5 Things to Consider When Selecting Artwork for Your Home ( A Ramble About Framing )
Today I'd like to add a Part 3 to our series about How to Select Artwork for Your Home. Originally, I only covered various types of art and prints, and some considerations on where and how one might display them in various home or office environments. As I was finishing up Part 2, it dawned on me that an additional helpful article might cover another aspect of displaying your fine art pieces: framing.
Picture framing provides two important services for a piece of art—protection and presentation. Protection is provided with proper materials and methods. Presentation begins with designing the project. The presentation should complement the art. Framing fine art can be done either by a custom framing professional, or, if you're a creative type, even by your own hand. It's not rocket science, but I would like to share a few whys and hows of picture framing techniques. I'll include some links to a few fabulous industry resources at the end of the post. In the meantime, let's jump right in and check it out!
Why Frame Prints, Memorabilia, and Artwork?
Yes, you can frame your own pictures using tools and supplies readily available from art supply, photography, or craft supply stores. Photographs, paintings, art prints, children’s art, diplomas, newspaper clippings, and needlework are just a few of the many items the do-it-yourself framer can frame for display. Picture framing is an important part of room decor. It allows us to display photographs of favorite people and places. It lets treasured memorabilia be part of daily life, instead of tucked away in a drawer. It provides a method of display for collected prints and works that bring joy and color to our lives.
Preserving your beloved photos or prints is one reason "conservation framing" or "archival framing" might be chosen. Antique photos, limited edition prints, things like that, deserve to be protected and preserved, extending their lifespan and value for years to come. It might be sentimental value, or monetary value, but either way, you want to protect your investment, and proper framing techniques and materials will do just that. And of course, if your treasured item is paper or fabric, time and the elements will have their way with those materials, so it's a good idea to take whatever preservative measures you can in displaying them.
Professional picture framers use the term “conservation” to refer to the materials and techniques used for framing art of value. The goal is preservation, protecting the art and ensuring that the framing process itself does no harm. For conservation framing, all materials must be clean, stable, and acid-free, and all materials in contact with the art must be completely reversible without any damage to the art.
What Sort of Materials Are Used in Archival Framing?
The basic materials required are available at many art supply or craft supply stores. Frame, mat or matboard (if desired for your design), glass or acrylic glazing, backing or mounting board and paper, and hanging/mounting hardware. Some kits include everything you need; or, if you are the crafty type and desire to do it yourself, the components can be purchased separately. Additionally, if you prefer, a custom framing shop is a great place to take your treasured piece and have a professional work with you and choose a perfect platform in which to display your print or artifact.
A typical frame shop array of moulding (frame) samples
Frames:
Available in all manner of colors and materials-- metal, wood, gold leaf, acrylic. Choose a frame that will either enhance or coordinate with your artwork, or simply provide a subtle display, giving all the spotlight to your print.
Metal frame moulding samples
Frames can be purchased in a few way. First of course, you have ready made frames, which generally come in standard sizes, such as 5x7, 8x10, 11x 14, 16x20, and on up, so on and so forth. These are generally affordable , but have some limitations, such as depth and room for matting. They also may not be an option for unusually shaped or sized art. For this you may need to move on to custom sized frames.
Gold leaf wood frame moulding samples
Frame mouldings also come in "lengths". These are in varying widths, as are the precuts and ready made frames are, as well as different depths. The "rabbet" depth is the depth of the moulding or frame where your art, the glass, the backing, and any other framing materials sit in the frame. Depending on what you are framing, you'll want to consider the depth of your chosen frame moulding depth when designing your fram.
Rustic and "barnwood" style wood moulding samples
So many choices! But check out the websites I've linked to at the end of this article for some great detailed advice, or visit a local professional frame shop. They aren't out to get your money. They are artists and Craftsmen themselves, and will be happy to walk you thru your options and explain all the pros and cons of various framing techniques and materials. A professional frame shop knows their stuff, and want to help you preserve your treasured memories of collectibles!
Matting:
A paper border, acts as a "buffer" of sorts, either visually or physically, for your print.. As with a frame, choose matting with an eye toward complimenting a color or colors or feature of the work, or to provide a simple background that gives the spotlight to the work, Matboard is available in a variety of colors, textures, and materials, many made of archival materials which will extend the life expectation of the print or art for many years to come, and help protect it from the elements.
Regular mat board is recommended for easily reproducible art that is expected to be exhibited for just a few decades. Most posters, digital photography and unsigned, unnumbered prints fall into this category.
Conservation grade, archival quality mat boards are recommended for items that have the potential to increase in value over time due to rarity and demand. This may include limited edition prints, signed and numbered prints, and some original art.
Museum grade rag is recommended for rare and valuable art that requires protection for generations to come.
Matboard samples
The five basic types of Matboard at a glance:
• Regular Mat Board (sometimes called Paperboard) offered by Bainbridge and Crescent a 4-ply acid neutralized mat board, the industry standard and the most popular kind.
• Alphamat Artcare by Bainbridge is a conservation quality archival mat board made of alpha cellulose fibers. 100% acid and lignin free throughout.
• Rag Mat Board by Crescent is an acid free, lignin free cotton core mat board. Archival quality. Face papers are acid neutralized. • Museum Rag 100 by Crescent is a 100% cotton mat board. Both the core and face papers are acid and lignin free. Archival. Conservation quality.
• Black Core Mat Board, a subcategory of regular mat board with the same acid-neutralized core but black rather than cream color.
(Read more here:https://framing4yourself.com/pages/picture-framing-tips-and-techniques/matt-board/)
3M Acid Free Photo Mount spray adhesive
3M Spray Mount Repositionable Adhesive spray
Photo mounting supplies (if you purchase a print from my collection, your print will arrive pre-mounted and ready for framing, if requested) include a quality conservation, acid-free tape to attach print to matboard hinge-style at the edges. Some prints can also be mounted directly on an acid-free mat or foam board with spray adhesive, although I don't personally recommend doing so, as this can damage the print and lower any monetary or collectible value of the piece by doing so. If you choose to mount an inexpensive print or poster to board before framing, be sure to choose a quality mat or foam board and a good 3M spray adhesive such as 3M Photo Mount, or 3M Repositionable Spray Adhesive. The respositionable spray adhesive is great to use if you anticipate needing to reposition the work or only need to hold it in place temporarily until frame assembly is complete.
Above you can see some examples of what different styles and colors of matting can do for a print. Don't forget to take into consideration not only the artwork itself, but the room in which you intend to display it!
Glazing:
A glass or acrylic sheet fitting the frame, which further protects your work from dust, moisture, and environmental elements that all conspire to gradually deconstruct the artwork you wish to display. ( This is not necessary for works on canvas, such as oil or acrylic media.)
Glazing, available in glass or acrylic, covers and protects artwork in a picture frame from damaging factors such as temperature changes, moisture, pollutants, and touching. Some glazing options also protect against UV radiation, which fades or discolors artwork over time. Neither glass nor acrylic is perfect for all art framing, both have advantages and disadvantages.
Example you might see in a good frame shop of how different types of glazing will affect the work you are framing
Your average clear, non-coated glass is what you'll find in most ready made picture frames. It is also available in various sizes from framing supposed?Idea and shops, and they will cut it to size for you. Regular glazing is the most affordable option . Acrylic glazing is a great option if you want an unbreakable option. It can also be purchased precut or from a frame shop, cut to size. It does have one drawback, though. It can be easily scratched. But it also provides a lighter weight option for large framed artwork, so it may be worthwhile for your project.
In some cases, your print or artwork may require more protection than regular glass offers. That's where you have options such as filtering glass and acrylic, which will protect from fading due to light exposure. For areas where environmental lighting may cause reflections on your glazed artwork, thus interfering with your viewing pleasure, you can use non-coated glass or acrylic to protect it. However, be aware that for matter works or deeper rabbetted frames, non-coated is not practical, as it will mute your print and make your it difficult to see well. So, again, consider where the work will be displayed when designing your frame.
Mounting accessories and hardware:
In order to properly finish the framing job, your frame will need to be completed with a backing (most likely acid-free matboard or foam core board, depending on depth of frame and type of artwork), a backing paper to seal it (and also give it a nice, professional finished look), and correct hardware with which to hang it. Following are some examples of the finish of your framed peice, depending on whether it is a wood frame, metal frame, or canvas mounted piece:
Hardware for metal frame assembly and hanging hardware
Hardware for wood frames:
Finished backing with double-sided tape and kraft paper, to seal your print and frame components from dust and exposure
Various types of hanging brackets, eye hooks, and loops, screws, picture wire, and hangers
Proper application of hanging wire on wood frame
Completed hanging assembly on the back of a framed canvas artwork
Picture hangers, different sizes for different weights. Hanging wire for the back of the frame will vary also, depending on size of work and weight of finished framed piece.
Some Final Thoughts
A common complaint of late has been the cost of picture framing. For those who frame with some regularity, the cost of going to a frame shop is an uncomfortable burden. For those who frame only occasionally, it’s a shock! The cost of professional picture framing has climbed in recent years as suppliers and mass merchandisers have shifted the emphasis to costly, archival framing—the Cadillac of framing treatments—and the small, independent frame shops, once the purveyors of a low-priced alternative, have fallen by the wayside. But if you take into consideration the cost of materials and the patience, care, and know-how it takes to properly care for and protect your valued artwork or photos, you can see where the cost is , and why a good framing job is a worthwhile investment. After all, you're either financially or emotionally invested in the item your interested in framing, and want to enjoy it for a long time to come! Why not frame it up right? At the end of this article, I've provided some links to some great custom framing establishments around the U.S. Don't let the cost of custom framing scare you off! Go visit your local custom framer and let them share their knowledge and experience and creativity with you soon!
And if you're the crafty type, and interested in trying your hand at framing yourself, picture framing is a creative, fun, and satisfying endeavour to pursue. Many of the supplies you'll want or need are available from some of the links I've provided here, online, and also from some brick & mortar shops in your area. Read more about picture framing, if not to learn how to do it for yourself, at least for an understanding of how to better preserve and enjoy your collectibles. You'll be glad you did!
Helpful links:
Intriguing Custom Framing Shops to Visit:
(Much of the information and imagery in this article can be credited to these links)
The Great Frame Up, St. Louis IL
Kings Custom Framing, Pinehurst, NC
The Grapheteria, Portland ME
Informative Custom Framing Links to Check Out:
Sorry to make this post so long, but if you are serious about selecting and collecting art prints and such, framing is an important part of the process, so you can enjoy your treasures for years to come!
Questions? Comments? Please use the comment area below and share with me! I'll be happy to discuss framing ideas further, or learn more tips and tricks from you! Let me know what you think!