Mirrored Gallery Wrap

Increasingly I am being asked to provide canvas prints that have a "Mirrored Gallery Wrap". Gallery wrap is a method of stretching a canvas print so that the image wraps around the sides.This frameless method of displaying canvas prints saves significant money (no frame!) and gives a contemporary look.

Mirroring clones part of each side and flips it to create the outer edge for the gallery wrap. This prevents the cropping of the image that would occur otherwise.

To really understand this it helps to see pictures. Today I created a 54 x 36-inch canvas print that shows the steps involved. 

Step 1: Use a computer program to enlarge the print by mirroring.

Step 2: Gather the wooden stretcher bars while you are waiting for the canvas to print.

 

Step 3: Assemble the stretcher bars by tapping the ends together to form a rectangle.

 

Step 4: Inspect the canvas. Note the mirrored edges that look a bit like what you see in a Kaleidoscope.

 

Step 5: Wrap the canvas around the stretcher bars. Pull the canvas tight using canvas pliers. Staple the canvas to the back side of the stretcher bars so that no staples show.

 

Step 6: Done!

The goal is achieved: the integrity of the original composition is preserved.  Note how the sides of the wrap appear to be a continuation of the original image, but this is accomplished without the need to use up a portion of, and effectively crop the original composition.  The effect appears seamless.

Comments

[Dionna]

Hi Henry- what a great visual explanation of the "mirrored" gallery wrap- where the image 'appears' to continue around the edge....with just a "mirroring" of that portion of the image.

This is great when an image will lose some of it's effect if 2 or 3 inches of it on all 4 edges are used up only to occupy the wrapped sides.

Great job!

[Linda Corderman]

Hi Henry,
I think this whole explanation is very clear and very useful to consultants who are presenting the idea to their clients.
Linda

[Smaysdotcom]

Just when you think you've escaped the blog... you have something interesting to share and IT PULLS YOU BACK IN!

[Edna J. Villarreal]

Henry,

Your step by step description is crystal clear - great for anyone needing to visually understand the end result.

[Hazel Molina]

Love the demonstration, can you elaborate more on the canvas finish? as a consultant, working predominantly with hospitals, how is this canvas protected from the following: shifting beds, busy corridors etc. My clients are still apprehensive about not protecting the works with a frame and glass/plexi. also, is this method appropiate for surgical facilities?

[Henry Domke]

Great question. I decided to do a blog post to answer:
http://www.healthcarefineart.com/2010/02/protecting-canvas-prints-in-hospitals.html