FRAMING GUIDE

Welcome to the slightly confusing world of framing. Let’s try and make these as painless as possible. Remember when in doubt contact your local framer and ask their expertise. Obviously the most simple thing to do is buy yourself an already made frame in a common size and buy the print for that corresponding size. If you have any questions about print sizes or aspect ratios please visit here. However, if you are wanting to go the more custom framing route browse through the various guides I have created to help you in your decision making process. As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions you may have.

STRETCHING YOU ART PRINT

FLOATER FRAMES

PRINTED MIRRORED BORDERS

EXTRA WHITE MARGIN

PROTECTIVE VARNISH

ONLINE FRAMING RESOURCES

Stretching Your Art Print

If you would like to wrap your canvas print like a traditional painters canvas the service you will be looking for is a stretched canvas service. This framing option allows you to wrap your print around wooden stretcher bars as the canvas is pulled taught to create the look of a traditional painters canvas. I personally do not offer stretching services at this time so you will need to reach out to your local framer to see if they provide this service. If you plan to get your print stretched you must know a few key details BEFORE you purchase your art print. So be sure to check with the framer you will be using as different framers may have different requirements for stretching canvas onto stretcher bars. You will want to make sure your visions align and to make sure you know what their requirements are in order to complete the job.

Depending on what depth stretcher bars you decide to use, will equal how much extra canvas you will need to add to your print order.

For Example

  • For 1” depth stretcher bars you will need to add 1” of mirrored canvas around all sides + and an extra 2” of plain white canvas to wrap around the back of the bars for stretching.

  • If you choose to use 1.5” depth stretcher bars you will add 1.5” of mirrored canvas around all sides + an extra 2” of plain white canvas to wrap around the back of the bars for stretching

  • (see below in the Add-on Section for more info on mirrored sides)

The reason for adding the extra canvas to you print seems obvious but just to clarify and explain further, you need this extra canvas around the size print you choose otherwise you will loose quite a bit of the art to allow enough canvas to be stretched around the stretcher bars and the overall finished product will end up being much smaller than the print size you originally purchased.

If you are wanting to hang your stretched canvas print without putting it into a floater frame you will be wanting wanting to go with what is called a gallery wrapped canvas which has a depth of 1.5” or larger. These can be beautifully displayed framed or unframed. Anything less that a 1.5” looks best framed.

FLOATER FRAMES

Floater frames create the illusion that your artwork is floating within the frame instead of being covered by the frame. In order to achieve this look you will need to have your canvas print stretched. All of my original artwork I create on canvas are placed in floater frames . I like the way it showcases the art in a simple modern way.. If you want to try and achieve the same look with your canvas art prints, below are some details you will need to follow but as always be sure to check with the framer you will be using to see what they will need in order to stretch and frame your canvas print. You can have varying depths of stretched canvas and floater frames but to achieve the look similar to my original art see below for a helpful guide.

1.5” width gallery stretched canvas print.

  • 1.5” depth stretcher bars

  • 1.5” mirrored printed side + extra 2” white boarder Add On

  • Protective Matte Varnish Add On - optional but recommended especially for larger pieces

2” depth floater frame

  • 1.5” rabbit - this means the frame can accommodate a 1.5” depth stretched canvas.

  • Unfinished maple or another light natural wood

You can choose to have a smaller depth stretched canvas / rabbet and still have a 2” depth floater frame. You will just need to make sure the canvas print you have stretched by your framer has the accompanied depth to fit into the frame/rabbet. For example if you decide you want to have your print stretched on 1” depth stretcher bars you will need a 1” depth rabbit in your floater frame.

ADD-ON OPTIONS

Mirrored Printed Border

All of my prints are cut to the edge of the paintings, which is a great option when framing in a regular frame of a specific size or framed with a matt.

However, if you plan to stretch your print (as discussed above) be sure to choose this printed mirrored border option during the check-out process. When stretching a canvas I prefer this mirrored border method opposed to adding an extra plain white border. The mirrored sides give the illusion of the painting wrapping around the sides of the stretcher bars without losing any of the actually painting in the process. Even when a painting slips into a floater frame you can still slightly see the sides of it and I prefer not to have the sides be plain white… but that is just my personal preference.

When creating the mirrored border I will the digital signature (that I apply to all of my prints) is in its proper place. This it will not wrap around to the sides during teh stretching process.

The depth of the stretcher bars will determine how many extra inches of mirrored border you will need to add on to your print and you will need to know this information BEFORE you place an order to ensure you purchase enough extra canvas to stretch your canvas print. If you are unsure of the stretcher bar depth you will be using please contact your local framer and go over those details with them and if you have any questions for me on my end please dont hesitate to reach out.

For example

For 1” Depth Stretcher Bars-

you will need an extra 1” for the sides and and extra 2” for the stretching process when it gets wrapped around the back of s.

A total of 3” extra mirrored border applied to you print.

1.5” depth stretcher bars- you will want

Global artisans

Customized for you

MATTE PROTECTIVE VARNISH

If you plan to stretch your canvas print or just display your artwork without glass consider adding a varnish to your art print. However, this is not a necessary step. I have displayed my prints without glass unvarnished with no problem but I made sure to keep it out of direct sunlight and dirty little fingers.

The clear matt varnish adds a soft brush stroke texture to your print as well as providing protection against dust, damage, and fading caused by UV light.

Please allow a little extra processing time to allow the varnish to be applied and dried.

If framing without glass, and wether you choose to add varnish or not to your print, please only use a dry cloth to wipe down any dust that may accumulate overtime.

*If you will be framing your print in a frame with a matt, I suggest leaving the glass in the frame.

EXTRA 2” WHITE MARGIN

All of my prints are cut to the edge of the paintings, which is a great option when framing in a regular frame of a specific size or framed with a matt. However, if you need a border of extra canvas around your print for any reason be sure to choose this option in the check-out process.

For example, if you plan to stretch your art print like a traditional painters canvas then you will need to add a border to your print to achieve this, otherwise you will loose around 1-2 inches to your art print depending on the depth of the stretcher bars you are using.

*please note this extra 2” white boarder around the print is not the same as adding a border that you would achieve with adding a matt to your print.

ONLINE FRAMING OPTIONS

Below are some great online resources if you don’t have a local framer or a framer that will stretch your canvas print in your area,

  • FRAMEBRIDGE

    Your one stop framing shop

    Mail in Print to Frame services

    Canvas stretching services

    Floater frames available

  • SIMPLY FRAMED

    Your one stop framing shop

    Mail in Print to Frame services

    Canvas stretching services

    Floater frames available

  • CUSTOM PICTURE FRAMES

    A less expensive option than Framebrige and Simply Framed.

    Floater frames available

    However, they only have canvas stretching for in house prints or prints you can send to them digitally. - I do not offer digital downloads of my art prints..

  • ART TO FRAMES

    I particularly like their clear stain on maple frame. A great option for displaying your art print as is.

    Custom sizing available. Perfect for those oversized prints without glass.

    No stretching services

    No floater frames