The Framers Forum

Hi - I've had a photo on canvas in today with an 8mm border and the customer wants all of the image visible. I would normally stretch it onto stretcher bars but as that's not possible I thought about sticking it onto board with PVA. Will this be OK or have you any other ideas (I don't own a press - vacuum or otherwise). Any ideas greatly appreciated. Thanks. Mark.

The word 'canvas' should probably be in inverted commas, but here's what I'd suggest (to the customer) anyway, either as you say, stick it down, either with PMA or diluted builders PVA applied with a roller, but I'd be warning the customer that either method could spell the end of it as you only get the one chance - or just hinge it as it were on paper, use a window mount and glass and put up with it maybe not being perfectly flat ... or maybe it will be.

If no mount/glazing is required (IOW if you fail to sell the option) then you have no choice but to stick it down in some way - just make sure that you let the customer know it's not your fault that you cannot stretch it without losing some of the image and that the alternatives have risk that they have to decide to take or not.

Self adhesive mountboard or S/A foamboard and a brayer... you can wrap the border round a 5mm foamboard...just

If the customer would like stretched, ask them to send it back to the printers to reprint it, the printers should if they are any good leave enough spare canvas on.

We have had 3 in today from different people. They buy them for next too nothing on ebay as a canvas but they are printed edge to edge so you cannot stretch them in the normal way. 2 have gone for window mount and behind glass and 1 is having gallery stretched as he can afford to lose some of the image.

As Robo says unless you want to put it in a mount with glass sticking it down will be the only option. You could stick it to 18mm mdf with painted edges. If you are going to stick to mdf coat the mdf with diluited pva to seal it letting it dry before applying with more to stick the image. You will need to flatten it down and apply some even pressure ie another piece of mdf and some weights, as it drys. However you do need to let the customer agree to it and inform the of the pit falls. One final tip it is always best to make to board a few mii shorter than the image so you can trim back again inform the customer that is how you will be doing it.

Good luck

Sometime you get the other extreme. I had one recently - 10x8 canvas photo on 40mm deep stretcher bars. I suppose it's OK it you just hang it as it is. But the lady wanted a frame.

Going to stick that one down to MDF.

Hi,

I run a picture framing workshop in Stourbridge and have a hot press, so if I can be of any help in the future to assist you in any special requirements, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Many Thanks
Adrian (07725 760147)

Thanks for all your suggestions....I went with canvas chris's method of self-adhesive board and it seems to have worked well on this one. Mark.

I make a framed floating canvas as a product and wrap a canvas print around a MDF board and it does work well using this method. I router a pencil edge so as I get no cracking.