How To: Stretch a Canvas

[@pelementmaker]

The canvas pliers is a must, i tried to stretch a fairly big canvas by hand and at first glance it looked decent. Untill i used paint thinner, its now a colorful curtain.

[@rolandosantisteban3754]

Excellent video. I was able to follow your instructions and stretch the canvas myself saving about 170. Thank you!

[@angiel2710]

Excellent tutorial. I saved myself $200 doing it myself

[@outsidethepyramid]

I saved myself $210 doing it myself

[@thewestbound]

@@outsidethepyramid I saved myself $220 doing it myself

[@dep6898]

@@thewestbound i saved myself $230 doing it myself

[@ramonrodriguez4533]

This is the best How To on Canvas stretching.

[@richenuff01]

Wonderfully demonstrated...now I'm convinced that I'll pay somebody to stretch my new painting vs me doing it. LOL I love my new painting too much for me to not do a nice job. LOL

[@John-vu8bo]

This is exactly the method I learned in painting school 30 years ago. The only difference is that the professor wanted us to also make out own wooden stretchers which was a pain. But as a poor college student that’s all I could do. I doubt it would be any less expensive in today’s world.

[@Dante_6604]

Even my professor says build your own stretchers.

[@MariusOberholster]

Thank you!!! Can't believe this is so long ago!

[@dashiajames1882]

I literally learned how to finish the back correctly. And to make it look neater. Very teachable. Great tutorial...!! Loves alot...🙂🙂 P.S : Are staple better than glue..??

[@RogersPhotographyOG]

While I've printed thousands of images on different papers I've never stretched my own canvas prints. I always outsourced the printing. Now that I have a nice "new" 24" Epson 7900 I am doing my own canvas work. Thanks (11 years later)😉

[@sobrevida157]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Clear, concise. . .

[@rolandasemedo1]

So helpful. Thank you very much.

[@georgemacdonald5282]

Nicely explained viideo, thankyou.

[@sashaco5660]

This is a great video. Can I please ask how would you tidy up the canvas on the back so it looks more professional .

[@khunthate]

love the GAC's... so versatile

[@alansm136]

Thank you for your input. You have enlightened me even more.

[@jellams1317]

Thank you. Well done

[@mcassity]

Nice work. I wonder how many canvases you've stretched over your lifetime?

[@christines2451]

Great. Video thank you.

[@Herb.]

Awesome! Simple and effective! Thanks

[@virginiaromero4426]

Very good, thanks

[@oneshadowone]

how about stretching a canvas that has been painted any suggestions about that

[@colinmitchellartwork3486]

You can definitely do it, just don't pull as tightly as you would for an unprimed/unpainted canvas, as that will cause the painting to crack.

[@harrisonponce3418]

Or just glue it on to a wood panel

[@lucianocortopassi3098]

So good

[@Moe-zo4fm]

Thank you that was great

[@lillianburton362]

Thanks, you gave a lot of information; very helpful to me. What did you do with the excess canvas around the edges after you completed your stapling?

[@colinmitchellartwork3486]

I usually just make sure it's not loose so it won't catch on anything and leave it (usually about an extra 3 inches).

[@northstarastrology3954]

Very NICE !

[@sanfordpress8943]

Thank you

[@londavis6355]

Great video. I do have one question however: How do you stretch a canvas or linen that is already primed? I've been trying for the last week or so, and cannot get the double primed linen to stretch " tight as a drum " as I can with the raw linen or canvas. The raw stuff I prime afterwards of course. Thank you.

[@opusartsupplies]

Lon Davis Hi Lon, thank you for your question. There are 2 techniques you could try to tighten primed fabrics: 1. Lightly misting the back of the canvas with water after it's stretched can often help to tighten it up. 2. Use stretcher bar keys (triangular wedges of wood often sold with stretcher bars). These are placed in the corners of the bars and gently tapped into place to expand the stretcher frame and tighten the fabric. If you use these, it is a good idea to hold a piece of cardboard on the back of the fabric (between the material and the keys) so that whatever you use to tap them in place does not dent the canvas, which could potentially cause the gesso to crack. This technique is usually done after a painting is finished, as the act of painting will often cause the canvas to become more slack. Note that over the years this naturally occurs as well. Ultimately you will rarely get the drum tightness with primed canvas or linen, nor should you really try to stretch it that taut. You want to be careful not to overstretch it as it will weaken or even crack the gesso. However, both of these techniques used in conjunction should help you get the results you are looking for. Hope this helps!

[@londavis6355]

Wow...thank you!! I never even thought about how " drum tightness " as it relates to cracking the gesso. I didn't even think about that.... And yes, I do have those wedges. So, I'll be aiming then for firmness, or general overall firmness...but not drum tight. Wow...thank you for that insight. That clears up a lot of confusion I was having...!! Cheers.

[@corin164]

I thought you apply a few coats of Gesso first and then the acrylic paint. Which is the right way?

[@lesaeickholdt4272]

Thank you. Great tutorial!

[@lightmeupsigns5363]

Thanks for the good tutorial like everything theres two techniques...............the right and wrong way

[@TT-vv8xl]

Great! Thanks a lot 😁. Simple and easy!!!

[@steemdup]

I little intimidating but I think I could do this. Thank you

[@hamnalabeeb]

Can I please know the size of staple pin used in the staple gun? I just got a new one with 23/8 staple pins and need to know if that is good enough.

[@margaretmohally5433]

super thank you

[@waynethebarber1095]

Very nice video, I want to paint but it's not the right time right now. I learned a lot just from your video. Thank you for taking the time to show us how it's done right. And how easy it can be. I hope I can put this to good use sometime soon..... Again, thank you for your time.....

[@ji-jo]

Just do it!

[@c-3po543]

sint mai multe variamte de a pune pinza de pictat pe un cadru depinde cat de buna este pinza nu poti sa tragi prea tare de o pinza fragila

[@normanmerrill1241]

Thanks

[@krissyfabz5867]

thankie💕👍

[@Josh-tt2wh]

thank you for this tutorial!!

[@bobski5028]

Also, the stretching pliers are not properly used. The long knob on the pliers that sticks up is actually supposed to be pointing down on the inside face of the stretcher wood so you can utilize it (if need be) once you pull the canvas taught. If you gauge properly the knob will hold the pliers in place against the inside of the wood while you staple so the pliers don't slip back. I'm pretty sure that's how it goes.

[@outsidethepyramid]

My flaps are bigger than yours and so my fabric is bulging more than it should. Have u got any advice? I can send you a photo.

[@evabarnett8131]

What staple gun and staples do you use?

[@marcellaulrikaulltjarn5406]

Como se llama esa herramienta para sostener y estirar la loneta?

[@opusartsupplies]

Hello Marcella, we believe you are referring to the tools used to pull the canvas. We carry these tools at our stores and they are called "canvas pliers". We hope that helps!

[@peohbe]

What type of unstretched canvas would you recommend for painting with acrylic?

[@colinmitchellartwork3486]

There are many variables to think about… the size of the painting, how much detail there will be in the painting, etc… Generally however, a 10 oz canvas is a good average weight.

[@kendralafleur4248]

How do I add subtitles...I can't hear you 😔🥺

[@joseph2832]

so helpful thank you so much! Instead of gac-100 use gloss medium that's what golden is saying these days~

[@LowCostCncRetrofits]

Great video mate everything understood

[@jacintoguevara2692]

What size staples?

[@RobDucharme]

Great video. I'm looking to get in to this, as I was once pretty damn good with art back in high school. I understand it so much more now than I did back then. While I want to eventually build from scratch, I figure I should start with pre-made stretchers. I'm too independent to buy pre-made canvasses. What I don't get is the nine (9) dislikes. These must be the same people who go on to Yelp and give a 1/5 star review for a business they love and have visited a hundred times, but had one bad experience, so they rate them on that one thing.

[@moldlives]

Rob Ducharme Its either room temp. i.q. individuals who'll dislike anything liberal related, or they truly know how to accomplish this with more perfection.

[@marceltzara3253]

a reasonable attempt - but never staple any wooden elements together - it is a strainer not a frame; all the parts need to be able to move very slightly to maintain tension. Also do not pull the canvas too much, it will distort the weave and give you a wavy weave appearance. The keys, which you omit to mention are the elements that will maintain the tension.

[@KalkiSubramaniam]

very helpful.

[@pappyfiddle]

Nice video in contrast to some that advocate some rather silly stuff. It doth not matter what it's stretched on as long as it holds it nice and flat and tight, and also there's consideration for aging. A homemade frame is great if it's neat, solid construction. The fancy frame around the painting is going to hide whatever stretching frame you have, and may even cover a little bowing in of the stretcher bars. Just remember tho, a few people (buyers and critics) are going to look back there so it shouldn't look flaky. So commercial stretcher bars like this might be a good place to invest a little money.

[@Apollo_Blaze]

I do not have a canvas stretcher tool : (

[@wineartlife]

thanks!

[@mandiquinn585]

So I'm using a roll of canvas to stretch ( it's been rolled up for a while so it has kind of a waviness to it already). As I'm stretching it there's some scalloping happening that I can't seem to get rid of even when my staples are super close together. Any advice? Thanks!

[@eagillum]

What happened? Can you update us?

[@LowCostCncRetrofits]

Does polyester digital canvas stretch much the same way with the same technique applied ?

[@outsidethepyramid]

I see an issue here. Ok so next you need to seal/ prime the canvas with a liquid and then the canvas goes a bit baggy. The thing is on your oil painting stretcher you have not got the small pieces of wood that you hammer in to take on the bagginess.

[@susanwhittle9549]

But isn't he using the canvas pliers upside down?

[@garyrowe58]

yes ;)

[@khunthate]

What if you don't have canvas pliers? Any 'home-made' solution, alternative to that? :)

[@baddong4392]

Peter Gašperan elbow grease

[@seanc3362]

Peter Gašperan Welding flat blade pliers might work. They look similar.

[@lyndabrain385]

Sean Connolly

[@MrPrentissDJones]

Well I did this part worng, got to go pull all those staples out

[@T.Jakenbos]

you said stretch is as much as you can and now the frame just broke.... so dont stretch it ithat much xD

[@puppshades2554]

thanks to teach me how to use the tool it come with the frame , think it was to make omelets

[@ririka4526]

why need to stretch a canvas?

[@bobski5028]

It's a good tutorial, not excellent. There's about 30+ seconds missing after the 3rd staple gets put in. Lucky I'm common sensed enuff to fill in the gap.

[@paulmct27]

So easy when you have specialist tools 🤣

[@k.k8791]

Actually u shouldn't stretch it that tight because your painting will crack overtime

[@robinpetersson3081]

Staples are no good.

[@jtreasure5807]

So helpful. Thank you.