Cotton and linen are the two fabrics used for almost all stretched artist canvas, and they are not interchangeable. For buyers assembling a product range, the difference matters for pricing tiers as much as for painting performance.
Cotton
Cotton duck is the more widely used surface. The weave is even and relatively fine, it primes consistently, and it costs less to produce at volume — which makes it the natural choice for student ranges, classroom supply and general retail. A cotton canvas stretched over a properly made frame gives a smooth, predictable painting surface.
Linen
Linen is made from flax and has a stronger, less uniform weave. It is more dimensionally stable over time and gives a distinctive surface texture that many professional painters prefer, particularly for oil work. It sits at a higher price point and is generally positioned as the premium tier of a canvas range.
Choosing for a product range
Most catalogues carry both: cotton for volume and education, linen for the professional tier. What matters as much as the fabric is the frame underneath it. Our stretcher frames are made from wood with rounded and sanded edges and mortise and tenon corners, so the bars do not print through the fabric or loosen in transit.
We supply stretched cotton canvas, round and shaped canvas, and canvas stretcher frames, with custom sizes available on request. Send us the sizes and quantities you need and we will quote against your specification.