Framing Tips and Information

Matboards

Mattings are used as a spacer between the glazing and the artwork and to provide a visually pleasing presentation of the artwork.
While there are many different styles and colors to choose from there are basically three categories: Decorative, Alpha Cellulose, Cotton (rag).

Made of wood pulp that is buffered with calcium carbonate to slow the damage caused by the acid and lignin.
Over time, acid and lignin can degrade the matboard and the artwork.

Matboard made of alpha-cellulose (wood pulp) fibers that have been chemically treated to eliminate the acids and lignins that can degrade the matboard and the artwork.
Alpha-cellulose based matboards are suitable for minimum levels of conservation framing and as an alternative to non-conservation matting.

Best: Cotton Matboard.

Matboard made of cotton fibers, which are naturally acid-free and lignin-free.  
Cotton is time-tested and naturally free of any chemicals or pollutants that would degrade matboard or artwork.
Cotton is an annually renewable resource, making it more environmentally friendly.
Cotton matboard is the best choice when the highest levels of matting are required for the display, protection and preservation of artwork.

For most framing applications Frameworks recommends Alpha-cellulose matboards be used. 
They are acid free, considered suitable for preservation level protection by the industry but are reasonably priced.   
But we have hundreds of samples in each category to choose from and budget and level of protection will determine the final design requirement.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make in framing is to have a mat that is too small. The picture can look insignificant, crowded, or chopped off.
Mat width is generally getting wider and  is usually determined by a number of factors :

• The size of the piece.
• The scale of the room where the piece will be hung.
• The graphic strength of the work.
• The mat colors,
• The look desired.
  

Glazing

Frameworks offers four types of glazing.  Clear glass, non-glare glass, UV-filtering glass and acrylic. 

• Clear picture framing glass is most common and least expensive for general purposes.
  Often called "regular" glass, but should not be confused with lower-quality window glass.
  
  
• Non-glare glass is about twice the price of clear glass.
  Its purpose is to prevent visible reflections when viewing the artwork.
  Its etched surface, which prevents reflections, will tend to blur the image especially when viewed from side angles.
  
  
• Ultraviolet-filtering glass is recommended for all framing projects when preservation is a consideration.
  It is coated inside to filter out more than 95% of harmful UV light, which causes fading.
  UV rays are in all light, but very strong in sunlight and fluorescent light.
  Cost of UV-filtering glass is about the same as non-glare glass.
  
  
• Acrylic looks similar to glass, but costs more, and requires more labor for the framer.
  It is light weight & shatter-resistant and is recommended where safety is a consideration – such as children’s rooms and for artists.
  Some Galleries and Art Shows require acrylic glazing be used.
  Disadvantages: scratches easily; makes static electricity (deadly for pastels); it is more flexible than glass and tends to distort in large sizes.

Mouldings

Mouldings are available in 3 basic types: Wood, Metal and Polystyrene.

• Wood mouldings come in the greatest variety of styles to choose from.
• Metal mouldings are more limited but are usually less expensive. Some of the newer metal mouldings are quite stylish.
• Polystyrene mouldings look like wood mouldings at a lower cost. They have had quality problems in the past but have come a long way in the last few years.
  Frameworks may offer them in the future but is not yet convinced they have reached a level deserving of our customers.

Frameworks has hundreds of wood and metal mouldings to choose from.  We also have a very nice selection of readymade frames especially suitable for oils.

Hanging Pictures

The usual method of hanging a picture with wire will place tension on the wire and anchor points that is more than the weight of the frame itself.
Slack is intentionally left in the wire to reduce this effect, the more slack, the less the tension.
It is important to never reduce the slack left in the wire by Frameworks.

• Increased tension may result in a broken wire or failed wall hook and the picture may fall.
  The wire and hooks supplied by Frameworks have been selected to exceed the recommended weight of the picture.
  
• Increased tension can cause the moulding to bow which not only looks bad but can press against the glass and artwork inside causing damage over time.

Two wall hangers should be used for larger pictures for safety and stability and very large heavy pictures should use mirror style frame hangers and no wire.

Measure the picture to find the center and the correct height from the ceiling to hang it from.
Use a pencil to make a small mark on the wall where the wall hanger should be placed.
Make certain the picture wire is resting on the hook and not just on the nail when you hang up the picture.

More information about hanging and other picture framing and art information can be found here.

However, before you pick up a hammer and start making holes in the walls, test your new arrangements.
Here are some ideas for figuring out where and how to hang your art.

1. Though there are endless ways to display pictures, generally speaking, most pictures look best when hung at or slightly lower than eye level.

2. The secret to hanging pictures is balance. Do not put everything on one wall and leave the other walls bare.
    The idea is to create one central focal point but to also balance the entire room.

3. Create a focal point by grouping together a collection of different frames. You can put the frames on the floor and try out different arrangements.

4. To hang individual pieces, it always helps to have someone there to assist you by holding the picture in the desired location as you look at it from a distance and from different angles.
    Once you are satisfied, mark the top edge of the frame to help you determine where to put the hook.

5. Generally speaking, it is best to use real picture hooks that are inexpensive and come in many different sizes for different frame weights.  We provide hooks with each framing. 
    A single nail will, of course, hold up a picture but if brushed up against, the picture can fall off. This is less likely to happen with a hook.

6. Hammering picture hooks into plaster walls can often cause small pieces of the wall to chip off. To prevent, apply a piece of masking tape and nail through the tape. 
   The tape can also help prevent the wall from chipping if, for some reason, you have to extract it later.

7. Brick walls in particular are difficult to hang frames on. If you face a brick or masonry wall, you will need to use a wall anchor.
   Create a hole with a proper drill and a special masonry bit and insert a plaster or metal wall anchor and drive in a screw. 
   Like picture hooks, these anchors and screws come in many different sizes.  Be sure to use the proper size and follow instructions.

8. Consider lighting to highlight your art. If you are hanging art in a dark corner, no one will see it.
    Conversely, glaring or harsh light will do no service to your art. The light focused on your art should be subdued and not produce any glare.

9. If you are hanging something very heavy like a huge antique mirror, it is best to call in a professional.
   You don't want to create a potential hazard by improperly securing a heavy object to your wall.

10. If you find your picture is slipping to one side, try twisting some tape around the hook or nail.
      Or use earthquake putty on the corners of the upper frame to secure the piece in place.
       Frameworks assembles rubber bumpers on the back of each frame to prevent this.

Now that your artwork has found new places to live in your home, here are some additional tips for keeping them clean and attractive.

1. Don't apply cleaner directly to the glass on a picture frame, since it could seep through around the edges to the back and possibly damage your photo or art.
    Instead, apply the cleaner to the cloth first and then wipe the glass.

2. For items framed in acrylic, it is imperative to only use specially formulated cleaners as regular glass cleaners can damage the plastic.
    Always use a soft cloth to prevent scratches. 

3. Clean picture glass with a good quality glass cleaner on a tissue. Wipe dry.

4. Clean wooden frames with furniture polish. Apply to cloth and then wipe the frame.