How to Use Floater Frames to Display Museum-Worthy Art

Frames can make or break a piece of art. There’s a reason why art galleries choose certain frames for their collections — even a priceless Picasso would look cheap in a frame from a discount store.

You don’t have to have an art gallery budget to make your art look priceless, though. Canvas float frames are designed to mimic the look of fine art in a gallery, but for a fraction of the price.

What Are Floater Frames?

Floater frames get their name because of the optical illusion they create: the canvas looks as though it is “floating” inside the frame. This effect occurs because the inside edge of the frame is ½-inch from the side of the canvas, both protecting the canvas and giving it an appearance that is unlike any regular frame.

Floater frames at Frame Destination range from 1 7/8 inches to 2 3/16 inches deep, which are perfect for gallery wrap canvases that are between 1 1/2 inches and 2 inches deep.

For example, the F141 float frame is 2-1/8 inches deep, providing a recessed appearance for the 2-inch tall S280 and S150 stretcher bar frames. In addition, this frame is available with a black inside and gold or silver face, which further emphasizes the floating look.

Floater frames are available in wood and metal as well as a variety of colors, including black, white, bronze, gold, silver and natural wood hues, and widths — from stately 2 1/4-inch wide wood floater frames to ¼-inch metal floater frames that let the artwork shine.

How to Order a Canvas Floater Frame

Ordering a canvas floater frame is easy: pick a frame, select a color and then enter the size of your canvas. To determine the correct floater frame size, enter the size of your stretcher bar frame, measuring the straight sides from corner to corner. With standard finished floater frames, we add one inch to the canvas size to allow for a 1/2-inch gap around the canvas. If you prefer a smaller gap, which may be better for flatter canvases, simply adjust the size of your canvas: if you have a 16 x 20 canvas, for example, you may enter 15-1/2 x 19-1/2 so that the floater is cut 1/2-inch smaller, resulting in a 1/4-inch gap along the sides.

Each floater frame comes completely assembled with glue and V-nails, along with mounting and hanging hardware. If you’d like to see what you get before you invest, order a sample set: you can order corner or straight sets of color frames or a selection of black and white frames to find the perfect match.

Can Non-Canvas Photos Use Floating Frames?

Turn almost any photo into a canvas by ordering a canvas through a specialized printing company. You can also print a photo on canvas with a regular printer, though you’ll need to follow some specific steps to stretch the canvas so that it will work with a floating frame.
Regardless of how you create the canvas, a floater frame is a sophisticated and impressive way to feature your art — for now and for years to come.