A complete canvas specification separates the finished stretcher size, the straight-on visible image and the material or image assigned to the wrapped sides. Saying only '24 by 36 canvas' can leave unresolved whether the number refers to the exterior object, a front image area, a printed flat fabric, or an artist's intended crop. Separating those fields reduces proof errors and disputes without forcing a single manufacturing system on every studio.
Define the outer finished object
Record the orientation and finished exterior width and height of the stretched object, plus its actual support depth when applicable. State the measuring units and whether the dimensions exclude or include a separate decorative outer frame. If a framed option is ordered, a second set of overall exterior dimensions may be needed. The product's weight, corner construction and mounting configuration are separate specifications, not values that can safely be inferred from length and width.
Use an unambiguous reference face in diagrams, especially when the canvas has a wide edge or a deep stretcher. The person preparing the artwork should know which front plane the exterior measurement describes. A wall planner may need the overall framed width, while a print operator needs the visible image size. If those parties work from different numbers without labels, a perfectly accurate print can still arrive larger than the space planned for it.
Imagine a proposed canvas described only as '60 by 90 cm.' That number could refer to the finished support or to the flat printed sheet, and two people could prepare incompatible files while believing they agree. Redraw the plan with three labeled rectangles: the actual exterior object, the visible-front image and the expanded flat fabric including side or finishing areas. Use the maker's verified support depth and margin requirements rather than inserting a generic allowance. This simple diagram makes the approved crop, not just the quoted size, understandable to the printer and customer.
State the visible-front image area explicitly
Specify the width and height of the image visible in a straight-on view, including any intentional front border. If there is a crop, record the crop coordinates or approved guide on the original artwork. Define whether a text margin is measured to the visible front edge or to the edge of a colored border. A signature close to a corner illustrates why those distinctions matter: a measured safe distance in the full flat file may disappear after wrapping.
Where the composition depends on exact positioning, measure from named reference points rather than relying on phrases like 'roughly centered.' Maintain the same aspect ratio during size changes unless a separate cropping decision has been approved. Use a labeled front-image proof that makes clear which details stay visible. The precise pixel dimensions and any enlargement or resampling belong in the production file record, not as an unexplained substitute for the physical dimensions.
Document sides, folds and production allowances
Describe the side treatment: image continuation, mirrored edge, solid color, or another actual service choice. State the relevant side-plane depth or designed side image width and the fold or finishing region as distinct parts of the layout. Do not invent a universal amount of spare fabric or fold width; the manufacturer should supply the specific guide. For a multi-panel work, identify which image features should meet between neighboring front faces and what happens at the edges.
Finish with the versioned artwork file, dated approval, and the exact supplier configuration. If a different support depth or frame style is substituted, check all related measurements rather than assuming the former crop remains correct. An annotated diagram can communicate the relationship between outer object, visible front and side image more reliably than a prose-only list. Keep that diagram with the job so production and customer approval refer to the same thing.
The essential distinction is between exterior object size, straight-on visible image size, and image or material allocated to the sides. Recording all three with consistent units and an approved guide helps prevent an avoidable mismatch between the image on a screen and the canvas installed on a wall.