Lining paintings, mistakenly referred to as re-lining paintings, is a process of attaching a new layer of support under the old deteriorated linen, or canvas support. The lining provides strength and durability to old, brittle, or torn canvases and is considerably less difficult or risky than transferring, where the old canvas support is completely removed from the gesso ground under the design surface and adhered to a new support surface.

If the painting to be lined is torn, the tears need to be closed by weaving, or welding the previously aligned threads together and any planar distortions, distended areas, puckers or bulges need to be brought to plane. To minimize the likelihood of the repaired areas to become visible as ridges, often a dimensionally stable inter-layer of polyester (Mylar/Melinex)or epoxy- resin infused infused glass-fiber board (G10) is put between the old canvas and the new canvas support. This inter-layer relieves the tension on the repaired torn threads of the old canvas and improves the eventual reversibility of the lining process.