Useful tips
How To Stretch A Canvas Print On Stretcher Bars
Jan
Learn a simple way to stretch a canvas print on the stretcher bars yourself. Step by step guide with photos. Suitable for beginners. Scroll down if you prefer a video.
You do not want to bother with stretching a canvas? We will print and pull for you. Check out our collection of art prints on canvas. If you’re an artist and in need of a pre-stretched canvas check out Amazon. Below I’ll show you my personal bestseller list. (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases).
Purchase a ready to hang canvas prints is a great way to decorate the blank walls. However, this method is more expensive than rolled canvas prints. So if you have a limited budget and you want to have a canvas print, you can stretch your print yourself. This is not super complicated, and I will show you how to do it.
So, to stretch a canvas print on the stretcher, you will need:
- canvas print
- wooden stretcher bars 0.75 inches
- staple gun and plenty of staples
- canvas pliers (optional, available at art and craft stores)
- rubber hammer
- T-square or carpenter’s square
- smooth, clean surface to work.
1. Connect your stretcher bars, make sure it’s square. Use your T-square or carpenter’s square and a rubber hammer, if necessary.
2. Put your canvas print the back side up on a flat surface. Place the stretcher in the center.
3. Wrap one end of the canvas around stretcher and attach using stapler in the center.
4. Do the same on the opposite side of the stretcher. Stretch the fabric tight.
5. Repeat on each side, turning the stretcher and canvas.
6. Add staples on each side of the original staples. Repeat this over and over again, pulling the fabric tight and moving from the center to the corners of each side of the stretcher bars.
7. To fold over the corners, first pinch and pull a bit of canvas from the corner and fold it tightly against the frame at a 45-degree angle. Then, while holding your first fold down with one hand, pinch and fold the excess fabric so it lines up along the edge of the frame, and staple it down. Do the same on all four corners.
Your canvas should not have wrinkles and should bounce when you thump it with your fingers. You can see, it is not too difficult, not like space flight. I hope my guide, and photos are quite detailed, and you can now pull the canvas print on stretcher yourself.
You do not want to bother with stretching a canvas? We will print and pull for you. Check out our collection of art prints on canvas.
All canvas print from ReStyleGraphic have print area will be more than the declared size of about 1 inch on each side. Thus, the pattern should extend to the sides of the stretcher. This will enable you to hang your canvas print without frame and wall art will look gorgeous on the wall.
See the quick video of how to stretch a canvas print on a stretcher bars
If you have difficulty in choosing art for your home, check out my post Choosing pictures for your walls, where I talk the main points for beginners.
So here is my personal bestseller list of a pre-stretched canvas
milo Pro Stretched Artist Canvas | 30×40 inches | Pack of 4 | 3/4 inch Studio Profile
I’ve ordered a few dozen Milos since Arteza stop making theirs and I must say they are far better. A bit more expensive and one less in a pack, but worth it to me. I buy the Studio not Gallery and they are fairly taught and do come with wedges if you need them. They also don’t have the issue that Arteza have, in that, you don’t pick up the frame through the canvas as much while painting or drawing across them. Only a year into painting, but these are well worth the price for what you get and they do replace them in store quickly when they run out as well. Not sure how a professional painter would rate them, but I’m happy at my beg/int level.
—Jason A. Wallace—
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Arteza 16×20 Inch Stretched Canvas, Classic Pack of 6, Primed, 100% Cotton, Art Supplies for Painting, Acrylic Pouring, Oil Paint & Wet Art Media, Canvases for Artist
I like the affordability and quantity for the size of these canvases, my paintings turned out well (I’ve only painted two). Bob Ross applied white gesso on his primed canvases (making his canvases double-primed) but I skipped that step because I don’t have white gesso and applying an even coat of liquid white on the canvas before painting worked for me. But in the future I’ll invest in gessos. —MariaMN—
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Sargent Art 90-2004 36×36-Inch 100% Cotton Stretched Canvas
I love to paint in my spare time because it is a great stress reliever and a way to decorate the house that is unique and individual. These canvases are great. They soaked up the paint well and didn’t leave any residue behind. I ended up using a ton of paint on them and they dried within 2 hrs outdoors in the sun. I hung them in my kitchen with ease using 3M Velcro Hanging Tabs and they work perfectly with them. I couldn’t be more pleased with the endless possibilities of these canvases. —FelineFriendly—
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conda Artist Acid Free Stretched Canvas Professional Quality Frame Canvas (5“x7“,6Pack)
Finally broke open the package to use these last night. Great quality and quantity for the price of in general. I will definitely but these again when I get through the 10 I bought. I used two for my acrylic pouring and they turned out awesome. Zero complaints given! —ACartner—
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PHOENIX White Blank Cotton Stretched Canvas Artist Painting – 8×10 Inch / 10 Pack – 5/8 Inch Profile Triple Primed for Oil & Acrylic Paints
Canvas is tight like it should be and is primed. Most companies claim that their canvas are primed, but they are not. Some companies do not stretch the canvas correctly which makes them to loose to paint on. Very pleased with these. —Rebecca—
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Artlicious – Super Value 10 Pack – 8×10 Pre-Stretched Cotton Canvas Panel Boards – Use with All Acrylics, Oils and Other Painting Media
very good value and quality canvas for novice painters and fluid artists. the canvas is taught and ready for use, just make sure to spray it with water and let it dry first to prevent buckling
—Jasmin—
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Grabbed these for my daughters bday party and they were absolutely perfect. I was worried they’d be too small but they weren’t. I was able to fit 6-8 of these with easels on a 6ft table. The kids loved it they wanted to paint half the night. Now we’re considering painting together on family day thanks alot!
—Carpharp—
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COYMOS Pre Stretched Canvas Primed Round Canvas Boards for Painting, Acrylic Pouring, Oil Paint & Artist Media – 12 x 12
My teen daughter spends a lot of time doing art. She likes working with acrylics on canvas but was bored with everything being the same shape. We found these round stretched canvases and are pleased with the results. They are a little pricey, but the quality is there. We will buy more of these.
—Ouija—
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Academy Art Supply 36×48” Stretched White Blank Canvas, Value Pack of 2, Primed, 100% Cotton for Painting, Acrylic Pouring, Oil Paint
The canvas is of good quality material, and has proven to me that it can take oil or acrylic paint without smudge or runs. I would recommend this product to any serious artist out there.
—David Sepulveda/San Antonio TX—
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8 x 10 Inch Stretched Canvas Value Pack of 10
I purchased these because I was making pictures on canvas for Christmas gifts. Not sure what went wrong but I ended up needing mor canvas and fast. These were a life savor. They were a little bit thinner than the original ones that I was working with but ended up working out great. They are perfect for beginner crafts. They arrived pretty fast even during the Christmas season. I would purchase them again for future projects. —S. Michael—
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FIXSMITH Stretched White Blank Canvas- 8×10 Inch,Bulk Pack of 12,Primed,100% Cotton
I love these canvases. The quality is great. The price is a little more than I generally spend but so worth it. I paint every day so I go through a lot of canvases. My son has autism so we paint together to work on his fine motor skills. He helps me paint the backgrounds with a hand over hand method and then I paint the rest. —Lynn—
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milo Stretched Artist Canvas | 16×20 inches | Value Pack of 6
I paint. I buy different types of canvas depending on size, materials I am planning on using, and just to have certain things on hand so when I feel the need to throw some paint I can. I found these canvas to be a perfect size for my practicing of different tech I am currently learning using oil. I recommend them for those of us whom want quality in quantity and whom will put them to good use.
—AR Grover–
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Thanks for explaining how to stretch canvas and that you talk about how it’s important to not have any wrinkles. If someone doesn’t have the time or equipment, it would probably help to hire a professional. Having a professional do the canvas stretching could ensure it’s done correctly so you can avoid wrinkles and other problems. It could also save you time so you can focus on your painting.