Blog / DIY Canvas Photo Prints

October 7, 2021

Photo canvas prints are an easy, economical way to spruce up your current home decor. This do it yourself project can add a personal touch and showcase your favorite memories to your home or office space. Follow the steps below to create beautiful canvas photo prints with just a few supplies.

Step one: Gather Materials

• Trimaco Stay Put Canvas Plus
• Trimaco 10oz Canvas Drop Cloth
• Wooden frames
• Staple gun
• Matte Modge Podge
• Printed photos
• Black Acrylic Paint
• Brushes
• Scissors
• Trimaco Wonder Rags

Step two: Prep Your Space

Before jumping into this DIY project, take the time to prep your space to avoid a mess. Lay a Trimaco Stay Put Canvas Drop Cloth on the surface you’ll be working on. Since we’ll be painting, this drop cloth will provide leak-resistant protection, preventing any paint from seeping through onto the surface.

Step three: Build your Canvas Frame

Measure your wooden frame to determine what size photo you need. We used 8×10 wooden frames, for a 8×10 photo. Next, Cut the 10oz canvas drop cloth just slightly larger than the frame. We recommend cutting the canvas drop roughly 1-2 inches larger than the frame. Lastly, stretch the canvas around the frame and staple into place. Be sure that the canvas is nice and tight!

Step 4: Mod Podge your canvas photo print

Brush on a layer of modge podge onto the canvas surface. Carefully place your photo on the canvas frame. Flip the frame over and smooth the photo into place, removing any bubbles. Flip the frame back over and add an additional layer of mod podge on top of your image. This layer will help add texture to your image.

*Let this layer dry completely before moving to the next step

Step 5: Add a Border

This step is optional! But to give your canvas print a more finished look, add a painted border to the edges of the frame. We used a black acrylic paint, but any color will do! Keep Trimaco’s Wonder Rags handy for any mistakes.

Step 6: Let dry and enjoy

Once your border is complete, let your canvas print dry, hang and enjoy!

Tips we learned along the way

1. Unless you have a super steady painting hand, we recommend painting a border prior to mod podging your image to the canvas. This will reduce the risk of accidentally painting your image.
2. Use an image printed with a laser printer on paper. A paper image will mold much easier to the canvas, rather than using a traditional gloss finish photograph.

Handmade Custom Canvas Prints

These DIY canvas photo prints are a great way to display your favorite photos, without breaking the bank. Looking for more home projects? Explore Trimaco’s full blog!