a canvas

What About Framed Prints?

Furr and Family also offers framed prints — a poster print with a frame included. This is the best of both worlds: the lower material cost of a poster print combined with the convenience of arriving ready to hang. Framed prints start from £62.76 for one pet.

Which Styles Look Best on Canvas vs Poster?

The Short Answer

Choose canvas if you want a premium, ready-to-hang result and the portrait is for a significant occasion or prominent wall space. Choose poster if budget is a consideration, you have your own frames, or you are ordering a watercolour style portrait. Choose framed print if you want the convenience of canvas without the canvas price.

All formats use the same portrait artwork — the difference is purely in how it is displayed.

Browse All Pet Portrait Formats →