Canvas Framing: 4 Things You Need To Know

Adding a frame to an otherwise unadorned canvas increases its wall-worthiness. It shows that you genuinely value whatever is on it, whether it’s a treasured family photo or an artwork that you received as a gift from someone close to your heart. They’re a fantastic way to showcase some of your most treasured memories and works of art.

In this short guide, we shall fill you in on some of the most important things you need to know about canvas frames and framing.

1. What Are The Types Of Canvas Frames?

Ready-made canvas frames are a convenient option for many people who either make or purchase the art on pre-stretched canvases. Because the canvases come in standard sizes, finding a frame for any piece is as easy as walking into a frame shop or an art supply store. These frames usually have an open back, and the canvas is held in place by grooves and clips. Since they are mass-manufactured, canvas frames also come in a variety of formats, and there is often a wide selection of available designs and styles that you can choose from.

Custom canvas frames, on the other hand, are the way to go if your piece is in a non-standard size or shape, or if you would like to house it in a bespoke, one-of-a-kind creation. For this, you will have to bring the piece to a professional canvas framer, who can offer you several options regarding the size, design, and materials to be used for the frame. You’ll also receive expert guidance on the best composition to highlight the art or image featured on the canvas.

2. How Are Canvases Framed?

There are two basic techniques that professional framers usually employ when it comes to framing canvases. The first is to stretch the canvas around a frame that is referred to in the industry as a stretcher-bar. This is an age-old method that is primarily used for art on canvas and allows the work to be displayed without adornment. It is also the method favoured by galleries when it comes to exhibiting art pieces.

The second technique involves sticking the canvas flat onto a wood board or foam core and placing a frame around the outside edge. This method is often used when the quality of the canvas to be displayed is poor, or if it is torn or damaged. If the canvas is too weak to be stretched or there isn’t enough of it outside the painting to wrap around a stretcher bar, a framer might opt to cut it down to size and glue it down to a wooden board or foam core instead so that the work can still be exhibited.

3. How Much Does It Cost?

Pricing for canvas framing can depend on a variety of factors, such as the size of the canvas or the quality of the stretcher bar used. Additional costs can be incurred if the customer opts for a decorative frame for the artwork or photo in addition to the canvas frame.

It’s always a good idea to start with stretcher bars that are of good quality and the appropriate size for the canvas. To get an accurate quote for how much it will cost to frame your canvas, spread it out flat and take measurements of its width and height. Inform your local framer of the dimensions afterwards.

4. What Are The Benefits Of Canvas Framing?

Visual art is meant to be seen. A painting or photograph that is rolled up in the corner, gathering dust is not fulfilling its primary function. When you frame a canvas, you imbue it with care and value. When appropriately done by a framer who will devote the appropriate amount of time and attention to your canvas, your painting or photograph will never warp, bow, or lose tension.

Whether you go with ready-made canvas frames, canvas framing with the use of stretcher bars, or canvas framing using a wooden board or foam core, you can be assured of the longevity of the piece. Canvas framing ensures that your beloved memories or work of arts can be viewed and enjoyed for years to come.