Choosing the Right Stretcher Bar
Stretcher bars come in a variety of weights and sizes to suit the specifications of different types of canvases. Artists can customize the look and feel of a canvas by using different stretcher bars. A small painting can be built economically and quickly with lightweight or standard stretcher bars. Artists can also add dimension to a small painting by building it with heavy duty stretcher bars, creating a small piece that really stands out from the wall. However, large paintings require heavy duty bars. Canvases stretched on long spans of lightweight stretcher bars run a greater risk of warping over time. Cross braces greatly reduce the tendency for a canvas to warp and provide extra strength and stability. The recommended spacing of cross braces is every 24" - 36".