Canvas Stretching & Framing

Canvas Stretching

If you have an unstretched canvas — it could be an original oil or acrylic painting or a print — that you want to display, the best option is to have it stretched onto stretcher bars.

We swear by Gallery Stretcher Bars, made from UK pine. These are brilliant because they come complete with wooden keys in the back that can be tapped out in the future if your canvas loses tension.

This means you only have to have your canvas stretched once and a quick tap is all it takes to have it looking as good as new again.

Canvas print photo of a polar bear crossing the ice.

Canvas Framing

For canvases that have already been stretched, there are two main framing options.

Canvas print of an old stone bridge over a stream with snowy mountains in the background, finished in a black tray frame.

The Canvas Tray Frame

With this option, your canvas or board is framed within a canvas tray moulding — this allows you to see the whole of the face of the canvas or board. We always leave a gap of 5/6mm between the edge of the artwork and the tray frame to enable it to expand and contract naturally without damaging the frame or warping the canvas or board.

Canvas print of a red squirrel, framed in a thick, grey wooden frame.

A Standard Picture Frame Moulding

We also have a wide range of standard frame mouldings you can choose as a surround for your canvas or board. Please note that with this option, a small part of the outside edge of the front of the canvas will be hidden under the rebate of the frame.

As with the tray frame, we’ll leave a small gap between the outer edge of the canvas and the inner edge of the frame to allow for expansion and contraction and increase the longevity of your artwork.

Depending on the moulding, we may need to include a slip moulding under the frame rebate to allow sufficient expansion/contraction space.

Not sure which is the best option for your canvas? We’d be happy to advise you.

Make an appointment now

Iain, a picture framer based in Aberdeen, sits on his desk, ready to welcome you to his workshop. On the desk to his right is his computer, and on the walls behind him are samples of the frames he can make and wooden swatches of the styles he can create for you.

I could not recommend Iain more highly.

When selecting the frames and mounts, Iain was not afraid to give his opinion or build on my own. Please note, he did not 'up sell' me at any point - he actually reduced my costs quite significantly by selecting appropriate materials for me to choose from.

Canvas Stretching & Framing