Both the Satin Paper and Canvas options are printed using fine art - archival inks and are designed to last for many decades.
Satin Paper Pros: the color depth has more brilliancy with the smooth satin surface. It is a modern and fresh look. The mix of colors for the ocean depths and plate tectonics in the Voyager, Nautilus, and Darwin maps particularly show the incredibly complex geographical nature of the ocean - which is fun to explore.
The satin paper is less expensive than the canvas. The satin paper is faster to produce, frame and ship out to our customers.
Satin Paper Cons: when compared to the canvas, the satin paper does not have the rich texture.
If you were to take out map pins, it is visible when looking at it close up, yet when just a few feet away, it would be hard to see the small hole.
Canvas Pros: The texture and feel of the canvas is attractive. We use a premium canvas that has a fine-art glicee satin gloss so the canvas has a nice sheen - yet not too glossy. After testing many types of canvas samples, we found the USA made canvas that is perfect for our maps. We use archival HP inks so the map will last for many decades.
The canvas will have a little edge over longevity. The weave is very tight to show the labels in the map clearly.
Canvas Cons: The cost of the canvas is naturally more than satin paper. If the satin paper and canvas were juxtaposed, the satin paper would have an edge on the depth of colors.
If you were to take out a map pins, it is visible when looking at it close up, yet when just a few feet away, it would be hard to see the small hole.
Canvas wrap maps require more time to produce (1-2 weeks). We handcraft every frame using hardwood material.
Pin Board Construction:
The Framed Satin Paper Maps, Framed Canvas Maps, and Canvas Wraps are mounted on a pin board and constructed as a push pin map. We use a special lamination technique that applies a two-sided laminate on the board and the map. It is run through heavy rolling equipment twice - once to laminate the pin board and a second time to embed the map into the board. This is something that we do which would be hard to do without the special equipment and lamination materials.