PUBLICATION CENTER

By Michael Damico
Frame & Art Gallery

Mike Damico owns the Frame & Art Gallery in Ft. Myers, Fla.

Although there may be some instances in which you might want to mount a printed canvas onto a rigid substrate, I can think of at least four good reasons why stretching canvas is by far the most popular method of preparing canvas prints for display.

Durability. Stretched prints are generally more durable. In order to prevent an adhesive from bubbling up through the canvas and onto the print surface, you generally need to use either a light spray mount, roller-applied adhesive, or dry-mount adhesive. Spray mounting adhesives and dry-mount tissue both tend to form a weak bond with the premium canvases that I use in my studio.

Archivability. When you plan to mount a canvas print, you must take into account the warp-resistance and archival properties of the mounting substrate. Non-archival foamboards can outgas and become crumbly and wood products (including masonite) typically contain some measurable levels of acid. On the other hand, the print surface of a stretched canvas typically doesn’t come in contact with other surfaces that can affect the longevity of the print. The small ridge on the front outside edge of a stretcher bar is designed to slightly raise the canvas away from the rest of the bar, minimizing the amount of contact the displayed surface of the canvas has with the wood of the bars.

Cost and Time. For me, buying a piece of wood, masonite, or archival foamboard and the correct adhesives for mounting canvas doesn’t cost that much less than a simple set of stretcher bars. Stretching is also faster because it doesn’t require the same amount of set-up, drying, and clean-up time that can be involved with applying an adhesive. I could probably join stretcher bars and stretch three canvas prints in the same amount of time it would take to mount one.

Visual Appeal. In my opinion, a stretched print gives the canvas extra dimension and shape in a way that highlights the underlying texture and weave of the canvas. Judging from the popularity of stretched canvas, clearly many artists and photographers would agree.

To learn more about Mike Damico and his giclee-printing and framing services, read the post about Frame & Art Gallery on Studio LexJet or visit his website: www.mindyourprints.com