The evolution of printing photo on canvas was most noted by the Giclee print process. More importantly the type of print it produced was the closest likeness to digital imagining and photo replication that could be duplicated by an inkjet printer. In the past the only way a painting or photo could be duplicated on canvas was through manual reproduction. Today the Giclee print process transfers true to life digital photos on canvas with remarkable likeness.

In the early years of photo on canvas print, the vivid colour was difficult to achieve and more outwardly the longevity of the photo canvas was short lived. This process would take a few years of developing before the Giclee print styles of today it could be achieved. During this time the silk screening process was the only way standard photos could be replicated and was achieved through press printing, much like iron on's to T-shirts. It was the process that took the standard forms of silk screening and press printing to transfer photo on canvas to a new level.

While the first known Giclee print originated from the Iris graphics inkjet printer in the early 1990s it revolutionized the way digital photos on canvas was achieved. The Iris printer is one of the first inkjet models used to provide preliminary proofing of digital photo files and other photo types and would indicate what these files looked like before actual printing and publication. While the Iris graphic inkjet printer had trouble with colour duplication and photo canvas longevity; it would take a few years of adapting before they could achieve non deteriorating photo canvas colour.

Now Giclee prints signifies a word synonymous with fine art and digital duplication. This defining term is possible since the developing process allows archival colour solvent inks to include other inks types and styles of inkjet printers to duplicate true to life colour and imaging on canvas. The advantages of Giclee print is based on the quality of ink, colours and quality of canvas materials used. Not to mention older art forms and photos could be replicated for preservation purposes and gave digital photo imaging the ability to be printed on an assortment of media's including cotton canvases. This made Giclee printing the ideal printing choice for photos on canvas duplication and popular with artist, art dealers, collectors and later interior designers.

Photo canvassing is quite popular now that the developing process of Giclee prints has been enhanced giving artist the affordable ability to replicate their art for mass reproduction or for on demand . Since the highest quality of inkjet reproduction makes Giclee prints the ideal process of placing art and/or photos on canvas it is used by reputable canvas designers. Today's photo duplication industry considers Giclee prints as an ideal method to transfer digital photos on canvas, therefore canvas designers that use the Giclee prints process is the best choice to transfer any digital image to high quality photo on canvas.