The Framers Forum

Have been looking for information about floater frames and panel frames of which I have no experience. Although both are supposedly intended to take original art I am a bit mystified about the methods of securing the paintings.

So far, the only method I have seen for securing a canvas is by screws through the back of the floater frame into the back of the stretchers. Surely this cannot be ideal, since the canvas may need tightening at a later date? Has anyone any better ideas?

And how should a painting on board be attached to a panel frame while keeping the method of attachment both invisible and reversible?

Is the truth of the matter that these types of frames are not really suitable for original art at all (despite their not infrequent presence in galleries etc.) or am I missing something?

Underpinner wrote:And how should a painting on board be attached to a panel frame while keeping the method of attachment both invisible and reversible?

Well. I guess you could always try Velcro.

Personally, it seems to me that floater frames are fine for low value items. It seems to be a trendy thing (like gallery wraps) that will probably be dated in a few years time and thrown away in favour of the next trendy idea.

I recently had to frame a piece of original African art in a floater frame. The customer was adamant that she wanted it in a floater frame even after I explained it would have to be irreversibly bonded to fomecor with PVA adhesive. The picture was painted by a prominent African artist but the customer insisted thatw as what she wanted so that was what she got.

Mind you, the painting was acrylic (or possibly oil) on cheap cardboard (that had curled) so glueing it to some Fomecor probably extended its life somewhat.

It was a nice painting and she has three or four more she wants me to do in the same way. What we do for money.