Martin Graphics

How to Stretch Your Canvas Print

Your canvas print arrives rolled in a tube with a plain border all round, ready to stretch over a wooden frame. It takes about an hour the first time and needs no special skills. Here is how, one step at a time.

What arrives

  • Your canvas comes rolled in a tube, printed on matte canvas with a plain 2 inch border on every side. The border is the part that wraps around the frame.
  • A 16 x 20 canvas is a 16 x 20 inch picture with the 2 inch border added all round it. Your stretcher bars match the picture size, not the border.
  • Unroll it and let it lie flat, picture side up, at room temperature for a few hours. This lets the curl relax before you start.
  • Handle it by the edges. Clean, dry hands keep the picture clean.

What you need

  • 4 stretcher bars that match your print size. A 16 x 20 print needs two 16 inch bars and two 20 inch bars. Bars come 3/4 inch deep or 1.5 inch deep.
  • A staple gun with 3/8 inch staples.
  • A rubber mallet.
  • A tape measure.
  • Corner wedges, also called keys, if your bars have slots for them. Most bars come with them.
  • A clean towel to lay the canvas on.
  • Hanging hardware, like a wire or sawtooth hangers.

Where to find the tools

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Stretcher bars for your size

Match the size of your print, not the border.

Stretch it in 6 steps

Step 1: Build the frame

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Fit the four stretcher bars together at the corners. Give each corner a gentle tap with the mallet so the joints close up. Now measure from one corner to the opposite corner, then the other two. When both measurements are the same, your frame is square.

Step 2: Lay the canvas face down

Spread the clean towel on a flat table. Lay your canvas face down on it. Set the frame on top and center it, so the border is the same width on every side. The border will wrap over the sides of the bars.

Step 3: Staple the middle of each side

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Fold the top border over the bar and put one staple in the center of the back of the bar. Go to the bottom, pull the canvas firm and put one staple in the bottom center. Do the same with the left side, then the right side.

Step 4: Work out toward the corners

Staple a little at a time, switching sides each time: top, bottom, left, right. Put a staple every 2 to 3 inches and pull evenly as you go. Stop a few inches short of each corner. Turn the frame over now and then to check that the picture stays straight and that the edges of the picture sit right on the front edge of the frame.

Step 5: Fold the corners

Fold each corner neatly, like wrapping a gift. Tuck the point in, fold one side flat against the bar, then fold the other side over it. Pull it snug and put in a staple or two to hold it.

Step 6: Tighten and hang it

If the canvas feels a little loose, tap the wedges into the corner slots. They push the corners apart and tighten the canvas. Then add your hanging hardware to the back of the top bar, and you are done.

Tips

  • Deeper 1.5 inch stretcher bars give a gallery look, with the picture standing out from the wall.
  • If you chose a printed frame, it is printed on the front of your picture. Line its outer edge up with the front edge of the bars.
  • Small ripples? Tap the wedges in a little more.
  • Don't over-pull. Pulling too hard can distort the picture.

Rather not do it yourself? Any local frame shop can stretch it for you.

Questions people ask

How long does it take to stretch a canvas?

Most people finish in under an hour the first time. Letting the canvas lie flat for a few hours first makes it easier.

What size stretcher bars do I need?

Bars that match the size of your print, not counting the plain border. For a 16 x 20 print, use two 16 inch bars and two 20 inch bars.

Do I need a staple gun?

Yes, a staple gun with 3/8 inch staples is the best tool for the job. A manual one works fine and an electric one is easier on the hands. If you would rather not, a local frame shop can do it for you.

How do I get rid of small ripples?

Tap the corner wedges in a little more. They push the corners apart and tighten the canvas. Don't pull harder with the staples, because that can distort the picture.

Can a frame shop stretch it for me?

Yes. Any local frame shop can stretch it. Take the canvas in the way it arrived, with the plain border still on.

Want a canvas of your own?

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