Float-mounting a canvas
A float frame — sometimes called a floater — holds a canvas so that it sits inside the moulding with a small, deliberate gap all the way around, rather than being overlapped by a rebate. The effect is that the canvas appears to float within the frame, the painted edges stay visible, and a neat shadow line runs around the piece. For contemporary canvases it is often the most sympathetic way to frame them.
Why float rather than a traditional frame
A conventional frame sits over the front edge of the artwork, covering a few millimetres all round. On a print behind a mat that is exactly right. On a gallery-wrapped canvas, where the image often continues around the sides and the artist finished those edges on purpose, covering them is a shame. A float frame respects the object: it surrounds the canvas without touching the face, and it treats the piece as the three-dimensional thing it is.
A mat presents a picture. A float frame presents an object.
How we build one
The float frame is deeper than it is wide, forming a tray. The canvas is secured to a hidden platform set back from the front edge, so it sits proud within the tray with clear space around all four sides. We fix it from behind, into the stretcher bars, using screws or brackets that never pass through the visible face. Nothing on the front of the artwork is pierced, covered, or glued.
The size of the gap is a real decision. A narrow gap of a few millimetres reads as crisp and modern; a wider one gives a more dramatic shadow and a sense of the canvas hovering. We set it to suit the piece and, honestly, to your taste — it is one of the few framing choices that is purely aesthetic, and it is worth seeing a couple of options on the bench.
Finishes
- Natural wood floats keep things warm and contemporary and suit most palettes.
- Matte black or white floats disappear and let the canvas carry the wall.
- The inside faces of the tray can match or contrast the outer moulding for a subtle line of colour in the gap.
Depth and weight
Float frames need to match the depth of the stretcher so the canvas neither sinks below the frame nor stands above it. Deep gallery canvases need deeper floats, which we make to measure. Because there is no glass, they are lighter than a comparable glazed frame — but the hanging still deserves care, especially on a large piece.
If you have a stretched canvas — a painting, a print on canvas, or a piece of needlework we have stretched for you — a float frame is well worth considering. Bring it in and we will hold a few moulding corners around it so you can see the gap and the shadow before deciding.