Specifying Conservation Framing is an important form of insurance for your valuable artwork. This will keep your artwork as beautiful as it is today for long term future enjoyment.
As consumer, we bring artwork in to be framed for many different reasons. Sometimes we frame an item to create an attractive decoration for our home. Other times we frame the very things we value most, whether for commercial or sentimental value, to protect them from damage.
If It’s Worth Framing —- Frame It To Last!
What is Conservation Framing?
Put simply, Conservation Framing employs the use of materials proven to protect and maintain art in as close to its original condition as possible.
When should I ask for Conservation Framing?
At best, value is subjective. If it’s worth framing, it’s worth protecting. We recommend Tru Vue’s Conservation Quality Glass and Optium Acrylic featuring UV Protection on everything you have framed or will frame.
How can I be sure that I am getting Conservation Quality?
Let your Picture framer know that you want Conservation Framing employed on you project, especially your artwork. Specifically, request the following.
1. Specify at least 97% or greater UV Protection Glass.
UV light rays are one of the most dangerous elements that your artwork encounters. It will cause your colors to fade to a mere shadow of their former glory. It will also cause the materials themselves to start breaking down right in the frame.
Conservation Quality picture framing glass is specially formulated to protect framed works of art from the damaging effects of ultraviolet light. When you specify Tru Vue® Conservation Series of Glass or Optium acrylic, you are insuring that at least 97% of these most damaging light rays are filtered out before ever coming into contact with your artwork.
2. Specify Conservation Quality Artboard (AKA Mat Board).
Ordinary pulp-based matboard contains acids and lignins. Over a period of time they damage the artwork they come in contact with.
When going over your mat board options with your picture framer, ask him or her to only show you conservation quality mat board.
Conservation quality mat board is free of all acids. lignins and other impurities found in ordinary “pulp” board. The result is an inert or pH neutral board which causes no damage to the artwork it encases as time passes.
3. Request a careful adherence to proper conservation techniques for mounting the artwork (sometimes called “hinged”) and sealing your artwork.
Your picture framer should be fully versed in the specifics of conservation hinging. Be sure to remind him or her how much the piece means to you. Do not be afraid to demand that proper conservation standards be upheld.
Even if a piece has value of a more personal nature, it can certainly deserve Conversation Framing. Most pieces brought to a picture framer should be framed with conservation in mind. As a rule of thumb, if the item you are framing is irreplaceable, one-of-a-kind photograph, document or piece of memorabilia, or if it is an original work of art or a limited edition, it should be framed using conservation techniques and materials. The cost premium for Conservation Framing is marginal, and certainly well worth it.
Where do I go to receive Conservation Picture Framing?
The Picture framer that gave you this information did so because he or she believes in and practices Conservation Framing. It is important that you only trust your valuable picture framing projects to a trained professional who cares about the conservation process. Make sure they have experience and the necessary skills and techniques, and who is totally committed to using high quality conservation materials throughout your entire project.
To learn more about conservation quality picture framing supplies visit www.mmdistributors.com.
To prevent the white edge of the moulding from showing as a white line between the Mitre, you should touch up all wood and some metal mouldings.
This can easily be accomplished by using a marker or similar touch up product to color the edge of the moulding. Avoid putting the touch up over the entire surface of the mitre, as it may prevent the glue from fully adhering.
To learn more about picture framing supplies including markers and touch-ups visit www.mmdistributors.com.
Attention picture framers, here is a tech tip for you. When cutting metal moulding make sure to lightly lubricate the blade after every 4th cut or so. Sounds obvious but try it out, it will help you. To learn more about picture framing supplies including blades and blade lubricant visit www.mmdistributors.com.
Properly hung artwork combines concern for the safety of the artwork with the aesthetic concerns of lighting and visual balance within the room.
Protection
Care should be taken to hang artwork in an area where it will not become damaged by heat, ultraviolet (UV) light rays or humidity. Hang your artwork out of the line of direct sunlight. We recommend that you always ask your Picture framer to use Conservation Quality Glass which will filter out most of the harmful UV light rays. Never hang your valuable artwork over a heat source or in an area that will be high in humidity. That would include a bathroom or laundry room. Heat and humidity can cause serious damage to your wall art decor.
If it’s worth framing – frame it to last!
Lighting
There are two basic lighting techniques available for your home: ambient “room” lighting or “spot” lighting. Domestic lighting is often preferable for the home. It allows the work of art to blend in with the rest of the room. On the other hand spot lighting can make a piece “pop” – a nice touch for really special artwork. Spot lighting can be dramatic (using can lighting or light strips that affix right to the wall or the frame itself) or subtle (using room lamps strategically placed to give ample direct light to the piece). When using spotlights be careful not to create shadows by using strong lights on a deep frame. Remember to keep your wiring as non-invisible as possible.
The secret to attractive artwork display is location, location, location.
Hang your artwork at the eye-level of the “average” person in the room. If you are hanging the art in a room where more time is spent seated than standing, “eye-level” should be lower.
Hang smaller, more detailed pieces in small spaces where impact is less important than content and the art can be enjoyed up close and personal. Hallways and corridors work well for smaller pieces. Larger, ‘atmospheric” pieces require more room for the viewer to stand back and enjoy. Hang these pieces opposite the entrance to a room or at the end of a corridor.
Groupings
Unless you are striving for an eclectic “antique shop” look, groupings should look as though they belong together. Select frame styles that are compatible with matting styles that work well together. This creates a balanced, unified look to the group as a whole.
Spacing is an important element in a grouping. Each picture should be placed not too far from, nor too close to its neighbor.
The most common recommended way to create balance in a group is to place the entire layout on the floor. This will allow you to get a sense of how the grouping will look on the wall and allow for adjustments and accurate measurement.
Another tip is to align the tops or bottoms of the various pictures in the group.
Take care to use the proper hanging hardware for the type of wall and that will bear the weight of the framed piece. Plaster walls and drywall require different types of hardware. Artwork that falls off of the wall is not only a danger to itself but to everyone that visits your home. Anymore most walls are drywall.
If you are uncertain about what type of picture frame hanging hardware you need talk to your picture framer. Tell him or her type of walls you will be hanging the piece on. Most framers have an array of products designed for nearly any type of hanging situation.
Use two hooks or interlocking brackets to hang anything larger than 8” x 10”. When determining where to put the hangers use a carpenter’s level to ensure that the picture will hang straight. This helps distribute the picture’s weight more evenly and your picture will hang straight.
To learn more about picture hanging supplies visit www.mmdistributors.com.
Plastic Glazing Products generally refer to Acrylic and Styrene sheets. Plastic glazing products are lightweight and shatter resistant. They come in Clear, Non-Glare or with a UV Protective agent. In many cases Acrylic sheets are referred to as Plexiglass even though Plexiglas™ is an actual trademarked brand. Tru Vue is another well known brand of Acrylic sheets and the choice of countless picture framers, museums and galleries.
To learn more about picture framing supplies, especially acrylic sheets, visit www.mmdistributors.com.
New mat board blades may have burs on the cutting edge and oil to prevent them from rusting. Simple remove burs and oil by stropping the blade against a scrap piece of mat board, much the same way a barber strops a razor on a leather strap.
To learn more about picture framing supplies including blades visit www.mmdistributors.com.
The single most important step you can take to protect your framed artwork from harmful UV light rays is to specify the use of Conservation Series Glass featuring TruGuard® UV Protection.
What are you really buying when you use the services of a custom framer?
Talent … yes, and the knowledge and ability to select the proper picture framing materials for your particular project. This means helping you choose the right colors, the right frame style, and most importantly, the right materials to protect your art, photo or memorabilia. There’s the mat board, the picture frame, the foam core board and the mounting materials to consider. And of course, the glass. And glass is glass, right? Wrong. All glass is not created equal. In order to preserve, protect and get the most out of your artwork, you have some choices to make. And with a little knowledge, those choices will be very easy.
What determines the glass I should use?
Your custom framer should help you select the right glass for your project. The very fact that you are having this item framed denotes its value to you. The best choice for any framed item is to use picture framing glass featuring TruGuard® UV Protection.
What other glass choices do I have?
Tru Vue® offers four types of glass available with TruGuard® UV Protection. All four types block a minimum of 97% of harmful UV light rays.
CONSERVATION CLEAR®
Essential for conservation framing.
CONSERVATION REFLECTION CONTROL®
Single-sided etched non-glare.
CONSERVATION PERFECT VUE
Proprietary technology improves transmission and clarity.
MUSEUM GLASS®
Anti-reflective technology with UV blocking properties.
Perhaps you have a very bright room where you will display your artwork. Or you intend to hang the piece opposite a window or lamp. Anytime you think reflection may become a distraction from the enjoyment of your artwork, you may want to ask for Conservation Reflection Control®
Many framers are conditioned against using reflection control glass. This is the result of the poor quality glass that has traditionally been available. These low-tech “non-glass” glasses have a highly frosted appearance because they are etched on both sides. The resulting fussiness and distortion created dissatisfaction among many picture framing customers. This soured framers on the idea of reflection control.
Tru Vue® Conservation Reflection Control® glass employs etching on only one side, eliminating the reflection problem with only a subtle softening of clarity. This “soft-focus” actually enhances some images such as portrait photography and impressionist landscapes, where an atmospheric effort is desirable.
Ask your framer to see a sample of the four types of Conservation Series® Glass over your artwork and judge it for yourself.
The most important thing to remember when framing your artwork is to consult with your custom framer. The more he or she knows about your project the better they are able to use materials that will ensure your enjoyment for years to come.
What is Conservation Glass?
We’ve all heard about the dangers of ultraviolet light rays – particularly to organic materials. Exposure to UV light causes organic material to break down. This is visible in the form of fading colors and embrittlement and yellowing of the materials that bear the artwork. These effects, once started, are cumulative and irreversible. The best way to preserve your art is to protect it from exposure to UV light from the outset. For starters, don’t hang your art in direct sunlight or light it with fluorescent light. Ask your framer to use Conservation Quality Glass, such as Tru Vue®Museum Glass®, the highest quality picture framing glass available.
Museum® Glass effectively blocks a minimum of 97% of the dangerous UV light. It protects your artwork without affecting the visible light spectrum so your colors show as true in a year as they do the first day you frame them.
To learn more about picture framing supplies, especially Tru Vue® Conservation Glass visit www.mmdistributors.com.
Matting is the border that surrounds your art within the frame. It is more than just pretty color; the purpose of matting (AKA mat board) is both cosmetic and protective.
Certainly one of the reasons we use a mat to encase art is to bring out the colors in an image while drawing in the eye. There are many creative and elegant techniques that can be used to add distinction to your framed piece. The addition of mat board can mean the difference between an insignificant piece that gets lost on a wall and a dramatic one that serves as a perfect accent for a room.
Mat board, as a graphic element, can serve to highlight a color, accent a shape or increase the overall size of the framed piece. Color obviously plays an important role in this transformation process. For example, using a black mat has the effect of “lightening” and “enlarging” the artwork, while using a white mat serves to “darken” and “shrink” the image.
The main purpose of mat board is to keep the cover glass from coming into contact with the framed subject matter. This also provides an area where air can circulate. Differences in temperature between the outside and inside of the picture frame can cause moisture to condensate behind the glass. This moisture may damage the inks and colors and can serve as a breeding ground for mold, mildew and fungi. Placing the material directly against the glass will result in buckles, wrinkles, mold formations and “sticking” to the glass.
A Word of Warning About Matboard
Using higher quality mat board is essential to protecting your artwork. Mat board that is not rated as Conservation Quality contains elements that will damage your artwork over time. These “natural substances” include acids and lignins. Through the aging process the mat board “burns” or discolors the art that it surrounds, this is intensified by sunlight and heat. Conservation quality mat board eliminates this concern because all lignins and acids have been removed.
Be sure to tell your framer how important your art is to you, by specifying the use of conservation quality mat board to preserve the condition of the piece you are framing.
Careful selection of mat boards can result in a perfect complement to the picture within the frame. Visually, the matting provides “breathing room” from any distractions on the surrounding wall. Providing your picture framer with enough information about the environment the framed piece will hang allows him or her to select mat boards that will tie the artwork into your overall room setting or color scheme.
Your framer is armed with a number of creative techniques that employ color. These include double and triple matting, as well as embellishments such as accent lines, paints, gold leafing, fabrics and special die cuts. Think about the effect you want your framed artwork to create. Let the picture framer know if a subdued, elegant or vibrant look is most appropriate for the room where the art will hang. The mats surrounding your image can be made bold, discreet, playful or ornate. This is all very nice, but not the most important reason why we use mat board.
To learn more about picture framing supplies, especially mat board visit www.mmdistributors.com.
Your most precious photographic memories should be given the same treatment and protection as a piece of fine artwork.
Some of life’s most precious memories are captured in the photographs that we take: a child’s first birthday, your parents’ 50th wedding anniversary party, your daughter’s wedding portrait. Yet, more often than not, we display these memories by simply placing the photo in a frame or sticking them on the pages of a self-adhesive album.
While this treatment is appropriate for most snapshots, your truly special photos deserve so much more, especially those with historical merit or those that may be irreplaceable. This is where your custom framer can be of assistance.
Special Characteristics of Photography.
The very nature of your photographs will dictate how they must be framed. Some photos are printed on papers which do not work well with regular heat-activated mounting techniques. Others are very sensitive to alkaline-based framing materials. They must be mounted and matted using special non-buffered boards. Antique photos fit that category.
All photos should be framed using at least one mat made of conservation quality mat board. This will ensure that the photo emulsion does not touch the glass. If it does, temperature and variations in humidity may cause it to stick. This has the potential to ruin the image. An acid, lignin and ground wood-free mat board will protect the image from potential damage from these impurities.
Bring the Memories to Life.
Photographs can really bring back the memories and feelings of a special time. Why not add an extra element to our memories by placing a treasured memento in a shadowbox presentation with the photo? A photo of your son’s high school graduation can be brought to life when paired with his mortarboard and tassel. Or your daughter’s dance recital portrait will do a grande jeté when framed with her ballet shoes and a program from the event.
These are just a few examples that can help to enliven your still shots. Ask your custom framer to help you find the special touch that will bring your picture-perfect memories to life!
Lacquering – vs – Glazing
Many times, a photographer will recommend that you lacquer a photo in order to protect it. This process is accomplished by applying the coating directly onto the photographic image. The lacquer seals the photo against dirt, moisture, and in certain cases, ultraviolet light damage. While this does protect the photo to an extent, it also causes a permanent change to the image. In years to come, the lacquer may yellow or crack, ruining the photograph.
A protective measure that is more consistent with the methods of Conservation Framing is the use of UV-blocking glass. Tru Vue® Conservation Series® Glass featuring TruGuard® UV Protection effectively blocks 97% of the most damaging ultraviolet light rays. And like all other glass, it protects the framed items from outside impurities which might otherwise damage it.
To learn more about picture framing supplies, especially Tru Vue® Conservation Glass visit www.mmdistributors.com.
This will tell you a bit more about the many jobs that a professional framer performs when it comes to your treasured works of art and precious memories.
When you have a piece of art, a photograph or an item that you want framed, you have several options for getting it done. With a photo, you can easily buy a ready-made photo frame at almost any store. For a poster or print, many retail stores offer standard poster frames available in a variety of colors and sizes to fit your décor. As an alternative, you could also visit one of the many “do-it-yourself” framing centers. With the help of their employees you can cut your own mat board and build your own picture frame.
Considering the available options, why choose a custom frame shop?
Designing Your Picture Framing Package
Although a good artistic eye is something that can’t be taught, there are certain rules of custom framing which lead to good design. Your custom framer knows and understands these rules. When they are followed these guidelines will produce a beautiful, well-balanced framing presentation that enhances the work of art without overpowering it.
For example, did you know that the width of the mat border should never match the width of the frame? This tends to draw the eye away from the mounted and framed art. Or that a poorly placed decorative element, such as a French line, can detract from the beauty of the finished package.
Good design based on commonly accepted framing principles is one of the many reasons to employ a custom framer.
Protecting Your Artwork
What is the best reason to custom frame your personal and well-loved works of art? A professional picture framer has the skills and materials necessary to preserve and protect your art and maintain it as closely as possible to the original condition. Acid and lignin-free mat and mount boards contain no impurities which can damage the mounted art. Examples include; Bainbridge, Crescent and Rising Conservation mat board. Special UV-filtering glazing has the ultimate in UV Protection that is used to protect art from irreversible damage caused by light exposure. Examples include; Tru Vue Conservation Series Glass, especially Museum Glass.
Professional picture framers have the training and skills required to use these materials to beautifully present your treasured items in a way that will not only enhance their appearance, but protect them for your enjoyment for years to come.
Why A Custom Framer?
If you were planning to build a new home for your family, would you ask the person working in the lumber department of your local home improvement store to draw up the plans? Or, if you we sick, would you ask the check-out person at your drug store to diagnose and treat your illness? Probably not.
The same reasoning applies to your decision to use a custom framer’s services. A professional picture framer is a person who has been formally educated and understands how to preserve, protect and beautify works of art, regardless of their known value. Many hold the professional degree of Certified Picture Framer or CPF. This notation can only be used after the picture framer has passed a rigorous, standardized test. For more information on picture framing and picture framing supplies visit www.mmdistributors.com.
For flexibility we recommend using two smaller size compressors, instead of one large compressor. Owning two compressors will keep you operational in case a compressor breaks down. At M&M Distributors we feature ITW/AMP and Super Silent Air Compressors. To learn more about picture framing tools and equipment visit www.mmdistributors.com.
This type of picture framing is done in a very specific way. Procedures have to be followed. The two major principles of conservation framing are:
1) The picture framing technique should not alter the artwork in any way.
2) The picture framing technique must be 100% reversible.
To learn more about picture framing supplies, especially conservation supplies visit www.mmdistributors.com.
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If lint or dirt is on a suede mat it can be removed easily by using a disposable sponge brush. Simply brush in a rotating motion to remove the mark. To reduce the chance of lint and dirt returning use a Kinetronics Anti-Static Brush. To learn more about picture framing supplies, especially anti-static devices visit www.mmdistributors.com.
If you have “spider webs of glue” after using a hot glue gun, wait for the glue to dry. That should take approximately 30 minutes. Then using a hot air gun (shrink wrap gun or blow dryer) set on low, blow over the area and the webs will disappear. To learn more about picture framing supplies including hot glue guns visit www.mmdistributors.com.
