The main purpose of framed art is to focus your attention on the work of art. It also protects your art. Well framed art does not distract from the art.

Not every art piece needs to be framed. Gallery wrapped canvases can hang without framing – or if your style prefers a frame – that’s fine. If you have canvas art with staples on the sides – it was intended to be framed.

In-House Framer?

The first question you should query when walking into a custom frame shop is to see if they actually do the work themselves. Many frame shops – and all the big box stores – send the work out to be framed. If you have an art piece that is easy to replace then this might not matter to you. But if you’re wanting to frame something that has high value – be it sentimental or monetarily – you might choose not to take the risk of having your art be lost in transit.

Framing Paper

Works on paper—watercolors, pastels, charcoal drawings, etc. need special attention due to the perishable quality of their surfaces.

Prior to framing, the work will be mounted on a support. Let your framer know if you want them to use conservation methods. This means that you (or someone) will be able to remove your artwork from the framing structure without causing any damage. Also, there would be no telltale signs that the work had ever been framed before. Conservation mounting is imperative for works of value or anticipated future value.

Most art pieces on paper require matting and framing under glass for protection. The matboard, with a cutout window, is laid over the painting and prevents the glass from touching the surface of the artwork. A spacer can be used in place of a mat unless you want a deeper mount at which point it can be used in addition.

If the artwork is important, be sure to use acid-free materials. This is what keeps the mats from changing color or having the tape show through the back.

Quality framing benefits with the experienced advice of a professional. Don’t underestimate the importance of framing your artwork well.

Glass Options

First and foremost, glass protects works on paper from dust and other pollutants, but it can also serve other important functions:

• Regular glass is the type most commonly used. It’s scratch-resistant but breaks easily in transportation and only filters out about half of the damaging ultraviolet (UV) light rays.
• Nonglare glass works well on pieces placed directly in front of a window. The drawback is that this glass tends to soften the image and give a slightly fuzzy appearance to the work. It also gives low UV protection.
• Conservation glazing is a coating applied to glass that offers 97 percent UV protection.
• Museum Glass is the ultimate—so clear and glare-free that you can’t see it at all when you stand in front of a painting. It also provides the best UV protection. This glass is expensive but worth the price.
• Acrylic glazing, also known by the trade name Plexiglas, is much lighter than glass, which makes it a good alternative for large works of art. It’s virtually shatterproof, although it scratches easily. Available in regular and nonglare forms, acrylic provides about 60 percent UV protection. Regular glass cleaners may leave the surface looking foggy.

Price Points

Most custom framers have a wide variety of mouldings available at different price points. Let them know what your budget is so they can provide a solution that will show your art in the best way and be within your expectations.