A canvas print can look gorgeous right when it goes on the wall. But leaving it without a frame might expose it to conditions that stealthily impact its colour, contour, and surface. An unprotected canvas can, over the years, suffer fading, slackening, or warping.
An entirely painted canvas, however, is often rendered with a backing and additional protection. This can impact how well the artwork holds up pretty heavily.
Sunlight Can Speed Up Fading
Light is one of the greatest enemies to any printed artwork. Ultraviolet rays disintegrate pigments and fading colours.
Similarly, an unframed canvas might include less layers of protection between the surface of the print and its environment. Fading can be more noticeable over time, if it hangs near a bright window.
Simple first step: Keep canvas out of direct sunlight. In certain instances, UV-glazing could be another option.
Humidity Can Affect the Canvas
Canvas is a fabric. It can respond to changes in moisture and temperature, like other fabrics.
The material will swell in high-humidity conditions. It may shrink back itself when conditions dry up. Frequent changes could alter the canvas tension and lead to warping.
This can be worrisome in rooms like bathrooms, kitchens, or poorly ventilated areas.
Why Unstretched Canvas Might Get Out of Shape?
A canvas print requires proper support to stay flat. This substance can develop slowly over time without a good scene or stretcher system:
- Loose areas
- Waves or ripples
- Curved edges
- Uneven tension
- Visible distortions
By the time these problems manifest, just hanging the artwork on your wall may not overcome this issue.
A mounted support may be a foam board, but you will need a professional canvas framing service then.
Framing is More Than Eye-Candy
Framing is far more than putting a piece of art behind glass. A good frame can give you strength and assistance in keeping the canvas properly taped.
This frame is commonly used for oil paintings and acrylic art, though a framer can also suggest using protective backing or other materials specifically designed for long-term display depending on the artwork.
Using the correct means depends on the canvas itself, its size, and location.
Protect Multiple Canvas Sizes with Custom Framing
Keeping large canvas prints stable is especially a hassle. The increased tension offered by this larger area can more easily be felt.
Custom canvas framing allows you to create a frame that encompasses the precise measurements of your artwork. This helps prevent a frame that does not fit properly and is pushing down on the canvas unnecessarily.
Custom options also provide you with more control over the final look. You can choose a frame profile and then finishing and mounting style that suits the artwork, as well as the area where you will display it.
Where You Display It Matters?
No matter how well a canvas is framed, it may deteriorate in an undesirable location.
Try to avoid:
- Direct sunlight
- Damp walls
- Areas with major temperature changes
- Areas where the work can be bumped
- Poorly ventilated rooms
Keeping the indoor environment relatively stable to minimise stress on it.
Life Your Canvas Longer
Unframed canvas prints can be more at risk as they are not protected from fading, fluctuations in humidity, or loss of tension. Proper support used at the end of the artwork will preserve its look and structure.
Whereas for a good quality or sentimental print, you might be better off with custom canvas framing. Don’t think of the frame as an afterthought. A good canvas framing service can assist you in selecting materials and support appropriate for the art itself, which should help ensure that it stays appealing for decades to come.
