The complete canvas guide
Canvas Wall Art, Made Properly
From woven canvas to gallery wrap and the final shadowline frame, this is exactly what you are choosing, how we make it in Australia, and what arrives ready to hang.
Start with the structure
What “gallery wrapped” actually means
A gallery-wrapped canvas is a printed canvas pulled evenly around a timber stretcher frame and secured on the back. The fixing points sit behind the artwork, not on the visible face or sides.
The canvas is already a complete three-dimensional artwork before the outer frame is added. You see the front image, a finished wrapped edge and the natural depth created by the stretcher beneath it.
- The canvas is tensioned across the front so it sits smooth and even.
- The printed material continues around all four sides.
- Fasteners remain on the back and out of normal view.
- The wrapped canvas is then set inside its floating frame.
The finished edge
Why our framed canvases do not have white borders
A white border belongs to a paper art print, where an unprinted margin can sit between the image and the frame. Canvas is constructed differently. It is printed edge to edge, then the side treatment wraps around the stretcher.
We use a mirror-wrapped edge. A narrow reflection of the artwork’s outer edge continues around the sides, allowing the full composition to remain visible on the front. There is no strip of raw white canvas interrupting the artwork.
The visual breathing room comes from the shadowline between the canvas and floating frame, not from a white margin printed onto the artwork.
The detail that makes it float
What is a shadowline?
A shadowline is the narrow, even gap between the wrapped canvas and the inside edge of its outer frame. On Olive et Oriel framed canvas, that reveal is approximately 5mm.
Because the frame does not overlap the front of the canvas, the entire artwork remains visible. Light falls into the recess and creates a fine shadow around all four sides. That shadow makes the canvas appear to float inside the frame.
You may hear this described as a floating frame, floater frame, tray frame or shadowline frame. “Shadowbox style” describes the recessed visual effect. It is not a glass-fronted display box.
- The frame adds a defined outer edge without covering the artwork.
- The wrapped canvas edge remains part of the finished presentation.
- There is no mat board, glass or acrylic between you and the canvas.
One construction, three finishes
White, black or oak finish frame
Our outer floating frames are made from solid timber and finished in three options. The finish changes the relationship between the artwork and your room, but not the gallery-wrap or shadowline construction.
Made by us in Australia
From printed canvas to finished frame
We control the canvas, stretch, frame and final inspection in our Central Coast manufacturing facilities.
- 01
Prepare
We prepare the artwork for the selected canvas size and create the mirror-wrap needed for all four sides.
- 02
Print
The image is printed onto woven canvas with archival pigment inks, then checked for colour and detail.
- 03
Stretch
Our team tensions the canvas around its timber stretcher so the face is smooth, square and evenly wrapped.
- 04
Frame
The wrapped canvas is fitted into its floating frame with an even shadowline, inspected and made ready to hang.
Know what you are choosing
Canvas wall art compared with a framed paper print
| Detail | Gallery-wrapped framed canvas | Framed fine art paper print |
|---|---|---|
| Printed surface | Woven canvas with visible physical texture | Smooth matte fine art paper |
| Front protection | No glass or acrylic over the image | Crystal-clear framing acrylic protects the paper |
| Edge treatment | Image is mirror-wrapped around the stretcher | Paper can be printed edge to edge or with a white border |
| Outer frame | Floating frame with a shadowline gap | Traditional frame overlaps the edge of the mounted print |
| Reflection | No glazing reflection; the canvas itself remains matte | A clear surface can reflect some room light |
| Arrival | Stretched, framed and ready to hang | Mounted, glazed, framed and ready to hang |
Choosing your size
Scale should look intentional
As a practical starting point, a single artwork above a sofa, bed or sideboard often looks balanced when it occupies roughly two-thirds of the furniture width. It is a guide, not a rule.
- Measure the available wall, then mark the canvas size with painter’s tape.
- Check the composition from the main doorway and normal seated position.
- For a bold focal point, choose the larger of two sizes that both fit comfortably.
- For pairs or trios, include the gaps between pieces in the total arrangement width.
Every product page shows the exact available canvas sizes. For personal help, send your wall width, a straight-on room photo and the artwork you are considering to help@oliveetoriel.com.
Living with canvas
Care, light and placement
Dust gently
Use a clean, dry, soft cloth or soft brush. Do not scrub the woven surface or use household cleaners.
Avoid direct sun and heat
Choose an interior wall away from sustained direct sunlight, fireplaces, heaters and hot air vents.
Keep the environment stable
Canvas and timber respond to moisture. Avoid direct water, persistent humidity and walls affected by damp or condensation.
Handle by the frame
Hold the outer frame with clean, dry hands. Canvas is lightweight and can be moved easily by one person.
Canvas questions, answered
What customers ask before ordering
Is gallery-wrapped canvas the same as framed canvas?
Gallery wrap describes the canvas stretched around its internal timber stretcher, with the printed edge finished on all visible sides. Our framed canvas takes that finished gallery wrap and sets it inside a separate solid timber floating frame.
What creates the floating or shadowline effect?
An even gap of approximately 5mm separates the wrapped canvas from the inside edge of the outer frame. Light falls into that recess and creates the shadowline that makes the canvas appear to float.
Why can I not add a white border to canvas?
A white border is an option for paper art prints. Canvas is printed edge to edge and mirror-wrapped around the stretcher. The shadowline supplies the visual separation between artwork and frame without adding a white printed margin.
Does framed canvas have glass or acrylic over it?
No. The woven canvas remains exposed, so you see its physical texture without glazing reflection. This is different from a fine art paper print, which is protected behind framing acrylic.
Will I lose part of the image around the sides?
We use a mirror-wrapped edge so the full composition remains visible on the front. A reflected extension of the outer image continues around the sides to create the finished gallery-wrap edge.
Is the oak option a solid oak frame?
No. Our floating frame is solid timber with an oak finish. You can also choose a white or black finish frame. The frame finish changes the look, not the gallery-wrap or shadowline construction.
Does framed canvas arrive ready to hang?
Yes. We fit the hanging system to the back and inspect the completed canvas before dispatch. Choose wall fixings that suit your wall construction and the finished artwork weight.
Are Olive et Oriel canvases manufactured in Australia?
Yes. Our own team prints, stretches, frames and checks the canvas in our Central Coast manufacturing facilities in New South Wales.
Can screen colour differ from the finished canvas?
Yes. Screens are backlit and their brightness and colour settings vary. The woven canvas surface also interacts with light differently from a screen. We print from the same approved production file represented online, but a physical print can appear slightly softer or less luminous than a bright display.
Can I return a framed canvas?
Return eligibility depends on the order and whether a sale, promotion or custom service applied. Read our current Returns & Exchanges policy before ordering, or contact Customer Care if you are unsure.
Ready for your wall
Choose the canvas that changes the room
Explore framed canvas wall art made in Australia, or ask our styling team to help you choose the right design, scale and frame finish.