Measure the stretched object
Use the actual outside dimensions of the stretched canvas, including any slight irregularity at the corners. The printed image dimensions may not be the same. Measure the depth of the stretcher as well, because the canvas can sit recessed, nearly flush, or proud of the surrounding frame depending on the construction.
Ask whether the frame's advertised dimensions describe the canvas it accepts or the frame's internal opening. Manufacturers allow for the gap in different ways. Do not add your own gap allowance unless the ordering instructions ask for it; otherwise you may receive a much larger opening than intended.
Look at the gap as a color
The space around the canvas often reads as a dark line, even in a pale frame. A narrow gap gives a contained, precise effect. A wider gap makes the separation more visible and can expose more of the canvas sides. Try a corner sample with the actual artwork if possible.
The treatment of those sides matters. An image wrap, a solid painted edge, and exposed fabric each create a different transition. If the canvas was printed with mirrored edges, inspect whether the repeated shapes remain noticeable inside the float frame. The frame should accommodate the existing object rather than conceal an ordering surprise.
Confirm the fastening method
A float frame must secure the canvas through an appropriate structural part of the stretcher, using hardware suited to its construction. It should not rely on squeezing the painted or printed face. Have a framer handle an original, fragile canvas or an uncertain mounting arrangement; the right method depends on the object's materials and condition.
Check the complete assembly for stability and record its finished weight before hanging. A float frame adds width, depth, and weight, even when its front edge looks slender. In a hallway, inspect the side projection from the normal walking route. The most satisfying result often comes from getting that physical relationship right before choosing between black, natural wood, or another finish.
