How to Apply a Canvas to a Frame for Painting
- 1). Lay the canvas face down on a clean, flat surface.
- 2). Place the wooden frame on top of the canvas so that the round, grooved edges are face down against the canvas. Adjust the position of the wooden frame until it is centered on the canvas.
- 3). Trim the canvas along the edges of the wooden frame, leaving a 3-inch overlap. This will be necessary when stretching the canvas over the sides and onto the back of the wooden frame. Set aside the remaining canvas once it has been trimmed.
- 4). Stretch the left side of the canvas over the wooden stretcher bar while holding the rest of the frame securely in place. Use a staple gun to the secure the canvas to the wood with four staples along the stretcher bar lengthwise. Repeat this process for the right stretcher bar, then the top and bottom stretcher bars.
- 5). Pinch the top left loose corner of the canvas with your thumb and forefinger, then fold it down and inward toward the back of the canvas. Apply two staples to the folded corner piece to secure it in place. Repeat this process for the bottom right corner, then the bottom left and top right corners.
- 6). Use scissors to trim the folded canvas edges once they are all securely in place.
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