materials
Canvas or linen is stretched on bars to create a surface. Stretcher bars come in a few different sizes. Generally they are referenced as 'standard' or 'heavy duty'. Larger canvasses almost always require heavy duty bars.
Here is an image of two sizes side by side. The first set is a standard stretcher and is 3/4" deep off of the wall and 1 1/4 in wide. Standard bars will always do best framed. The second pair is a heavy duty set of stretchers. This one is 1 1/4 deep off of the wall. When you hear the term 'gallery wrapped' this refers to canvas wrapped around heavy duty bars and stapled on to the back of the stretcher and not on the sides so it can be hung without framing. The image of the painting is often carried on to the sides of the stretched canvas, b ut not always. This may be something you want to consider. Heavy duty bars can be framed but nowadays are often hung on a wall by themselves without framing.
Here is an image of two sizes side by side. The first set is a standard stretcher and is 3/4" deep off of the wall and 1 1/4 in wide. Standard bars will always do best framed. The second pair is a heavy duty set of stretchers. This one is 1 1/4 deep off of the wall. When you hear the term 'gallery wrapped' this refers to canvas wrapped around heavy duty bars and stapled on to the back of the stretcher and not on the sides so it can be hung without framing. The image of the painting is often carried on to the sides of the stretched canvas, b ut not always. This may be something you want to consider. Heavy duty bars can be framed but nowadays are often hung on a wall by themselves without framing.