{"id":1563894,"date":"2025-05-21T02:28:09","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T01:28:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jacksonsart.com\/blog\/?p=1563894"},"modified":"2026-11-03T13:20:04","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T13:20:04","slug":"how-to-mount-artwork-in-a-frame","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jacksonsart.com\/blog\/2025\/05\/21\/how-to-mount-artwork-in-a-frame\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Mount Artwork in a Frame"},"content":{"rendered":"

You’ve chosen the frame for your artwork, now you need to work out how to mount the artwork in the frame. In this article we go over four common scenarios for mounting paintings on panel or canvas<\/a> in two popular styles of frames. Our How to Frame Artwork<\/a><\/em> series covers the fundamentals of framing your artwork through clear, visual guides.<\/p>\n

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This painting on a stretched canvas<\/a> has been mounted in a tray frame with a 5 mm shadow gap.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How to Mount Artwork in a Frame<\/h2>\n

Framing artwork offers both protection and a finished, decorative look. In the case of paintings on flat panels, it also allows the work to be hung, because they can be difficult to hang without a frame. If you are framing a stretched canvas or a painting on panel or board, and you have a frame ready-made or have assembled one of the bespoke frames yourself, then the next step is to mount (insert) the artwork in the frame. There are a few ways to do this depending on the type of surface you are framing, the style of the frame, and your preferences. If you still need to assemble your bespoke frame please take a look at How to Assemble a Jackson\u2019s Bespoke Frame<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Mounting a Canvas or Panel in a Frame<\/h2>\n

The ready-made frames come with all the hardware for mounting the work into the frame and hanging it. If you ordered a bespoke-size self-assembly frame you will need to purchase these fixings separately. They can be ordered with the frame pieces at the bottom of the frame builder page. <\/p>\n

Frames can be divided into two general styles: A tray frame, where none of the artwork is covered by the frame, the wood is only on the sides and the painting floats in the middle; and a frame with a lip that goes over the front edge of the artwork a little bit. <\/p>\n

Tray Frames (also called Float Frames)<\/h2>\n

To insert artwork into a tray frame you place the work in from the front. How you secure it to the frame depends on whether it is a stretched canvas or a flat panel. <\/p>\n

A tray frame usually has a 5 mm \u2018shadow gap\u2019 between the edge of the artwork and the frame. That is standard with Jackson\u2019s ready-made frames. But if you are ordering a bespoke frame you can choose a different gap. A gap of 10 mm can look very nice, especially if you want to see a bit of the side of the canvas. I remember really enjoying seeing the charcoal fingerprints of a famous artist on the sides of a float mounted canvas once. <\/p>\n

\"Shadow<\/a>
The frame on the left has a 10 mm shadow gap between the edge of the panel and the inside edge of the panel frame. That is the maximum size for this frame style. The frame on the right has a standard 5 mm shadow gap, which is what you\u2019ll find in our ready-made panel frames.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The maximum shadow gap for a panel frame is 10 mm because the platform strip you’ll be attaching the panel to, sits 10 mm in from the edge. If your artwork is smaller than that, there won\u2019t be enough surface area to secure it properly \u2013 and the platform will end up showing, too. Or you may think that the edges of the panel are not very attractive, in which case the shadow gap can be smaller if you want the wood right up next to the artwork edge. You decide the shadow gap width when you are giving measurements in the frame builder.<\/p>\n

\"Panel<\/a>
Another view of the 10 mm and 5 mm shadow gaps.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The frame is both decorative and protective. To be protective, the artwork should not protrude past the front face of the tray frame. So you\u2019ll need to check the measurements of the frame to match the thickness of your canvas or panel. The depth inside the frame for the artwork to sit in is called the rebate and it should not be shallower than your artwork. It\u2019s best if it\u2019s at least a few mm deeper. Jackson\u2019s ready-made panel tray frames, for example, have an 8 mm rebate depth and are recommended for panels of any thickness up to 6 mm.<\/p>\n

When mounting the work in a tray frame, you will need to judge that the gap around all four sides is equal before you attach your artwork. Cutting 4 strips of 5 mm foamboard or similar and inserting them on all sides can help when you’re trying to get the painting even. But in the end, you still make your final placement by eye, so take a moment to check along all the edges, looking directly from above, to judge that the gap is even all around.<\/p>\n

\"Panel<\/a>
A panel frame has a recessed plinth to apply the double-sided foam tape to. Your panel is then attached to the tape.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mounting a Flat Panel or Board in a Panel Tray Frame<\/h2>\n

A panel is a flat sheet of wood and a board is made of thick cardboard with canvas attached to the front and wrapped around. Both are flat on the back. They are usually too thin to screw into. You secure a flat panel or board to the inside of a panel tray frame by inserting it from the front onto heavy duty, double-sided, foam tape that is placed inside the frame. The artwork is designed to sit lower than the front of the frame \u2013 not flush with it. How much lower is up to you \u2013 it can be just a little, or quite a bit, depending on your preference. <\/p>\n

An instruction leaflet showing you how to mount your panel comes with the ready made panel frames. <\/p>\n

Note:<\/strong> A cradled panel is not treated the same as a flat panel. It has bars of wood around the edges on the back that prevent warping, and make the panel look thick from the side. And the bars create a hollow area in the back for hanging or framing. You can treat a cradled panel more like a stretched canvas because you can screw into the bars. It is also too deep for any of our panel frames.<\/p>\n

Materials:<\/strong><\/p>\n