Second Canvas
Second Canvas is a Madrid-based software platform that converts high-resolution artwork into gigapixel, multimedia-enriched digital experiences for museums, libraries, and cultural institutions, publishing them via mobile apps, web widgets, and digital exhibitions across 60+ institutional clients in 20+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersMadrid, Spain
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Second Canvas does
Second Canvas is a Madrid-based B2B software platform operated by The Mad Pixel Factory SL that enables museums and cultural institutions to digitize and publish their collections in super high-resolution (gigapixel) format. Founded in 1999 and privately held with no external equity funding, the company serves galleries, libraries, archives, and museums (GLAM) globally, with a documented customer base of 60+ institutions across more than 20 countries—including flagship accounts such as Museo del Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza, Mauritshuis, SMK (National Gallery of Denmark), Paris Musées, the Biblioteca Nacional de España, Yale University Art Gallery, Detroit Institute of Arts, and Historic Royal Palaces. Its commercial channels include native mobile apps on iOS App Store and Google Play (including Apple TV), embeddable website widgets, native libraries, iBooks, and digital exhibition displays.
The core technology converts high-resolution images (minimum 24 megapixels) into navigable gigapixel formats (over 1,000 million pixels) with on-demand zoom navigation. This is paired with a proprietary multimedia content management system that supports enriched storytelling layers—text, audio tours, infrared scans, X-rays, and analytical overlays—and a multi-platform publishing engine that outputs to all of the above formats. A specialized 3D-Photo format extends the platform to volumetric objects. No public API exists; content management is handled through Madpixel's internal CMS and apps are published either under the museum's own developer credentials or via Madpixel's credentials.
Revenue is generated through three streams: recurring Second Canvas software licenses (annual subscription), professional digitization services capturing gigapixel images of artwork, and custom app publishing/maintenance. The go-to-market is enterprise sales-led, targeting GLAM institutions through direct outreach and the EU H2020-co-funded scModules project (Grant Agreement 778609), which underwrote free digitization and licensing for participating museums during 2018–2019; post-grant, museums must convert to commercial license fees. Distribution is multi-channel, the team is small (1–10 employees), and the company is GDPR-compliant with registered operations at CL Fuencarral 125, Madrid.
Second Canvas firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Second Canvas
- Legal name
- THE MAD PIXEL FACTORY SL
- Website
- https://secondcanvas.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Second Canvas is a Madrid-based software platform that converts high-resolution artwork into gigapixel, multimedia-enriched digital experiences for museums, libraries, and cultural institutions, publishing them via mobile apps, web widgets, and digital exhibitions across 60+ institutional clients in 20+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Second Canvas is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Madrid
- HQ country
- Spain
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Second Canvas business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Second Canvas Software License: Museums and cultural institutions pay for software licenses to access the platform for image conversion, enrichment, and publishing. License includes web publishing, app publishing, and content management capabilities.
- Super High-Resolution Digitization Services: Professional digitization services where Madpixel captures gigapixel images of artwork. Partially subsidized during scModules EU project participation.
- Custom App Publishing: Publishing services for museum-branded native applications to iOS App Store and Google Play, including maintenance and technical updates.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Multi-year contract | scModules Project Participation (Free Trial) |
| Subscription | Annual | Standard Commercial License |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
Second Canvas product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Second Canvas is a software platform that converts high-resolution images (minimum 24 megapixels) of artwork and cultural artifacts into navigable gigapixel-format files (over 1,000 million pixels), enriches them with multimedia storytelling layers (text, audio tours, infrared scans, X-ray overlays, art cards), and publishes the result as embeddable web widgets, native iOS/Android/Apple TV apps, iBooks, or large-format digital exhibitions. The platform is licensed to museums, galleries, libraries, archives, and cultural institutions worldwide, often combined with professional digitization services and a template-based native app builder.
Product overview
Second Canvas is a digital platform for museums and cultural institutions to create multimedia experiences from their collections. The core platform (Second Canvas) converts high-resolution images into navigable gigapixel formats and enriches them with storytelling, audio, and analytical overlays. Related products include: Second Canvas Apps (native iOS/Android/Apple TV applications), Second Canvas Exhibitions (large-format digital display solution), and the scModules H2020 research program. The platform supports publication via embeddable web widgets, native mobile apps, and digital exhibition installations. A 3D-Photo format is available for volumetric objects. The entire product line is operated by Madpixel (The Mad Pixel Factory SL).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Second Canvas Exhibitions: A solution that allows cities or museums to build exhibitions with digital versions in super-high resolution of works of art from museums worldwide.
- scModules
Products and services
- Second Canvas Platform A software platform for museums and cultural institutions that converts high-resolution artwork images (minimum 24 Mpx) into navigable gigapixel-format files (over 1,000 million pixels), enriches them with multimedia storytelling layers (text, audio tours, infrared/X-ray overlays, art cards), and publishes them across websites, mobile apps, iBooks, and digital exhibitions. Licensed via annual subscription to GLAM institutions.
- Second Canvas Apps Native branded mobile applications for iOS (iPhone, iPad, Apple TV) and Android, built using the Second Canvas template-based app builder. Museums can publish their own apps with super-high-resolution imagery, zoom, storytelling, and interactive layers, with Madpixel handling publishing and technical updates on the institution's behalf.
- Second Canvas Exhibitions A digital exhibition solution that allows cities and museums to build pop-up, traveling, or permanent exhibitions using gigapixel-format digitized artworks displayed on large-format screens and projectors. Visitors explore the artworks interactively via connected mobile devices, with content enriched by storytelling and analytical overlays. Designed to eliminate transport, insurance, and loan costs of physical artworks.
- Second Canvas Widget / Web Player An embeddable web player that allows museums to publish enriched super-high-resolution images directly on their own websites or blogs, similar to embedding a YouTube video. Supports zoom navigation, storytelling, audioguides, and interactive layers without requiring end users to leave the host site.
Quantifiable outcome
- 85.9% of visitors rated digital exhibition experience 5/5 for satisfaction
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Second Canvas
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Second Canvas technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature5 records
Second Canvas partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Institut FrançaiscoreCollaborated on Impressionist digital exhibition 'Living at the speed of light' at We Are Museums 2018 in Marrakech. Joint exploration of digital exhibition formats for French cultural heritage dissemination.
- Réunion National des Musées – Grand Palais (RMN)coreStrategic partner providing digitized French Impressionist works for Marrakech exhibition. Collaboration exploring digital exhibition possibilities for French museum collections.
- LG ElectronicsminorEquipment contributor for San Telmo digital exhibition pilot, providing 55-inch LED screens and video wall displays for the 7 Works 7 Museums exhibition.
- Museo del PradocoreMajor Spanish museum using Second Canvas for Masterpieces and Bosch app experiences. Extended relationship with multiple app releases.
- Museo Thyssen-BornemiszacoreFlagship Spanish museum with multiple Second Canvas apps featuring interactive layers including infrared vision and X-ray overlays.
- MauritshuiscoreDutch museum (Home of Girl with a Pearl Earring) partnered for Second Canvas app showcasing Golden Age masterpieces.
- Paris MuséescoreOrganization representing 14 civic museums of Paris using Second Canvas for comprehensive digital storytelling platform. Expanded partnership after initial success.
- SMK (Statens Museum for Kunst)coreNational Gallery of Denmark using Second Canvas for elegant digital access to collection with focus on user experience quality.
- Biblioteca Nacional de EspañacoreSpain's national library using Second Canvas for high-resolution digitization of historical documents and cartography.
- Historic Royal Palaces (Banqueting House)coreUK heritage organization using Second Canvas for detailed exploration of iconic ceiling artwork, enabling close-up viewing impossible in physical space.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Second Canvas competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cuseum: Digital engagement platform built for museums and cultural institutions offering interactive mobile apps, AR, and in-gallery experiences — directly comparable to Second Canvas Apps in target market and use case.
- Smartify: Mobile app that lets users scan artworks in museums to access high-resolution images and multimedia stories — directly comparable in providing digital museum experiences on smartphones.
- Gallery Systems (TMS / The Museum System): Provides collection management systems used by museums to catalog, publish, and engage audiences with collections — overlaps with Second Canvas on multi-format publishing and museum CMS workflows.
- Artlogic: Cloud-based CMS, e-commerce, and digital tools for galleries and museums — comparable subscriber-based platform for digitizing and publishing visual cultural collections.
- Axiell Collections (Axiell Group): Supplies collection management and digital engagement platforms to museums, libraries, and archives — comparable GLAM vertical and SaaS license model.
- Tessitura (Blackbaud): CRM, ticketing, and audience engagement platform for performing arts and cultural organizations — comparable SaaS-license business model and cultural-vertical focus.
- Google Arts & Culture: Google's flagship platform that digitizes museum collections globally with gigapixel imagery, audio tours, and multimedia storytelling — directly competing with Second Canvas's core gigapixel/multimedia offering for museum digitization clients.
Broad incumbents
- Artsy: Online art marketplace and editorial platform offering high-resolution viewing and contextual content for artworks — broader incumbent with overlapping digital-publication and discovery capabilities for cultural clients.
Regional players
- Mode Design (Mode Group): Design and immersive technology agency building digital experiences, exhibitions, and AV installations for cultural institutions — comparable in delivering multimedia exhibitions for the heritage and museum sector, with strong presence across Europe and the Middle East.
Emerging players
- Collectify: Collection management SaaS for galleries, collectors, and museums offering digital records, viewing rooms, and online publication — emerging player with partial overlap in collection digitization and publishing.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Second Canvas social profiles
Digital presenceSecond Canvas compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Second Canvas financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Second Canvas leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Second Canvas funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Second Canvas M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Second Canvas
What does Second Canvas do?
Second Canvas is a software platform that converts high-resolution images (minimum 24 megapixels) of artwork and cultural artifacts into navigable gigapixel-format files (over 1,000 million pixels), enriches them with multimedia storytelling layers (text, audio tours, infrared scans, X-ray overlays, art cards), and publishes the result as embeddable web widgets, native iOS/Android/Apple TV apps, iBooks, or large-format digital exhibitions. The platform is licensed to museums, galleries, libraries, archives, and cultural institutions worldwide, often combined with professional digitization services and a template-based native app builder.
Is Second Canvas a public or private company?
Second Canvas is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Second Canvas founded?
Second Canvas was founded in 1999. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Second Canvas based?
Second Canvas is headquartered in Madrid, Spain, in the Europe region.
How does Second Canvas make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Second Canvas Software License is the primary driver. The others are super High-Resolution Digitization Services and custom App Publishing.
Who are Second Canvas's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cuseum, Smartify, Gallery Systems (TMS / The Museum System), Artlogic, Axiell Collections (Axiell Group), Tessitura (Blackbaud) and Google Arts & Culture. Artsy is listed as a broad incumbent. Mode Design (Mode Group) is listed as a regional player. Collectify is listed as an emerging player.
Does Second Canvas have an API?
No public API is recorded for Second Canvas.