FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
On this page we answer the most frequently asked questions about the tiltSTOP system and the Bigfoot – from the right size and correct mounting to special cases with different frames, cables and picture weights.
What size do I need?
Because it's a bit complicated, we've developed a special online size guide for you, which we highly recommend using: Open size guide
The correct Bigfoot size depends on the position of the pictures center of gravity, the cable length, and the paintings height. The position of the center of gravity is particularly individual to each painting; therefore, the correct position for the upward-running cable lies somewhere between 1/3 and 2/3 of the pictures depth.
To make the selection as easy as possible, we focus on the following when recommending sizes:
the depth of the picture and combine this with information about
picture weight , which results, for example, from the application of paint or the painting surface, and with
Information on cable length .
For overlapping size ranges:
- For paintings with normal paint application on canvas, e.g. acrylic paintings, oil paintings, pourings, gouache, pastels etc., if in doubt choose a smaller size .
- For paintings with a lot to a very large amount of paint applied to canvas or wood – e.g., mixed media works with ash, rock flour, pigments, rust, bitumen, mortar, cement, plaster, lots of filler, etc., assemblages or collages, paintings with glazing – it's better to go for a larger size .
If the cable above the image is shorter than the image is tall, this may also indicate that a smaller size is needed. A size selection aid can be found on the packaging. However, we strongly recommend using our online size guide, as it will suggest the correct size after you enter your picture details.
What do I need to assemble the Bigfoot?
The following parts are included with the product:
4 short screws for attaching the pair of Bigfoot to the picture
1 reusable cardboard spacer to adjust the correct distance of approximately 2.5 mm between the top of the picture and the angle.
2 longer screws , onto which the rope hooks can later be attached.
The following will also be needed:
a screwdriver or cordless screwdriver with internal hexagon (Torx) size T10
a pencil for marking the screw positions
a ruler, measuring tape or folding rule
Optional: a spirit level
The assembly of the system is described step by step in the enclosed instruction manual.
For which cables and ropes is the Bigfoot suitable?
Bigfoot can be used for Perlon or nylon cables as well as coated and uncoated steel ropes that do not exceed a diameter of 2mm.
What is the purpose of Bigfoot's 5 toes?
The cable is threaded into one of the notches between two toes and thus redirected. To allow users to find the ideal position, each Bigfoot has four notches in four different positions, enabling easy adjustment.
Can the Bigfoot system be reused?
Yes, the Bigfoot system can be reused. That's why we deliver the products in resealable bags.
Despite the rope deflection at the top, my picture is still sticking out from the wall, what should I do?
If the picture lies flat against the wall at the bottom despite the Bigfoot system, and always at the top
If the rope still protrudes from the wall, this is because the upward-running rope is not yet far enough away. If the adjustment range on the Bigfoot is insufficient, simply switch to the next larger size. The mounting points are identical, ensuring a quick and easy changeover.
My picture is now sticking out from the wall at the bottom, what should I do?
If the picture, mounted using the Bigfoot system, now sits flush against the wall at the top but sticks out noticeably at the bottom, this is because the upward-running rope is positioned too far from the wall. If the adjustment options on the Bigfoot aren't sufficient to bring the rope closer to the wall, you simply need to switch to the next smaller product size. The mounting points are identical, ensuring a quick and easy changeover.
I can't find the correct rope position; the picture always sticks out at one corner. What can I do?
If only one or two diagonally opposite corners of the picture stick out from the wall, then the picture is very likely warped. Unfortunately, the Bigfoot system can't do anything about that; the picture itself needs to be straightened.
The height of the picture can no longer be adjusted on the hook, what is the reason for this?
There is a lot of friction at the rope pulley on the Bigfoot, which prevents adjustment of the rope. To adjust the height, you therefore have to unhook the rope from the Bigfoot, adjust the height at the rope hook, and then reattach the rope to the Bigfoot.
Can the Bigfoot only be attached to wooden frames?
The Bigfoot and the included screws are designed for wooden surfaces. Attachment to wooden frames, stretcher bars, gesso boards, wooden panels, or wooden painting boards is therefore very easy.
Depending on your skill level, adaptations to other surfaces such as metal frames or frame back panels are also possible. Please ensure you use sufficiently strong fasteners. On the
On the help page we show how to attach the Bigfoots to the steel frame:
Can I continue to use my eyelets for the rope hooks?
If the eyelets themselves don't cause the picture to be pushed away from the wall, they can be used. Personally, we find attaching rope hooks to protruding screws much easier, faster, and more flexible, even independent of the Bigfoot system.
Why does the Bigfoot have 3 holes per angle but only two screws for fastening?
Generally, one screw in the top hole and one screw in one of the two bottom holes of the bracket are perfectly sufficient. Since frames, stretcher bars, or wooden bodies sometimes have quite narrow profiles, it's not always possible to attach both the top and bottom mounting points of the Bigfoot to the upper, horizontal frame member. If this isn't possible, simply slide the Bigfoot bracket outwards until one of the two lower holes is positioned above the side, vertical part of the frame, allowing it to be screwed in. The third hole remains unused. The Bigfoot brackets are designed for profiles with a minimum thickness of 10 mm.
What is the maximum weight my picture can be?
The maximum load capacity per Bigfoot is stamped into the product and is given in kilograms (kg) and, for English-speaking countries, in pounds (lbs). With two mounting brackets, the picture can therefore weigh up to twice the maximum value.
What happens if my picture is too heavy?
If the picture is too heavy for the Bigfoots, they will bend. Breakage of the bracket or screw failure is unlikely. As a precaution, deformed brackets should not be straightened or reused.
How can I make it easier to screw in the screws?
If you're having trouble screwing in the screws despite using the correct, unworn tool, pre-drilling the hole with an awl, nail, or similar object can help. A cordless screwdriver with a magnetized bit can also be useful. Temporarily fixing the bracket and/or the backing plate with tape can also be helpful. Laying the picture flat or leaning it against the wall often makes things easier as well.
Where exactly do you screw the Bigfoot in?
Generally, you have a lot of flexibility when choosing the position. It's advantageous if the position is chosen so that the cable or rope doesn't run diagonally across the mounting area, as this would otherwise contribute to an additional minimum distance to the wall.
The picture is hanging crooked, even though the rope hooks are at the same height. How do I fix it?
The cause may be that the fastenings for the rope hooks are attached at different heights on the picture. You can either correct this or adjust the position of the cable hooks accordingly. To do this, you must unhook the cable from the Bigfoot.
It is also possible that the rope is not taut when attaching it to the Bigfoot.
was. In this case, simply unhook the cable from the Bigfoot again.
Make sure the rope hook is still attached, and reattach the cable to the Bigfoot while keeping it under tension.
Small misalignments can also occur because the cables are hooked into different grooves on the left and right sides of the Bigfoot.
Where is the focus of my picture or painting?
This is highly individual. It usually lies near the middle of the pictures depth. In the case of heavy material works, wooden bodies or picture/object frames with glass, it is more likely to be shifted from the aforementioned position towards the viewer, while in the case of light acrylic works in shadow gap frames it is often located closer to the back of the painting.
You can determine its approximate position by hanging the picture on the tip of a screwdriver or similar tool and adjusting the position until the picture hangs vertically. The center of gravity will then be exactly below the tip of the tool.
What factors influence how far a picture stands away from the wall?
Besides the position of the pictures center of gravity, the length of the cable and the height of the picture also play a role. Particularly deep paintings stand out more than shallow ones. Small paintings on long ropes stand out more than large pictures on short ropes. Pictures with a lot of paint and material applied, frames with glass or wooden bodies tilt more forward than acrylic paintings on canvas due to their “front-heavy” center of gravity.
Where exactly do I need to attach the cable to the Bigfoot?
This correlates with factors such as how far a picture stands away from the wall. To simplify matters, the Bigfoot has an adjustment range and a size recommendation. In a simplified mechanical model, the correct distance (x) between the upward-running rope and the back of the picture is equal to the distance (s) between the pictures center of gravity and the back of the picture multiplied by the cable length (L) in relation to the sum of picture height (H) and cable length (L).
Does it matter where the rope is passed under Bigfoot?
This is irrelevant to the function, however, the rope is easier to hook into one of the grooves if the cable, coming from the rope hook, is guided past the Bigfoot on the inside of the foot or the side with the big toe and then runs under the Bigfoot from the inside of the foot towards the outside.
When attaching the cable to the Bigfoot, the cable hook comes loose from the picture. What can I do?
If this happens, the cable is not taut enough when hooking it on:
When hanging the picture, simply let it hang on the rope, or even press it slightly downwards and against the wall, and pull the cable towards you against this resistance and guide it under the Bigfoot.
Can you use Bigfoot to hang several pictures on top of each other on a pair of cables?
Yes, that's possible. The bottom picture will be equipped as described in the instructions. However, the pictures above must have Bigfoots on both the top and bottom. If the pictures have largely identical centers of gravity, they will all be equipped with Bigfoots of the same size. At the help page there is an installation video and manual for hanging one painting on top of each other with the Bigfoots.
To the manual
Does it matter which of the Bigfoots is screwed on the left or right?
None are relevant; the system basically works regardless. It's advantageous if the cable attached to the picture is threaded through at an angle from the "inside of the foot," as this makes it easier to hook in. However, the opposite arrangement is also possible, although hooking the cable in is then slightly more difficult.
Are the holes on the different Bigfoot models always in the same place?
Yes, they are always in the same place so that the Bigfoots can be changed quickly and easily if the size selection is suboptimal.
My picture is hanging too high now, what's the reason for that?
The deflection at the Bigfoot hook uses up some cable length, so the picture hangs slightly higher with the Bigfoot attached than without it. You can easily measure the difference at the top of the picture and adjust the cable hooks accordingly, lowering them by that amount.
What do the numbers 1 and 2 after the size indication on Bigfoot mean?
To hang a picture, you need two Bigfoots of identical size, one with the number 1 and the other with the number 2. Ideally, the one with the number 1 should be attached on the left, facing the back of the picture, and the one with the number 2 on the right. The Bigfoots will then stand upright like two feet on the painting.
What does the number on Bigfoot followed by kg mean?
This is the maximum weight in kilograms that one Bigfoot can bear without becoming permanently deformed. Since a pair of Bigfoots must be used per picture, the weight must not exceed twice this value.
What does the number at Bigfoot followed by lbs mean?
This is the maximum weight in pounds that the Bigfoots can support without permanently deforming. Since two (a pair) Bigfoots are required per painting, the weight must not exceed twice this value.
What should I do if I've lost the spacer plate?
The spacer plate helps with mounting, setting the 2.5mm distance between the Bigfoot and the top edge of the picture. Alternatively, you can mark the mounting point for the screw, which must be 5mm below the top edge of the picture. You can also place Bigfoots in sizes L-XXL, which are made of 2.5 mm thick sheet metal, underneath or at least place a cable sling underneath to prevent the rope from no longer being able to pass between the top of the picture and the Bigfoot after installation.
Which gallery rails can be used?
In principle, any system will work; the Bigfoot system is independent of the type of gallery rail. Only the cable or rope diameter of the hanging system is limited to a maximum of 2mm.
Do you need classic picture hooks? Rope or cable hooks?
Yes, picture hooks or cable hooks are still needed if you want to use the Bigfoot system. The Bigfoot simply redirects the cable; the picture itself remains attached to the cable hooks. The Bigfoot is the ingenious add-on that ensures the picture hangs parallel to the wall.
Do you need a picture bracket, apicture hanger or sawtooth hanger to attach the hook?
Not necessarily. Each Bigfoot set includes 3x25 wood screws for attaching the cable hooks. In our experience, using the screws allows for better positioning of the hooks so they don't push the picture away from the wall. However, other standard systems can also be used for attaching rope hooks, provided they can be positioned so the hook is recessed into the back of the picture. With the Bigfoot system, the height at which the cable hooks are attached to the picture is irrelevant.
Where is the hook attached?
Using a 3x25 wood screw included with the Bigfoot set or another commercially available system for attaching cable hooks, provided that the hook can be "recessed" into the back of the picture.
Is Bigfoot also the picture hanger?
No, Bigfoot merely redirects the cable; the picture hangs almost unchanged from the rope hooks.
Do you need a Bigfoot for hanging pictures on the wall without cables or ropes?
No, hanging a picture directly on screws or nails in the wall does not result in the unsightly tilting effect that pictures usually have on picture hanging systems. The Bigfoot is therefore obsolete in these cases.
Can I also use the Bigfoots for Casani wooden bodies or other wooden art panels or painting boards?
Yes, the drill pattern is designed so that the Bigfoot can be screwed onto profiles with a minimum width of 10 mm—this includes Casani wooden bodies. It is important that the wooden bodies have sufficient internal depth (similar to a canvas) so that the hook can disappear and does not protrude from the back.
Can the Bigfoot also be attached to metal frames?
Yes and no. The Bigfoot sets available for purchase are equipped with screws for direct mounting on wooden frames, stretcher bars, or wooden bodies, which is also preferred. Depending on your craftsmanship skills, it can also be attached to steel shadow gap frames, for example. A slightly simpler option is to drill holes in the steel frame at the desired mounting position using a suitable 4 mm drill bit and then screw the Bigfoot into the stretcher frame or wooden body of the painting using longer wood screws through these holes.
Those who are more experienced in metalworking can also attach the Bigfoot directly to a solid steel frame using M3 countersunk screws. To do this, core holes with a diameter of 2.5 mm must be drilled into the steel frame, countersunk, and then an M3 thread cut.
The help page contains brief instructions on how to drill the Bigfoot hole pattern into metal frames so that metal frames can also be hung using Bigfoots.
