A canvas print can literally look perfectly flat as soon you put it in the frame to begin with. Summer rolls around, humidity creeps in, and the art starts to sag, ripple, or distort.
This doesn’t always represent an issue with the canvas itself. The fabric is kept flat by puzzle piece stretcher bars that support the artwork. It is just that when the frame is in order and if the canvas has been stretched properly, it can deal with ordinary fluctuations in temperature and humidity much greater.
Why Humidity Affects Canvas?
As it is a fabric, canvas is affected by moisture (humidity) in the atmosphere. Humidity goes up, the fibres draw in moisture and spread. And if conditions turn drier, they can shrink once more.
The tension of the canvas can fluctuate with repetitive shifts. The supporting frame can weaken or ruin the piece of art:
- Sagging areas
- Ripples
- Loose corners
- Uneven tension
- A warped appearance
These problems will be eliminated by a properly built, stable stretcher frame.
How They Help Prevent Warping?
High-quality stretcher bars provide an even framework around the artwork. When canvas is stretched correctly, tension and pressure are spread across the whole surface instead of tightly focused on one spot.
The frame works like a strong skeleton to help keep the art square. And that is because you have to understand that the frame of an 8 × 10 picture looks very different than it would on a large canvas just by the fact there won’t be so much visible white between both.
Correctly canvas stretching and framing is not just about extending the fabric. The frame, canvas, and mounting method should all work together nicely with noticeable transitions.
Professional Stretching Makes a Difference
There is a balancing act between stretching. The fabric must be stretched taut enough to lay flat but not so much that is puts excessive tension on the canvas or frame.
Professional framing services secure the framed pieces with proper stretching bars and tension against the frame.
This is particularly crucial for high-value art, large format work, and works that are required to be exhibited for a long time.
Protect Your Canvas from Humidity
That frame only plays one role in breaking free from protecting canvas art. Also, where you display it is important too.
If you store your canvas, do not put it next to sources of humidity or at places subjected to very high or low temperature variations. Canvas prints increase in value with time but make sure you do not put them into bathrooms and damp rooms or poorly ventilated spaces.
Also, proper ventilation inside the house, which contributes to keeping the atmospheric variance more uniform.
How to Re-stretch a Crooked or Warped Canvas?
Do not just tighten random areas, if your canvas is already sagging or waving. Disproportionate adjustments can only exacerbate the problem.
A framer can check if the canvas is mounted correctly using the method that the framer uses. Sometimes the artwork may require to be taken out and re-stretched.
Instead of masking the symptoms, a professional canvas stretching and framing service will deal with the root cause.
Build the Right Foundation
Humidity is not avoidable completely, and especially during summer months in Australian states. However, a good quality stretcher frame can help your canvas stay so much flatter.
It is important to use quality materials, maintain even tension, and place it well. Professional framing services are a sound investment for art that is valuable or already demonstrating the symptoms of warping.
The proper body can be portion of your painting that may not always show up under the most illumination, but it guarantees the shape will still seem to be in peak situation.