Picture Framing
|
A framed picture or artwork forms a complete package that should look great. The finished piece will most likely hang in a home or office and will probably be viewed mostly by the owner. With the finished piece looking good, the chances are it will look good to others as well.
Knowledge of the basics in picture framing, can be very helpful in shopping with greater certainty, giving more familiarity with picture frames and the picture framing process. Let’s talk about various components of a picture frame.
There are four key areas that require considered thought, 1) Frame, 2) Mat, 3)Mounting Board and 4) Glass. The diagram below shows each of these components in the order in which they are placed into a picture frame. Each of them have unique characteristics that are useful to understanding when buying a frame. We now cover each of these briefly.
1) Frame:
The best quality frames are made of either metal or wood. Wooden frames usually have a warmer, more inviting and traditional look. This is desirable for certain pieces of artwork such as a painting, a rich colour photograph or a heirloom piece. In contrast, metal frames, with their straight edges and sharp corners, tend to portray a bolder and more contemporary, even industrial look. Metal frames are commonly used for black and white photography and other modern media. 2) Mat:
This is probably most complex step in a picture frame. The matboard is the coloured material which is placed between the artwork and the glass. Its primary purpose is to put an air space between the glass and the artwork so that the two do not stick to each other over time. A secondary purpose of matting is to create a border between the frame and the artwork, thereby drawing the viewers eye inward, towards the piece. 
There are 3 distinct decisions to make with regards to matting. These are deciding upon a quality grade, the number of layers and which colours(s) to use. Grade refers to how well the mat materials will preserve the artwork over time. Preservation is measured by the acidity level (pH-value) in the mat. The more acidic the material the quicker the mat and the artwork will deteriorate over time. 3) Mounting Board:
Once the matting has been selected, the decisions become much more straightforward. Mounting board, also called foam board, is the back of the frame and it is what the artwork is attached to. Sometimes cardboard is used as a mounting board, but many framers recommend against this because cardboard is very acidic and will quickly yellow the artwork. Our high-quality mounting boards has a polystyrene core which is bonded between two paper covers. They have a smooth surface, resist warping and will cut cleanly. Of course, we do the cutting for you. 3) Glass:
The last step is to choose what kind of glass, or glazing, one would like in the frame. Glazing is the cover that protects everything in a frame. As with matting, glazing is optional and certainly not required. Of course, without glazing the artwork will be readily exposed to any temperature and humidity changes, but this is more important for some pieces than others. At Frame Oz Images, we offer various types of glazing; apart from actual glass, there are acrylic or Plexiglas options. There are various grades of glazing, standard glass, anti-glare, invisible, Ultra violet protection and all the way to museum glass; each has its place and desirability. That’s it!
After following these 4 shorts steps, one will have completed the frame building process. Future pages of our website we will discuss various aspects of picture framing in more detail as well as walks through this process step-by-step. As one follows the steps, there will be links which can click on for more information to help make a more informed decision.
If you would like to know more about any of the framing components give us a call at:-
|
