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Hahnemuhle 10 x 15.75" Standard Gallerie Photo Wrap as it is sold (still unpacked)

The back side of Hahnemuhle Gallerie Photo Wrap package

This photo better illustrates problems with Hahnemuhle Gallerie Photo Wrap packaging

Two Hahnemuhle Monet Canvas sheets enclosed are damaged.

Another view of damages to Hahnemuhle Monet Canvas sheets - they are not usable, effectively making Gallerie Photo Wrap useless.

So, instead of using Hahnemuhle Monet Canvas, we will use Moab by Legion Anasazi Canvas Premium Matte 350. Obviously, we will never waist our money again, and we will never buy again Hahnemuhle Gallerie Photo Wrap.

Originally, I did not plan to write about Hahnemuhle Gallerie Photo Wrap Frame, the entry level wrap frame from Hahnemuhle. Although idea is good, the details of its implementation make it completely unusable. So, instead of writing a negative review, I submitted a brief feedback to B&H store (New York, USA) (where I originally bought the product for testing and evaluation). Unfortunately, it appears that B&H customer review moderators decided that my feedback was too negative and could undermine their sales numbers - my brief explanation why the product is not good has never shown up on B&H site. Well, at this point, I decided to publish more extensive review on Naviquan.com.

First of all about wrap frames in general - what is this? Wrap frame is a stretcher frame for pictures that is supposed to be used without an outer frame. In other words, if traditional stretcher frames require additional external frames to look nice (by concealing parts of the inner frame to which canvas is attached), wrap frames are enough good looking to be displayed as they are - with canvas mounted on just one stretcher frame. In addition, wrap frames, with their simplistic rectangular shape without any decorations, has certain contemporary look that often appeal to many people.

The concept of wrap frames has several immediate advantages. Namely, they are supposed to be cheaper and easier in use. At the same time, they have their own problems: first, stretching canvas can be actually more difficult than with traditional frames. Besides, to offer enough "stretching" power for such tough material as canvas, wrap frames usually have rather thick lateral frame size (depth): from 1" for smaller pictures to 1¾" and even more for large pictures. This approach requires larger surface to glue to hold the canvas on frame. Because of this, wrap frames require larger prints where significant portion of the print is wasted for wrapping. As a result, wrap frames do not look good with smaller picture sizes.

Indeed, suppose you have a printer that allows for printing only 8.5" by 11" prints. Now, if the lateral size of the frame is one inch, and if the print margins are ½" (print borderless on canvas is a bad idea), it's not that difficult to calculate the maximum size of the stretched canvas. If the original size is 8.5" x 11", the resulting size is not more than 6.5" x 8.5". From my perspective, this makes wrap frames usable only for prints 13" x 19" and larger.

To alleviate the problem with stretching canvas on wrap frames, Hahnemühle FineArt GmbH (Germany), one of the best art and specialty paper manufactures in the world, has come up with an interesting wrap frame system (patent pending as of July 2010) offering a quick and easy way to give any picture a gallery wrapped look. Currently, there are three products in this system:

Of all three versions of Gallerie Wrap frames, Gallerie Photo Wrap produces worst results; at the same time prices for this version of the product are very high (current street price is $30 for the 10" x 15¾" wrap). I encountered the following problems:

1. The manufacture packaging does not provide good protection for the media enclosed. This problem is especially serious with the larger (10" x 15¾") version of the photo wrap. Effectively, canvas inside the package had to go to trash since it would make the printer inoperable if I decided to use it (see photos illustrating the problem here and here). The problem is potentially aggravated even more by poor shipment packaging of the on-line retailer. In fact, I had to return the first shipment to B&H since the original package was jammed into a smaller shipment box without any regard to the delicate media inside.

2. What seems to be an advantage of Gallerie Photo Wraps - no need for positioning corners - in reality is a minus. To position stretcher bars, Gallerie Photo Wraps use rather heavy paper; in other words, bars are glued already to a piece of paper. When bars are folded up to a form a wrap, the paper remains inside the wrap. As a result, the final frame is not as accurate and tidy as when the canvas is wrapped directly against wooden bars.

Hahnemuhle Gallerie Photo Wrap consists of four bars glued to a piece of paper that holds them in a rectangular shape. Four staples are enclosed.

The other side of all four bars is self-adhesive. Initially, it is covered by a yellow tape.

Step 1: When you image is ready, peel off yellow protective tape from all sides of the Hahnemuhle Gallerie Photo Wrap.

Step 2: Center Hahnemuhle Gallerie Photo Wrap over your print (with back of the print up). This is a bit tricky since the adhesive on the Wrap easily sticks to the back of the print before you center it over the print.

Step 3: Press firmly on bars to make sure that Hahnemuhle Gallerie Photo Wrap forms a strong bond with the back of your print.

Step 4: Trim excess canvas from all sides of the print.

Step 5: Make 45 degree cuts at all four corners of the print beginning from the point where bars connect to each other. This is actually an important step - the quality of the final Wrap look depend on how accurately these cuts are done. To make your life easier, there are markings showing where you should start cutting.

Step 6: Fold corners up and press them against the exposed adhesive. Trim the tips of all corners.

Step 7a: Fold bars up to form a shallow box (wrap).

Step 7b: Insert staples into corners. Small hammer or any other tool will help you do this and avoid hurting your fingers.

That's how the back of the Hahnemuhle Gallerie Wrap looks like when the box is created.

Step 8: Insert center brace into slots located in the middle of longer bars.

Although not a part of the Hahnemuhle Gallerie Photo Wrap, I recommend to cover your print with a protective coating. Use mask to protect your lungs.

Step 9: Use well ventilated space to cover your Wrap with one or two coating of special varnish.