Your Custom Frame Package (the details):

 

The most basic custom frame package consists of five elements:

 

Moulding - the wood or metal frame surrounds the other framing elements
Glazing - glass or acrylic
Matting - window mats enhance and protect 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 (Frame)

High Desert art & 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.

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GLAZING

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

 

Glass

 High Desert art & frame offers two glass choices with 99% UV protection. Both contain a 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 whether sunlight or ambient lighting.

- Conservation Clear  – provides 99% UV protection

- Museum Glass – provides 99% UV protection and is the best glazing option for most 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.

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Acrylic

UV-protective acrylic can also be used for custom picture framing. High Desert Art & Frame uses both museum-quality and conservation clear acrylic. Acrylic is generally used with large pieces of artwork when weight is a consideration. It is also used when breakage is a concern such as shipping framed artwork or hanging in a public space or child's room. Acrylic is not suitable for some art. Acrylic also requires special care in cleaning. It scratches more readily than glass.

 

MATTING

High Desert Art & Frame offers a large selection of matboard in a wide array of colors.  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 picture framing but many colors are available in eight ply. (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, giclée, drawing, acrylic, crayon, poster, print, photo, certificate, diploma, serigraph, animation 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 added to the back of every wood frame. The hanging mechanism is attached and your artwork is ready to take home and hang!