How To Stretch a Canvas for Painting & Building a Custom Stretched Canvas

Canvas frames are trendy, and there are many options to frame a canvas. There are two options for preparing a canvas. One is to stretch the canvas around a frame. The other is to stick it to a wooden or foam core and then wrap a frame around it. Below are details about each option and their positive and negative sides.

Canvas stretching is the best way to “frame” a canvas. The old technique of stretching a canvas on top of a wooden bar (also known as a stretcher bar) is still used by galleries all around the custom canvas. This is not a quick way to frame a picture and will result in you getting the lowest price quote. There are many options for stretcher bars. They come in different sizes, strengths, and widths.

Finding a qualified framer who can help you choose the right one for your canvas is crucial. To save money, some picture framers place inferior stretcher bars and add support or a brace to prevent the bar from bowing or warping. Although many people think this support brace is good, it is not. This is one of the first signs that the materials are poor and expensive. This is an incorrect way to create a stretcher bar frame.

The canvas will soon bow or warp and will likely lose its tension. If the stretcher bar is correct, back support is not necessary. The canvas can be pulled under enormous pressure and tapped from its front to make a drum sound. Stretching canvas over a soundbar will ensure that it lasts forever. There won’t be any warping, bowing, or loss of tension.

After your canvas has been stretched over the stretcher bar, you have two choices. You can leave it as it is and hang it on a wall. Or you can add a frame around the outside to give it an extra touch of drama or elegance, depending on which look you’re going for. You should ensure that the picture frame covers the length of the stretcher bar. This will ensure the structure is finished and not visible from the sides. Another option is to use what’s known as an L-Bar (or what some refer to as floating) frame.

You can also mount your canvas onto a wooden board by sticking it onto a wooden board. Then, place a frame around the canvas. This method is used when the canvas quality is poor. The canvas is typically cut to the required size and glued onto a wooden board. To ensure the canvas adheres to the board and removes air bubbles, it is placed in a press. After completing the process, you can set a frame around your artwork. Also, it is not recommended to place any glass over the canvas. The canvas could sweat under the glass and cause mold growth. This framing technique can be used only if stretching is not possible. Because the materials used are acidic, discoloration could occur to the canvas over time.

So if you’re looking to frame your canvas, we recommend stacking it over a frame, stretcher bar, or frame. If you’re unsure if you would like to state it after it has been stretched, you can always get it done and then hang it up in the place you prefer. You can take a look to see if the artwork needs more drama or elegance.