A stretched canvas requires a very particular type of framing to really stand out in a room. A floating frame for canvas allows a person to display his or her canvas art with a sort of "gallery-ready" presentation. The frame floats around a piece leaving an opening of sorts that make the displayed medium look like something one would find hung in an art museum.

At Art To Frames, we know that canvas printing is one of our customers' favorite mediums of choice, and the question of how one might frame it correctly tends to come up often. So here's an easy step-by-step guide on how to choose a great frame for any canvas art.

What a Floating Frame For Canvas Is

Rather than a traditional frame that goes directly over whatever medium is being used, this style creates something called a "reveal," an interesting space between the framed piece and the inner border of the frame itself. According to Wikipedia's entry on gallery wrap (which is, effectively, a canvas wrap), this wrapping style allows a person to finish the edges of the canvas so as to create a seamless, continuous image; this is what a floating frame for canvas aims to preserve and display, rather than mask as a standard frame would.

How to Choose the Right Kind of Floating Frame for Canvas Art

1. Make Sure the Depth of the Frame Accommodates Your Needs

Canvas wraps tend to come in either one or two inches of depth, and most people have a preferred depth. It's always best to measure out one's canvas before purchasing a frame, as a frame that is too shallow runs the risk of leaving the wrapped portion of one's canvas to hang from the stretcher bars unevenly. If one is unsure what the depth of his or her canvas wrap is, our website has a canvas wraps section that should help.

2. Consider What Finish Is Most Complimentary to the Presented Piece

When choosing the most appropriate frame, one must always remember that the frame itself should serve to complement the piece presented within it, not overpower it or steal attention away from it. For a more subtle presentation, black and white finish frames are a great starting point.

When Is Too Much Too Much, and When Should It Be Used?

Gold or other metallic finishing options are most appropriate when the presented piece has a lot of white space, and busy frames tend to work best with busy, detailed pieces. In short, never select a loud frame unless you're certain the piece can handle it.

3. Decide Whether You Wish the Gap Between the Framing Material and Presented Piece to Be Wide or Narrow

Wider gaps create more shadow, and therefore make the presented medium stand out more, while thinner gaps are better suited to subtler presentations. Neither is necessarily better or worse than the other, just more or less appropriate depending on context.

4. Don't Add Glass to the Frame, as It Isn't Necessary

The entire point of using a floating frame for canvas is to display the textured surface of the presented medium. For a piece that is not made of paper, however, the textures of paint might just be enough reason to forgo the addition of glass entirely. If one wishes to use glass on a paper canvas, Art To Frames' glass options page is a good place to start.

5. Always Use Heavy-Duty Hanging Hardware on Framed Canvases

A standard picture frame has far heavier hardware built into it, as a canvas is both heavier and more rigid than a standard printed work of art would be. Art To Frames' wire pack options are a good example of what one should use to hang a canvas picture frame with.

6. Keep Presentation Environment in Mind

Depending on how much direct sunlight your room gets, it may be a good idea to keep canvas pieces out of direct sunlight, as it can, over time, cause the paint to fade unevenly. As Art To Frames always thinks about the client's needs first, we always keep in mind the environments in which each piece will be displayed.

How to Frame a Canvas Art Piece

A floating frame for canvas is something of a minor luxury as far as picture frames go, as it lets a person hang a piece in a way that makes it look far more professional and, therefore, far more valuable. If one wishes to learn more picture framing tricks and tips that go beyond just picking a frame, Art To Frames has a step-by-step canvas framing guide that can lead one through the entire process.

Now that you know how to choose a great frame for a canvas, it's time to get started! To start browsing Art To Frames' frame and canvas wrap options or contact us online, where the friendly staff at Art To Frames would be more than happy to help match you to the perfect picture frame!