Art Prints New Zealand: Canvas Prints vs Paper Prints vs Originals

The art prints market in New Zealand covers more formats than most buyers realise — canvas prints, framed paper prints, giclée prints, and original paintings all get grouped under the same search term, but they behave very differently on a wall and cost very differently too.

This guide breaks down each format clearly, so you know exactly what you're comparing before you buy.

Rossetti Art

Canvas Prints

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What Are Art Prints?

An art print is any reproduction of an artwork produced in multiples — as opposed to an original, which is one of a kind. For New Zealand homes, the two formats that matter are canvas prints (the most popular) and fine art paper prints (better suited to photography and gallery-wall groupings behind glass).

Canvas Prints vs Paper Art Prints

This is the most common decision point for New Zealand buyers. Here's how the two formats compare:

Feature	Canvas Print	Fine Art Paper Print
Framing required?	No — hangs as-is	Yes — requires frame and glass
Large format?	Available up to 120×150cm+	Limited by glass weight
Durability	75+ years with archival inks	Varies with frame quality
Glare / reflection?	None	Can glare under direct light
Best for	Living rooms, bedrooms, offices, large walls	Photography, gallery walls, smaller formats

For most New Zealand homes — particularly open-plan living areas — canvas prints are the practical choice: no glare from the large windows common in NZ living rooms, no glass to worry about, and available in the large formats modern homes need.

Large-format canvas print — no glass, no glare, ready to hang. View the piece →

When to Choose an Original Painting

An original painting sits in a different category to any print format — genuinely one of a kind, hand-painted, impossible to replicate. The texture is real, the brushwork is visible, and the energy of a hand-painted work is something no reproduction can fully capture.

Choose an original when you want the centrepiece of a room that defines it for years, when you want something with genuine investment potential, or when you simply want art that is truly yours and no one else's. Rossetti Art originals are hand-painted by Chiara Rossetti — each one signed, each one unique.

"Kintsugi Drift" — a hand-painted original, signed and one of a kind. View the piece →

Size and Placement Guide

Whichever format you choose, the same sizing rule applies: the artwork should span 60–70% of the wall or furniture it sits above. For a standard sofa, that means a piece at least 120cm wide. Use Rossetti Art's Live Preview tool to test the exact size on your own wall before ordering — especially useful when comparing a canvas print against an original at a different price point.

Browse our canvas prints collection or our original paintings collection to compare formats side by side.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the most popular art print format in New Zealand?

Canvas prints — they require no framing, hang without glass or glare, and are available in the large formats New Zealand living rooms typically need.

Are canvas prints as durable as paper prints?

Rossetti Art canvas prints are printed with archival pigment inks rated fade-resistant for 75+ years, with a UV-resistant coating — as durable as a well-framed paper print, without the glass or the glare.

What's the difference between a canvas print and an original painting?

A canvas print is a high-quality reproduction, available in multiple sizes at a lower price. An original painting is unique — one physical object, hand-painted, with texture and material presence no print can replicate.

Does Rossetti Art ship art prints to New Zealand?

Yes — Rossetti Art ships to New Zealand, with every canvas made to order and hand-stretched on a kiln-dried pine frame.

Can I see the exact size before I buy?

Yes — every product page includes a Live Preview tool so you can see the piece at true scale in your own room before ordering.

About the Author — Chiara Rossetti is the founder of Rossetti Art, a canvas print and original art brand. She writes about interior design, wall art styling, and the art of making a home feel alive.