When it comes to displaying canvas artwork, two common options stand out: stretching the canvas over a wooden frame or mounting it on board. Each method has its pros and cons. The choice between stretching or mounting has an impact on the finished presentation of canvas prints and paintings.
If you have a rolled canvas, you have options, each of which are important considerations.
The Advantages of Stretching Canvas
Improved aesthetics
Stretched canvas is appealing owing to its traditional appearance. There’s something alluring about the wooden stretcher bars and canvas wrapped around the edges and then pinned to the reverse. It’s something of a timeless look that’s favoured by both artists and art enthusiasts.
The 3D appeal
Stretching canvas is a fast way to completely change the look of a canvas print or painting. The instant it’s stretched and stapled, it goes from 2D to 3D. The change in dimension improves the depth of the visual impact. It’s more noticeable giving it a higher visual impact.
Professional display with or without a frame
Unstretched canvas hung on display doesn’t have close to the same professional slick finish as a stretched canvas hung frameless or within canvas floating frames.
The Disadvantages of Stretching Canvas
Risk of damage
Once the canvas is stretched and put on display, there’s a heightened risk of tears and punctures in the fabric from accidental knocks or drops. This is particularly true for stretched canvases during transportation.
Cost and effort
Unless you’re buying or selling canvas prints or paintings locally, the cost of shipping is higher for stretched canvas prints. The larger the piece, the higher the cost. For budget reasons, artists who need to ship art may opt to un-stretch the canvas and ship it in a rolled tube instead. For customers, this requires them to then apply the work to stretcher bars and secure it to the frame with staples or tacks or take it to their local frame shop to have it stretched.
The Advantages of Mounting Canvas to Board
Better protection
By mounting the canvas to a rigid board, there’s less risk of damage. This is of particular benefit to prints or paintings requiring frequent transportation, such as presentation pieces to put on display at art fairs and markets.
Lower maintenance
With canvas prints, there is some maintenance required to keep the canvas taut. That’s why a stretched canvas comes with wedges. To be able to tighten the canvas when it begins to lose its tautness. When that happens, the canvas sags and eventually wrinkles if it isn’t tightened soon after it loosens. Mounting a canvas keeps it flat-free.
Display framed or unframed
Just like with stretched canvas that can be framed, or hung frameless, mounting a painting to board doesn’t change your options. Framers can supply custom-sized art board inset frames letting you display a mounted canvas as a 2D or 3D presentation.
The Disadvantages of Mounting Canvas
Permanence
When mounting canvas to board, it’s bonded using an adhesive making it a permanent method. Once mounted, it can’t be undone to then be displayed as a stretched canvas. If you’re unsure of which method to use, choose stretcher bars first to sample the finished look. If that’s not to your satisfaction, then opt for mounting on board to avoid disappointment.
Heavier and bulkier
Canvas on board can be cumbersome for transporting, and for large paintings, it can be difficult to manoeuvre them around rooms, and it will require care to the taken when selecting the hanging components to ensure they are sufficient for the wall surface and the weight of the board. Adding an art board frame will add more weight to the finished piece.
If opting for board, framed or unframed, consider the total weight and the wall you plan to hang the piece on to be sure it can be supported safely.