How I Added Fiber Optic Lights to My Canvas Print (and Made It Totally Magical)

Hey there! So, I’ve always loved decorating my space with personal touches, especially wall art. But recently I wanted to do something… different. I wanted something that glows. Something that makes people go: “Wait, how did you make that??”

That’s when I got obsessed with fiber optic canvas art. Yep, it’s exactly what it sounds like—taking a regular canvas print and adding tiny lights to it so it lights up in all the right places. The effect is honestly magical. And no, it’s not that hard!

Let me walk you through how I did it—and share a few fun ideas in case you wanna try it too.

Here’s what I used:

1. A canvas print (more on that later)
2. Fiber optic strands (super cheap online)
3. A basic LED light source (I used one with RGB settings)
4. Battery pack or USB adapter for power
5. Sharp needle or mini drill
6. Hot glue gun
7. Black tape or paint (for hiding wires)
8. Scissors
9. Optional: Arduino or controller if you’re feeling techy

Okay, this is so important. You want a print that makes sense with lights. Some good themes:

1. Night skies or galaxies (hello, stars!)
2. City skylines at night
3. Fireworks or festivals
4. Cars (headlights, taillights!)
5. Fairy-tale scenes or fantasy vibes

You can totally use a canvas you already have, or get one printed. I actually had one made from a photo I took in New York—it was a moody shot of the Brooklyn Bridge at night, and I knew the city lights would be perfect for fiber optics

Later in the post I’ll share where I got mine printed in case you're looking.

Flip your canvas over and lightly mark the spots where you want the lights to poke through. You can eyeball it or use a reference image.

For my NYC canvas, I marked out little windows, car headlights, and the distant skyline. Don’t overdo it—subtle is classy.

Use a needle or tiny drill bit to poke holes exactly where you marked. Make sure the holes are just big enough for the fiber strands to slide through. Don’t force it—it’s like threading a needle, not digging a tunnel 😄

Now comes the fun part. Thread one fiber strand through each hole from the back, so just a teeny bit sticks out the front. Secure them with hot glue on the backside.

Tip: Tape them down so they stay neat while you work.

Gather the fiber strands and bundle them into your LED light source. Most fiber kits come with adapters or tubes to help you with this.

I used a color-changing LED (because who doesn’t love rainbow lights?). Then just plug it into your battery pack or USB power, and boom—it lights up!

Cool Ideas You Can Try

Let’s be honest…once you do this once, your brain starts buzzing with all the ways to make these. Here are some fun concepts I’m dying to try (or already did!):

1. The Galaxy Print

Classic. You use a night sky or nebula canvas and make stars actually sparkle.

2. Twinkling Cityscape

This is what I did! Imagine lights in skyscraper windows, car headlights, and little bridges lit up. I even made one of the lights blink slowly for a streetlight effect.

3. Christmas Magic

Perfect for the holidays. Add lights to a Christmas tree, reindeer nose, or even fake snowflakes. Makes the perfect DIY gift too.

4. Car Headlight Canvas

Super cool for car lovers! Here’s a sleek black-and-white photo of a muscle car, and the headlights actually glow.

5. Kids' Fantasy Scenes

Unicorns, fairies, glowing stars, magical forests. I made one for my niece and added lights to the fairy wings and mushroom tops. She freaked out (in a good way).

Where I Got My Canvas

So, I wanted something really personal for this project—not just a random print. I used a photo I shot on my phone, edited it a bit, and uploaded it to CanvasFramed. They turned it into a stretched canvas and shipped it to me super quick.

Totally recommend if you want to start with something meaningful, especially if you're gifting or decorating a special space.

Step 6: Final Touches

Once everything’s glued, lit, and tested, trim any long strands sticking out the front. Tuck wires neatly behind the frame, and cover with black tape or fabric if you want a clean back.

Then hang it up, turn off the lights, and soak in your glowing masterpiece.

Final Thoughts

If you’re even a little into crafting or home decor, you have to try this. It’s easier than it looks, super customizable, and just…makes people smile. Whether it’s for your own space or a cool gift idea, fiber optic canvas art is my new fave thing.

Got questions? Drop them below—I’m happy to help 💛