Measure the width of the stage with a tape measure and divide this number by the width of your flats to determine the number of flats required for your background. Example: The most commonly used flat is 11 feet tall by 4 feet wide because it is easy to move and store; therefore, a 16-foot-wide stage would require four flats.
Locate or draw a small-scale pattern for your scenery in 2-inch to 1-foot proportions. Example: For a 16-foot-wide stage by 11-foot-tall flats, create a 32-inch-wide by 22-inch-tall pattern.
Divide, measure and mark the small-scale pattern into the number of flats required for your scenery. Cut the pattern with scissors on the marks, resulting in small-scale flat patterns. Example: A 22-inch-tall by 32-inch-wide pattern would result in four small-scale flat patterns.
Use a thin marker and a ruler -- working with one small-scale flat pattern at a time -- to divide each flat into eight equal parts. Draw a line in the center of one flat pattern from top to bottom; then draw an intersecting line in the center of the pattern from side to side. Now divide the top and bottom halves of the flat in half, again, by drawing another intersecting line in the center of both parts of the canvas from side to side. Cut the pattern with scissors on the marks. The result should be eight equal pieces for your flat pattern. With the pieces together like a completed puzzle, turn each piece over and number the back of the piece from left to right and top to bottom. Starting with the top left piece marked as "Flat 1, Piece 1" and the next piece to the right marked as "Flat 1, Piece 2" -- continue on until you have numbered all the pieces. Gather the pieces, put them in a zippered plastic bag and label the bag "Flat 1." Repeat this process for each flat.
Divide and mark each of the canvas flats into eight equal parts using a tape measure and the same process used to divide the small-scale flat patterns above. Then lay the canvas flats in order and side by side on a level surface with at least 3 feet between each flat to allow the artist room to move around the flats for painting.
Paint one of the eight pattern pieces onto a canvas flat -- working with one canvas flat at a time -- until all eight pieces have been reproduced on the canvas. Repeat this process for each flat and let them dry.
Move each canvas flat into position on the stage and secure the wood support braces with the provided hardware to the bottom of each flat to keep the pieces upright. Position and secure each flat side by side in the same manner.
Secure the back side of the canvas flat wood frames at the top of each adjoining flat together using 3-inch metal mending plates with the provided screws and a screwdriver to prevent them from separating.
Place coordinating props in front and to the side of the painted flats -- such as ficus trees in front of a garden backdrop or a dresser in a bedroom flat to bring dimension to the stage and complete the scenery.