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Introduction
Mounting art in your home is much more than a decorating act. Art makes our home more human, effortlessly bringing life back into a room, which might otherwise be determined by machine-made objects and technology. With a work of art, you express yourself and your character. A painting encourages dialogue in a wordless way, adding significant sophistication to your home. It goes without saying that every piece of art deserves to be presented in its best possible way, which includes stretching and framing to give the picture its finishing touch. The right frame will not only enhance it but will also ensure that you can enjoy it for many years to come. Read on to find out how to frame a canvas print.
How to frame a rolled canvas print
Ready-mounted canvases loosen overtime and are easily damaged when shipping. Therefore, buying rolled canvases and having them freshly stretched is highly beneficial, evading the risk of damage, sagging, and the wear and tear when moving. To frame canvas paintings might seem to be a daunting task. How to frame a rolled canvas print? It is easier than you might think! Numerous online framing stores offer affordable services. Read on if you want to get your picture perfectly taut yourself.
Choose between three different ways of presenting your canvas art:
- You can frame a canvas print by mounting your picture on a wooden stretcher frame and present it exposing the edges.
- A float frame for canvas art enhances a piece after stretching for a professional museum look.
- You can frame canvas paintings by directly putting the canvas behind a glass frame for extra dust protection.
Let’s look at each of these three options for framing canvas paintings separately.
1. Mounting canvas art prints on a wooden stretcher frame
The most convenient way for framing canvas paintings is to buy a ready-assembled wooden stretcher frame or separate wooden stretcher bars, which are available at any good art supply or craft store. Both options require the use of “keys” – small triangle-shaped wedges that are inserted in the joint edges to give the canvas the appropriate degree of tension after stretching. When fastening, it is important to equally distribute the tension across the entire frame, which will avoid later warping of the canvas.
Place your canvas face down on a clean surface and fold the extra canvas over the stretcher-bar. Pigment Pool’s canvases have an extra 6 cm space along all the edges, making stretching easy. Use a staple gun to secure the canvas fabric to the back of the frame keeping regular spacings along all sides. Fold the corners by tucking one side under the other while pulling tightly. Once your picture is optimally stretched, use a pair of scissors or a scalpel to cut off any spare fabric.
You can directly mount your stretched canvas painting on the wall, exposing the edges for a contemporary look. If you wish to add a frame, proceed to step 2) or 3).
2. Float frame for canvas artwork
With the so-called float frame for canvas artwork, the edges of your stretched canvas will remain visible in the gap between the stretcher bar and the frame, exposing the artwork fully to the viewer. It will create the illusion that the artwork is floating unsupported inside, giving the art a recessed perspective.
When framing your stretched artwork, make sure that the rabbet of the frame (also called “groove”) is larger than the thickness of the stretcher bar, so that the canvas will fit within it. A float frame for canvas artwork is attached to the canvas from the backside as opposed to the traditional framing with a lip on the front as described in the following paragraph. If the rabbet is much deeper than the stretcher bar, you can make adjustments using picture frame points at the required depth.
3. Framing stretched canvas behind glass
You can frame a canvas print behind glass in a wood or metal picture frame to keep it from getting dusty. As with a floating frame, make sure to select a frame with a rabbet deep enough for the stretcher bar. It is possible to switch the offset clips of your frame around, leaving the back open and have the back of the canvas be the back of the framed piece. Make sure that the painting does not touch the glass.
Choosing the right picture frame does not only protect your artwork and makes displaying safer and easier. Whether framing a canvas art print trough bare stretching, in a float frame for canvas artwork, or behind glass, it will also set your picture apart from its surroundings and aesthetically enhance it.
You might also be interested in the following posts by Pigment Pool:
The Art of Hanging Art: How to Follow and Break Rules
Literature for Artists and Art Enthusiasts – 16 Essential Books on Modern Art 2021