Trimming canvas backdrop down to size

[Warm Effects]

I hope I'm posting this in the correct forum. I've searched on this topic and cannot find anything.

Here is my dilema. I purchased a 10x20 hand-painted canvas backdrop from Backdrop Outlet during their huge moving sale this past weekend. It's a real nice mottled Masters collection-looking type of canvas. My problem is that my in-home studio can only accomodate a 9' backdrop. So, I need to trim off one foot from the width of my new backdrop.

What is the best method for doing this? I assume I should trim equal amounts from both sides (i.e. 6" from each side). But what is the best method for actually trimming it? It is rolled up without any sort of tube or core right now. I do not have the space to unroll it completely and trim it. Is there a way to trim the backdrop while it is rolled up? What kind of tool would you use? Would I need to treat the cut edges with anything after the surgery?

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

-Robb

[Ty G]

I would bring it to a seamstress and have it cut and sewn. Canvas will fray. You can cut it yourself and hem it. If you are determined to cut it while still rolled on the tube, a woodworking band saw should do it. Another option is cut it yourself with sissors and get some iron-on hem tape.

[Warm Effects]

Thanks for your reply, Ty. I got a little impatient last night and decided to cut it myself. I needed to cut off a foot, so I marked off 6" from each end of the roll. I then used a fine-tooth hacksaw to do the actual cutting. Luckily, it came out looking pretty good. My arms were tired as all heck because it took forever to cut through the canvas using such a fine-toothed saw. I then rolled out the canvas and rerolled it onto a 9' aluminum EMT pole to be installed in my new manual roller system.

Now that I have my canvas backdrop cut to size and installed on my manual roller system, I have another question. What do I use on the bottom edge of my backdrop to weigh it down and help it hang straight and not curl up? Most of the roller system pictures I see on the net show some long straight metal looking thing on the bottom edge. Product descriptions of the roller systems refer to these as a cutting edge. Where can I get cutting edges for my backdrops? Is this something I can fabricate myself?

[Ty G]

I'm actually making a backdrop for a motorcycle show now. This is the third I've made. From the start I sew a fold along the top of the canvas and also a fold along the bottom of the canvas. I slide the "hanging" pole through the top and also another pipe or PVC pipe through the bottom fold to weight it down as well as keep it flat from wrinkling.

[Warm Effects]

Ty, that's a great idea for my canvas backdrop. I may try that, too. Unfortunately, I don't havea sewing machine. Is there a special kind of hem tape I can use on canvas that would hold up with normal use?

Do you have any suggestions on what kind of hanging weight to use for seamless paper? My manual roller system has three rolls, 2 are seamless paper and the other is my new canvas.