Prints come in standard sizes to accommodate framing. If the frame to be used is already assembled, proceed to the next step; otherwise, continue here. Stretcher strips can be purchased in most lengths standard to prints and comes in sets of two. The corners are usually at forty-five degree angles and are cut in tongue and groove fashion that will snap together. The front can be identified by the raised, rounded edge. Snap the pieces together, making sure the rounded edges meet along the outer edge. The corners should form perfect right angles and can be checked with a t-square. Alternately, corner to corner measurements should be the same, which indicates the frame is in square.
Take the print and lay it face up on a table or flat workspace. Lay the completed frame over top of the print, the print image should be visible and centered in the interior of the frame. 2 to 3 inches of extra canvas should be apparent around the edges of the frame. Gently lift the canvas at each corner of the frame and use the pencil to mark the corner on the underside of the canvas. This helps to ensure that the image will remain centered throughout the process.
Remove the frame and place the print face-down on the table. Lay the frame on the canvas, making sure the face of the frame with the rounded edge is against the back of the canvas. Line up the corners of the frame with the pencil marks.
If the print/frame is longer in one direction than the other, the stapling process will begin on one of the longer sides. Choosing one of the longer sides, grasp the extra canvas firmly, pull it over and hold it against the back of the frame. In the center point between the ends of the frame, place a single staple in the canvas. Repeat this on the opposite side of the frame. Then repeat on the two shorter sides. There should be four staples holding the canvas to the back of the frame at this point.
Turn the frame over and check to make sure the print is still properly centered. If so, continue to the next step. If not, use a small screwdriver to remove the staples. Adjust the frame against the back of the canvas as necessary to achieve proper centering and replace the staples.
With the print properly centered, place it and the frame face-down on the table again. Place two staples, one to each side, of each of the four original staples. Continue this process, two staples per side, in the same manner until the canvas is about two thirds attached on each side.
There should be loose canvas at each corner. The optimal way fold these corners is mimic a military sheet fold. This means folding a pleat into the canvas on one side of corner, pressing the pleat down against the back of frame and folding the remaining canvas over it from the other side of the corner. It may take a few tries to get the corner to look right. Once the pleat and over-fold are in place, put a staple or two into the canvas at the corner to hold it in place. Repeat this process on the other three corners.
The final step in the process is to finish stapling down the remaining canvas between the corners and where the stapling was stopped at the the two thirds mark. Follow the same two staples pattern that was employed previously until the corners have been reached. The print has now been gallery wrapped.