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Prints vs. posters: which should you choose?

Prints vs. posters: which should you choose?

by Abstract House in Buying Guides

Even at a young age, many of us want colourful pictures on our walls. For children, the answer is a poster. Posters are often glossy, can be very large in size, and allow us to customise a space. Children's posters might include their favourite characters or show imaginary scenes.  

How do you decorate the rest of your home, as a more discerning adult? Is the answer a more artistic poster, or a fine art print?  

A framed abstract art print with yellow, brown, and white tones hangs on a beige wall above a wooden console table with a plant in a modern interior setting.

What is the difference between a print and a poster?  

It's all in the quality. Posters are typically mass-produced and can be cheaper as a result. In exchange for your money, you'll receive an image on relatively low-quality paper. Production values are fairly low, and posters don't cost much at all. It's why we're all more than happy to hang them in a young child's bedroom.  

Fine art prints are created in a very different way. They're not mass-produced to the same extent, and higher quality materials are used. You can expect better colour, sharper lines and a more professional finish.

A fine art print costs more but comes with true colour reproduction. It's what a piece of fine art deserves.  

fine art Giclée Print

Which should you choose?  

If you're not all that bothered about the print quality, you might as well choose a poster. These can be framed and might look very good from afar.  Fine art prints are for those that want to spend a little more for better quality. The difference is noticeable up close and is especially easy to see when the image is scaled up. If you're looking for a large print with which to decorate your home, it is very much worth investing in the fine art print.  A piece of art deserves the best inks, the best paper and the best technology.

If you want something that looks just like the original and does the image justice, then there's really only one option.  

woman holding a picture frame by abstract house

Will a fine art print last longer?  

Whilst poster quality will deteriorate over time, the same isn't true for fine art prints. The high-quality inks, and thicker paper, will ensure that they stand the test of time. Whilst a poster fades and becomes less vibrant, fine art prints will hold (or increase) their value.  

Whichever you choose, be sure to invest in a good frame for your artwork. Keep it out of direct sunlight, and enjoy art as part of your home design in the way that the artist intended.

Premium quality art made in London

At Abstract House, we only use premium materials for our fine art prints and unlike other shops selling mass-produced poster, our framed artwork made well to last a lifetime.

Tags: buying fine art guide fine art fine art vs posters Quality Quality Printing what does poster mean

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