Photographs printed on canvas and prepared for a gallery wrap :
Often people like to display their artwork as a “gallery wrap” canvas. Notice (in the photo on the right) how the image “wraps” around the side of the wooden stretcher frame.
  • No glass or acrylic is needed in front of the artwork
  • Less reflections and glare to deal with
  • Much lighter in weight than a large sheet of glass or acrylic
  • Great for large scale artwork

A gallery wrap canvas photograph can be hung directly on your wall without using a picture frame for a clean contemporary look. Or you can use a wood or metal picture frame if you prefer a more traditional look.
We print our canvas photographs with a two inch wide “mirror image” surrounding the actual image. This two inch border allows for using up to a two inch thick stretcher frame for the “gallery wrapped” look. (Note: in the photo on the left, the 2 inch border is shown lighter than the actual image so you can see what we are talking about. On your canvas photograph the mirrored border matches the actual image in color and tone.)

For example, if you ordered a 30x30 inch canvas photograph, the actual image size is 30x30 inches. The printed canvas area will measure 34x34 inches.

Be sure and let your framer know that the outside two inch border should be wrapped around the stretcher frame. You can actually use a 1, 1 1/2, or 2 inch wooden stretcher frame. Just be sure and use a stretcher frame that is the actual size of the photograph that you ordered. In this example you would use a 30x30 inch stretcher frame.
On some canvas photographs, you can see clearly where the “mirror image” meets the actual photograph. This is normal, and serves as a visual guide where the images should wrap around the side of the stretcher frame.

Some customers prefer us to ship their canvas "unstretched" and rolled in a shipping tube. Almost any local frame shop or gallery can stretch a canvas photograph for you. (You can search for professional picture framers in your area by zip code on the PPFA web site.)
All images and text on this web site are © David Lawrence and Prime Images, Inc. www.LawrenceEditions.com