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Design/Layout We first ask if you, the customer, have a design and/or colors in mind? If yes, we always try
to work with your ideas. If not, we might ask a series of questions about location, size, environment, and color.
When multiple objects are being framed, we may want to consider several designs and ask that you come back to approve your
choice. - Your
final choice will depend upon the art, location, design, and budget. - Basics of Conservation Framing The environment around us is basically acidic. Air pollution, sulphur
dioxide from vehicle emissions, and most everything that we consider a convenience today generates some form of damaging airborne
product that can damage a piece of paper art over a period of time. Insect infestation, moisture condensation, and household
cooking oders all contribute to the deterioration of paper products. The paper itself, if made from wood products, contains
acids (called lignins), which will break down paper over a long period of time, even if no other outside influence is present.
Most limited edition art prints, therefore, are manufactured on 100% cotton rag paper stock which contains no wood pulp products
and is totally acid free. But this isn't enough to ensure the long term preservation of art prints unless they are properly
housed in some form of display that is designed to conserve the art work and protect it against deterioration. This
process of using the proper materials to mount and display a work of art is called "Conservation Framing" and is
a very exacting and precise process. The prints should be mounted to an acid free backing board using acid free hinges
or archival corners that will not stain or burn the paper art touching it.
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Basics of Matting Art mat boards are used primarily to separate the art print or image being framed from the surface
of the glass protecting it. Moisture condensing on the inside of the glass can cause the image to stick to the glass
and permanently damage the image. A mat or series of mats are placed between the image and the glass to allow air to
circulate and minimize condensation on the glass. This is important because moisture will condense where there is no
air gap, inviting mildew and mold. In addition, mats can enhance the look by complimenting the color scheme of
the image or draw the viewer's eye toward the focal point of the image by providing a visual background. For this purpose,
the wider the mat, the better. If the mat overpowers the art, then the mat color is wrong. Mat width affects the
visual importance of the finished piece. Narrow mats are usually more distraction than enhancement; wide mats create
focus toward the artwork. - Color choice - The top mat should be neutral in color, and of less color intensity
than the art. If the top mat dominates, it will distract from the art. Additional mats beneath the top mat can
be used to provide accents for color coordination with surroundings or to emphasize certain colors in the art. - Decoration
- This is a matter of opinion; mat decoration can enhance or detract from art. Common techniques include ink
lines, fillets, V-grooves, watercolor panels, and fabric wraps. Be imaginative, but conservative with mat decoration.
Only 100% cotton rag mats should be used for matting valuable images because the mat and paper that the image is printed on
are in constant contact with each other. Acid migration can occur using a conventional paper mat made of wood pulp. - Framing
Notes Frame mouldings come in a large variety
of styles and sizes. Choices of frame mouldings in wood, metal, and composite materials give the art owner a nearly
unlimited selection of styles, widths, and finishes from which to choose. When the frame package is prepared and assembled
properly, the frame moulding should never come in direct contact with the image paper. This would allow for acid migration
from the wood to the paper and would contribute to premature deterioration of the print paper.
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Basic Glazing Options Glazing options include: regular glass, non-glare glass, conservation (filters ultra violet) clear
glass, non-glare conservation glass, clear non-reflecting glass with and without UV filter, Museum Glass (coated and non-reflecting),
clear acrylic, non-glare acrylic, and UV filtering acrylic in both clear and non-glare. - Final Fitting of the
Frame Package The final fitting of the art
package is as important as the materials used in its construction. It should be designed so that all the parts fit perfectly
and nothing is loose or moving around within the frame. Glass should be cleaned to perfection and there should be no
lint or other foreign debris left on the mats or image. The framed package should be sealed with a dust cover, which
is adhered to the back of the frame. This cover helps to keep dust, moisture, and insects out of the framed area and
further reduces the possibility of damage to the art. Hanging hardware should be properly sized to support the weight
of the framed art and rubber bumpers should be attached to the bottom corners of the frame to help hold is away from the wall
and prevent excessive "shifting around" after it is hung. To do this correctly takes considerable time and
is rarely noticed by the customer unless it is done wrong. - The Finished Package The end result of all these processes is to provide the art buyer with a finished piece that can
be displayed proudly and offer the protection to the art piece from contamination that cannot be received from other sources.
Much of the time spent on conservation framing is dedicated to causing something NOT to happen and is a very important, albeit
little known, part of the framing process. The next time you look at a piece of framed art, consider the time it took
to NOT have lint or dirt in the print area or on the surface of the mats. And think about what was required to get all
the mat borders evenly cut and precisely the same size. Appreciate the fact that there are absolutely no fingerprints
on the inside of the glass and the mitered corners of the picture frame fit properly. These assets aren't automatic
to the process of conservation framing.
Custom Framing Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Myths
Services
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