How to fit a canvas in a float frame?

Create a Post
Modigity

Modigity

CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
Joined
Aug 25, 2009
Posts
392
Loc
Pacific NW
Hey peoples gotta job from a Artist I have done alot of framing, printing andd art reproduction for but he wants something different this time and I have never done it. He wants one of his originals put in a float frame and I want to know how you fit and mount the cancas inside the frame. I have some ideas but would like some professional input before I start jimmy rigging everything together. Any help is greatly appreciated as always.
 
If he wasn't such a good customer I would just say "screw it" but since he is I will screw it in the frame.
 
I love floater flames, if its the kind with the thin back you can predill and screw into the back of the stretchers. Or you can mount screw eyes into the side/rear of frame and run screw through them into the stretcher. I think Picture woods has an illustration in the catalog, not sure if they have one on the web site.
 
You can also use offset canvas clips screwed to the stretcher so you can try to center the out of square canvas into the frame. They will allow you to shift it to and fro until you have become insane.
 
Thanks guys the offsets or screw eye is kind of what I was thinking, the other things is what do you charge for fitting this particular kind of frame?
 
Full fitting charge since you will have to fiddle with it for a while.
 
Use strips of foamboard and/or matboard to position the canvas evenly in the float frame. Oh, and if the canvas is out-of-square, the float frame will show it, and there's nothing you'll be able to do about it.
 
PaulSF said:
Use strips of foamboard and/or matboard to position the canvas evenly in the float frame. Oh, and if the canvas is out-of-square, the float frame will show it, and there's nothing you'll be able to do about it.
Click to expand...

I do this too works great!
 
PaulSF said:
... Oh, and if the canvas is out-of-square, the float frame will show it, and there's nothing you'll be able to do about it.
Click to expand...

If the canvas is only slightly out of square you can increase the float distance from a "standard" 1/4" to 3/8" or even 1/2" to minimize the out-of-squareness. Depends on the size of the canvas and other factors whether this is an acceptable design.

Another type of "float" I have been utilizing recently that is really quite an interesting design is to use a flat moulding and actually mount the canvas on top of the flat surface of the frame. Very interesting for certain canvases.

Also, I've been using a standard frame stacked on a fabric covered liner with the canvas mounted onto the top surface of the liner. What I like about both designs is that it provides more of a frame than just the standard float frame does. I'm not at the gallery now or I would post some pix but these are designs I never used before until recently and have never seen used anywhere else.
 
Hey Thanks everybody got a good idea of what I am gonna do and just want to say how awesome it is to have such support from other framers who have been doing this alot longer and thank you for how willing you guys are to help someone out. Such a great tool and am glad I found it:thumbsup:
 
If the canvas is out of square, it does (as mentioned above) help to leave a bigger gap, but it is also worth considering the colour. (sic)

We did one a couple of weeks ago - it looked carp to start with, because the contrast between the white edge of the canvas and the black inside of the floater frame emphasised that the canvas was out of square. A careful application of white paint to the inside edge of the floater frame completely transformed the whole presentation, although it was a PITA to get the painted edge straight!
 
I'm not doing that many floaters, just a few a year. I use foam board strips as well to even it out.
Did one a few months ago which was very out of square, so left 1/2" space all around. Fortunately it was a dark painting, so the black space made it look okay.

If canvas was so white, why not use a white floater frame????

I usually use off set clips to attach.
 
I like velcro, but the offset clips idea is good too... haven't tried it but now may have to next time i sell a floating frame

I don't really like those frames either...

I heard they were really popular at some point, and said. "i guess it was an explosion of floaters."
 
I Love Floater Frames!!

I use offsets, first I make sure to space the painting evenly with matboard/foamcore.

I never charge more just because....this is really not that hard to fit, if anything you will spend more time filling the corners, that is if you fill the corners.

N-

hope that helps
 
Well they're better than gallery wraps and they're a rational choice for specific work. So I am for them. :thumbsup:
 
I love floaters, and they sell well.

I just wish there was more variety available.
 
I have used a lot of floater frames from Genuine Gold and Burl. Mostly the ones with the water gilded face and black sides.

We like the canvases to be almost flush with the front of the moulding so I sometimes have to build a strainer to raise up the canvas to make it more flush with the frame. I make the strainer slightly smaller then the canvas and paint it black so the canvas just floats in the floater frame. I usually use a 3/8" to 7/16" float around the canvas. I screw it in from the back with countersunk screws. I have also used offsets in some situations.
 
RParrish said:
Do you offer wholesale pricing? The majority of us are retail framers.
Click to expand...
Randy we are a manufacturer that sells direct to museums, galleries, picture framers and artists and photographers who are responsible for framing their own exhibitions. We have the same price for everyone. I think if you compare pricing you will find us comparable to other high end moulding distributers. We are a member of the Professional Picture Framing Association. We sell to picture framers who specialize in framing original fine art to collectors who require fixed corner frames especially with splines. We are especially known for our floater frames and our white and black seamless corner frames. All of our profiles can be modified to specific sizes or rabbet depths. Please call if you would like to discuss more. 1-800-626-3139.
 
LeslieD said:
Please call if you would like to discuss more. 1-800-626-3139.
Click to expand...

Thanks I have been familiar with Metro Frames, as a mail order company in the 80's. I also mill and hand-finish the same type of frames.
 
Create a Post
Back
Top