Media Arts Group, Inc.

Mark D Russell

John R Lackner

A method includes steps for modifying tensile stresses in an unpainted canvas that is mounted on a frame under applied tensile stresses. The canvas is formed of material that can undergo heat-shrinking when at or above a thermoplastic shrinking temperature, and can undergo heat-softening when at or above a thermoplastic softening temperature. The method includes heating the canvas to a temperature at or above the thermoplastic shrinking temperature and the thermoplastic softening temperature. The method further includes maintaining the canvas at a temperature at or above the thermoplastic shrinking and softening temperatures. This induces heat-shrinking, and thereby increases the tensile stresses in any portions of the canvas in which the applied tensile stresses are less than the opposing stresses of the heat-shrinking. This also induces heat-softening, and thereby decreases the tensile stress in any portions of the canvas in which the applied tensile stresses are greater than the opposing stresses of the heat-shrinking. The method further includes subsequently cooling the canvas to a temperature below the thermoplastic shrinking and softening temperatures, whereby the canvas becomes set in a condition of modified tensile stresses.

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Hollister, CA, United States of America

Mark D Russell