Canvas Frames Display Your Artwork Perfectly

Support Frames / Stretcher Frames

So what is canvas stretching?

Stretcher frames are rectangles that canvas artwork is stretched over. They are most often wood but can also be aluminium. Our support frames are made from Tulip wood which gives a great balance between weight and strength, whilst still being easy to work with. The Tulip wood we use is kiln dried and naturally resistant to warping. Tulip naturally has very few knots, which makes it preferable as a support structure.

The Tulip we use is FSC certified. Using materials that are sustainable is important to us.

Our preferred size for a canvas stretcher bar is at least 40mm x 30mm. Using any less than this can give the impression that the artwork isn’t as substantial, which has a subconscious effect on price perception. Plus is creates a much more stable, solid structure to ensure the frame lasts for a long time.

We apply several extra touches to the support frames we make. The corners are gently softened. This means the canvas won’t rub or show through a sharp inner edge. We like our frames to look as good from the back as they do the front.

If the size of the piece is particularly large in any one dimension we’ll add support struts to the reverse of the frame. This ensures that the rectangle holds its shape and helps support the corners of the support frame.

In commercial environments (as well as with important artwork) we add a backing board just behind the canvas material. Apart from giving a sturdier feel this protects the work from accidental punctures. This can happen with passers by giving an experimental prod if the art is hung in a public area. This backing board is perfectly flush with the support frame and is not noticeable from the front. Unless you give the experimental prod.

Canvases were traditionally fixed to the support frame by using pins/nails along the outside edge. You can notice this on works from Picasso for example. The modern technique is called “Gallery Wrapping”. This is where the canvas is fixed onto the stretcher frame from the reverse, leaving the edges visible and clean. With canvas prints, this allows mirroring of the image to create a seamless extension that wraps around the canvas.

There are 3 ways we can use support frames to help you.

1. Print & Stretch

If you have a digital image we can use our HP 62″ Giclée printer to create a perfect reproduction onto a professional canvas. This image can then be stretched over our support frame. It can be hung to good effect as a “bare” canvas. Or a tray frame can be added to complete the look.

Before we print your file you should decide how you want your image to “wrap” around the sides of the canvas support frame.

The three common options are:

Solid Colour Edges

Have a solid colour (black or white usually) on the sides. This would mean the image terminates exactly at the front facing edge of the stretcher frame. This is sometimes used to help emphasize a shadow gap when we add a tray frame to the canvas.

Gallery Wrapping or Mirroring

Alternatively the image itself can wrap around the sides. So we don’t use up any of your image on the sides it’s usual to “mirror” the image. This means we replicate the edges of your image to extend the overall size slightly. The effect is largely unnoticeable as the same patterns, colours and gradients of the image are continued to create this mirrored section. This is the preferred option most of the time. Particularly if you’ll be hanging the canvas without a frame.

Direct Wrap

The image can be wrapped around the canvas support as-is. This means the actual image will be wrapping around the sides. It’s a highly image dependant technique, as you don’t want to “lose” any important aspects of the art.

2. Stretch Your Canvas

If you have painted or acquired artwork on canvas we can present the art in the best possible way for you. The canvas artwork can either be loose/rolled for us to stretch to a frame. Or we can re-stretch work that’s already on a support frame. Again, an optional frame can be added.

There are sometimes special considerations needed about the condition of the work…

If the artwork is old, damaged or cracking then stretching will need a few extra steps to ensure a good final product.

If the work is damaged then we may discuss art restoration with you. What this involves is entirely dependent on the work itself. It can range from the application of special treatments to expert oil restoration of areas in the art.

3. Blank, Primed, Pre-Stretched Canvas

There’s a common problem we find with canvas stretcher frames that come into our workshop. If they’re not created with meticulous attention to detail they can end up not being square. Even if it’s a few mm off square it can cause issues during the framing stage. The eye notices slight differences like this, particularly if you want a 10mm shadow gap between the tray frame and the canvas. There are solutions to this problem, but it’s much simpler to start with a perfect square. We can supply pre-built canvases, pre-primed with gesso, ready for your brush.