How to stretch a rolled canvas
Stretching a rolled canvas is straightforward with the right order of work. Most problems come from pulling too hard, too soon, in one place.
1 min read
Before you start
Our rolled canvases are left with an unpainted margin of about 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 cm) on every side for stretching and wrapping. Unroll the canvas face-up and let it rest flat at room temperature for a few hours before you begin.
Step by step
- Assemble the stretcher frame and check that it's square by measuring both diagonals.
- Center the painting face-down on a clean surface and place the frame on top.
- Staple the middle of each side first: top, bottom, left, right.
- Work outward from the centers toward the corners, alternating sides and pulling gently and evenly.
- Fold the corners neatly last, and staple them flat.
- Check the front as you go for ripples, a crooked horizon or a shifted image.
Avoiding wrinkles and damage
- Pull evenly on opposite sides, never hard on one side.
- If a wrinkle forms, release the nearest staples and re-pull.
- On textured paintings, handle slowly and avoid folding across thick paint.
Heavily textured paintings
Let them rest flat longer before stretching, don't press on the painted surface and avoid bending sharply over the frame edge.
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