Should I have my art custom framed or purchase a ready-made frame?

Both options are valid. It all depends on the art that is being framed and the purpose of the framed piece.

If your artwork is an original work or of sentimental or monetary value, then custom picture framing is your only option. The artwork must be housed in an acid and lignin free environmnet. This is accomplished with archival quality framing materials. The artwork must never touch the glazing (plastic or glass). The space between the artwork and the glass is most easily achieved by archival matting, although different spacing techniques can be used. Archival matting is acid and lignin free. Custom picture framing allows for "breathing," the contraction and expansion of the artwork as well as the other framing components. Custom picture framing is designed to be completely reversible with no permanent alteration to the artwork. An additonal consideration is where the framed work will be displayed. The environment outside the framed piece is just as important as the environment inside the frame package. Custom picture framing provides the safest atmosphere for your artwork as well as an opportunity to express your personal creativity and complement the artwork.

Ready-made frames may be appropriate for artwork that is easily replaced - a copy of a photo, an inexpensive poster or a mass-produced print, for example. Artwork should never touch the glazing (acrylic or glass). Matting should be used to create a space between the artwork and the glazing. The pre-cut matting that comes with most ready-made frames is not pH neutral. These mats have been buffered to achieve the pH neutral state. That buffering will break down and the remaining material will be acidic. This acidic environment may cause acid burns on the mat and artwork causing yellow and/or brown discolorations. Ready-made frames do not provide the safety of an acid-free environment and can therefore cause damage to your artwork.

The Custom Picture Frame Package

There are volumes of text regarding the elements of a picture frame package. The following is intended to be a brief explanation of the basics of custom picture framing. It is in no way intended to be exhaustive.

The most basic custom frame package consists of five elements:

Moulding - the frame surrounds the other framing elements

Glazing - glass or acrylic

Matting - window mat enhances and protects the art while providing space between the art and glazing

Art - centerpiece from which all design elements are drawn

Backing - secures and protects the art from the back

MOULDING

High Desert Art and Frame offers a wide variety of custom frames in both wood and metal mouldings. Selection will depend on the artwork, the location where the piece will reside and your personal taste.

Wood mouldings vary with regard to the type of wood used, the profile, width and the finish applied to the wood. Wood mouldings are expertly joined to produce an attractive and sturdy frame.

Metal mouldings vary in profile, width and color. The majority of metal mouldings are extruded aluminum. The color is achieved by anodizing or painting. Metal mouldings may be frosted, brushed or polished.

GLAZING

Glazing refers to the glass or plastic on the front of the framed work.

GLASS

There are sevearl different types of glass used in custom framing. High Desert Art and Frame offers three glass choices with 99% UV protection.

 - Conservation Clear  - provides 99% UV protection

- Conservation Reflection Control - provides 99% UV protection and is chemically etched on one side scattering light and reducing glare 

- Museum Glass - provides 99% UV protection the best glazing option for all framed artwork. Museum Glass is the highest quality anti-reflective picture framing glass available in the industry. A special manufacturing process makes Museum glass virtually invisible.

All of the above contain UV coating to block UV rays. This coating is effective in filtering harmful UV rays and reduces fading, but does not completely protect your artwork. Care should be taken to protect your artwork from too much light exposure.

ACRYLIC

Acrylic can also be used for custom picutre framing. Non-glare and clear acrylics are available as well as acrylic with UV protection. Acrylic is generally used with large pieces of artwork when weight is a consideraton. It is also used when breakage is a concern and for shipping framed artwork. Acrylic is not suitable for some art, such as pastels, because the static electricity in acrylic may lift the media from the art. Acrylic also requires special care in cleaning. It scratches more readily than glass.

MATTING

High Desert Art and Frame offers a large selection of matboard in a wide array of colors.

As mentioned above, matboard used in custom picture framing is acid and lignin free. Matboard consists of three layers: an outer surface lining (colored), a backing paper, and the core (may also be colored). Four ply is the most common matboard used in custom picure framing.

A buffered pH neutral matboard may be used for decorative purposes only. It is not suitable for conservation framing. It is referred to as regular acid-free matboard or non-conservation matboard.

ART

Art may be a watercolor, oil, pastel, giclee, drawing, acrylic, crayon, poster, print, photo, certificate, diploma, serigraph, cels, needlework, textiles, medals, christening gowns and the list continues. Almost anything can be considered a work of art and can be framed.

BACKING

The backing is the framing element that supports the artwork. It too, must be acid and lignin free. The artwork is attached to the backing (mounted) using any number of mounting techniques that do not compromise the artwork. Care should be taken to use "reversible" mounting, meaning if the artwork is removed from the frame it will have no trace of the mounting method and the artwork remains in its original condition. If the artwork is mounted using a vacuum and/or heat press it may or may not be reversible. When considering this type of mounting, assume it will not be reversible.

Fitting the frame package refers to the assembly of all the prepared elements. A dust cover is sometimes added to the back. The hanging mechanism is attached and your artwork is ready to hang!