Get Your Picture Framed for Better Value

“The right framing is the final exclamation point on the finished artwork.”

Framing can make or break a work of art. It really does make a difference. Even a not-so-good painting seems to improve in proper framing. The chief reasons to frame your art is to enhance your work, compliment it, to protect it from damage from elements like moisture and dust and from physical damage from handling, touching and transporting. Often, a client will see piece of artwork, fall in love with it, and then say, “but that frame …...” Is there anything more discouraging than having to re-frame a piece when you put so much time and investment into framing it in the first place? Wouldn’t it be great if you could find exactly the right frame every time? And, of course, framing is also a matter of taste. What works for one painting may not work for another. And what one artist likes may not be appreciated by another as it is with clients purchasing artwork. There is so much to choose from in frames.

Its really a great job of accentuating your artwork. Some key issues that will help you choose a perfect frame-

Custom Framing...Is it really that important!- Whether you are framing a poster, your kid's hand-prints, or a fine work of art, custom framing will reflect your personal taste and protect your piece for years to come.

Surroundings to be kept in mind- While you should certainly consider the room's decor, you shouldn't match the frame to the room at the expense of what looks good with the picture. Keep in mind that the room decor may change in the future.

Perfect frame to enhances your art- Thousands of different frame styles are available along with sizes, stains, glazes, and finishes.

Preserve and Protect with Archivals- Some common framing materials such as paper mats and cardboard contain acid that will gradually destroy your art. Using archival mats and backing boards will help protect art from the damaging effects of time and from common pollutants that cause yellowing, fading and deterioration of artwork.

Choose glazing to protect your artwork- Glazing refers to the glass or acrylic material covering the artwork as a means of protection.

There are many variations including regular clear glass, anti-reflective (chemically coated), non-glare (acid etched) and conservation glass (specially formulated to help filter UV light). Acrylic glazing products that come in the non-glare and UV filtering varieties are making a mark in market. It is lighter in weight and safer than glass but requires a soft cloth and a non-abrasive cleanser. It is ideal for oversized pieces, frames hanging in children's rooms, or items to be shipped. Market is overwhelmed with techniques that can be applied to your art work, such as hand crafted picture frames, fine art- Giclee printing, floating frames, picture enlargement, wet/dry mounting, face mounting photos, plexiglass box frames.

Everyone should aim for consistency. Sure, not all of your work can be framed in exactly the same way, but if you can keep your framing as consistent as possible, you will simplify the decision making process and your framing will become a part of your brand. Employ your artistic eye to find the perfect match for your work, or find a framer who also has an artistic eye and have them help you find the right frame.

PaintBoxNolita, PaintBoxArt Framing, PaintBox Soho have years of experience in custom designing Frames, hand-crafted frames, floating frames. They are a helping hand in providing perfect frames that will enhance your artwork and also protect it from external elements and with all the decisions that go into properly framing your picture.

Why are Picture Frames Costly

Custom Frames can be a costly affair and especially intimidating for those who are getting it done for the first time. The frame, matting, glazing, etc. all adds up to an amount which is more than what the customer has in mind. It is not uncommon for customers to feel cheated or go for a much cheaper ready-made option after knowing the cost involved. Hence, it is important to understand the frame value chain, in order to fully appreciate the cost involved in framing.

Value Chain

To understand the framing value chain, it is important to understand how a wooden boards are turned into a molding and quality that is desired for custom picture framing.

Wooden board needs to be cut into shape on turning bit at a high speed. This way we get the desired shape and size of the frame. The benefit of this process is customized, intricate design which is as per customer exact specification. The uniqueness of this process and workmanship, therefore make it expensive to produce. There would be a visual difference between a hand cut frame and a mass produced frame. This is the primary reason hand cut frames are costlier than other kind of frames.

Post this process, the molding is providers a high quality finish by coating it with quality paint such as lacquer, gesso etc. The extra material and labor adds up to the cost, and the end product is an sophisticated looking frame with great aesthetics.

Journey from Manufacturer to Wholesaler

Once the molding is ready to be shipped, next in value chain lays the wholesaler. The packaging required for the molding depends on the size of the mold and brings an extra cost of packaging, transport with it. A framing wholesaler’s mark-up will be anywhere between 10% and 50% and often they sell their inventory in a very small area, thus charging premium for this facility.

Journey from Wholesaler to Retailer

This is where most significant mark-up happens in the whole value chain. i.e. between shopkeeper and consumer . On an average a store can mark-up the price to as high as 400% . So the question arises is Why?

We need to understand the economics of running a shop. In case of a molding manufacturer, they have the option to sell to the whole country from one place, but for a frame shop next door, who has a target consumer base of a neighborhood it is quite difficult to generate high volumes. Generating volume is a problem for these retailers, hence to earn profit and pay of their bills the prices are marked-up. This is especially applicable on a Mom and Pop shops who sell considerably less frames when compared to a huge retail chain, hence a Mom and Pop store sells frame for more money than a popular chain store.

In today’s day and age, there are other avenues to buy frame. Buying frames online can be a cheaper option but customization offered online is minimal. There is also very less assistance and guidance available online. These online stores may provide video or tutorials, but nothing beats a face to face interaction with an experienced framer. But then as we discussed this comes with a price tag.

Eventually a decision to buy frame should be made based on your requirement and budget. If customer does not have an idea about the custom picture frame, then buying online can be a bad idea. In that case, face to face sale is best form of option. Online option is only best when you want a reasonable frame, with no customization at a cheaper budget.

The world of Jane Waterhouse

Jane Waterous prints has a vastly established sense of restraint using just enough imagery to evoke the sense of the found object with which she has chosen to work. Jane Waterous art touches upon the thought of objects with which we engage on daily basis but do not pay much attention to or those which we might keep by us as mementos or keepsakes.

JaneWaterous arts collect and record the natural and man-made objects using blind embossing techniques. This method helps in capturing the properties of the object which are too subtle to capture in a photograph. There are simple mono prints printed from the back of a copper plate whilst shadowy remnants from the Wayfaring series resurface beneath the new images for the Quiet Archive.

Jane Waterous is also touched by the tokens and keepsakes kept at the Foundling Museum in London. These are the objects that mothers have left with their babies in order to identify them in the hopes that the children might be returned to them in a better future. These tokens are drawn with a silverpoint on paper printed with soft Gamelin ink. The silver traces intensify with age.

Jane Waterous photographs of Speedwell blues and the intense greens of springtime coupled with the constant turning up of pipe bowls, rusty things and ever warring plastic soldiers from the vegetable and flower gardens are equally mesmerizing.

Jane Waterous also works regularly with the ‘irregularcircle’, which is a workshops run by three artist in the Cambridge area, which helps adults and children to explore their creativity side using drawing, mixed media and three dimensional art workshops.

PaintboxArtandFraming provide stunning amusements of art prints by popular Jane Waterhouse with museum quality framing services at quite reasonable price. We have been farming since 12years, delivering best money value work.

Accurately Measure Artwork for Framing

Measuring your artwork for framing is often the first step in the framing process. This might seem like a redundant first step, but often the error occurs due to a missing tool or any unexpected disturbance.

Best approach to find the correct size of the frame is to work from the artwork size outward, adding measurements until you arrive at the frame size. This involves easy arithmetic and good concentration.

Following measurement needs to be considered while measuring artwork:

• Window’s Mat’s size
• Border of the Mat
• Overall Mat size
• Glass size and its backing
• Frame’s size

As per popular belief, “Frame Size”, is not a measure from edge to edge of a frame, rather it is measure of the “rabbet” of the frame or recess at the back of the frame, the area that holds the modules that load into it.

The process to find the correct Frame size starts by finding the size of mat’s window. Normally this is decided by the way we plan to choose to display the artwork. There are three methods to display artwork:

• Only the image is shown in the window of the mat.
• Image and some of the border area surrounding the image is shown
• Show the edges of the paper

If the plan is to show the edges of the paper, the best method is to allow the edges of the mat’s window to overlap the edges of the image by ¼” on each side. Since there are two sides to each dimension (one on either side of the width and one on either side of the height) the window can be determined by subtracting a half inch from the height and width of the image. If you plan to show only the image then the best approach is to allow the edges of the mat’s window to overlap the edges of the image by ¼” on each side.

Once the size of the window is determined, next step is to determine the size of the border around the picture. There are tools such as Border Finder available to simplify the process. For determining the size of the mat, you can add size of the window and border size. This will help in determining overall size of the mat, which is also equal to size of the glass and backing board and, most importantly, the frame size.

Write down these measurements in a way it is easy to follow as these will form the basis for cutting the mat and building the picture frame of a correct size. Hence, this is how to measure artwork for framing and make sure you have

• Flat surface and a good lit up area
• Good quality ruler or tape measure
• A pencil, sheet of blank paper and an eraser
• High concentration to avoid errors.

Few tips and tricks that you can employ to make framing easier and attractive

Here are few Tips and Tricks that you can employ to make framing easier and attractive

Measure Twice and Cut Once

Always measure your artwork, mat, matting board and its borders meticulously. Measure it yourself and get it measured by someone else to be double sure. Make sure the numbers match and if not then work through any discrepancies to get the framing right.

Ensure Mat offset

To ensure that Mat border is not peeping from the sides of the picture make sure that you cut the Mat a little smaller then the artwork itself. To ensure mat fits properly use 1/4" - 1/8" on each side for a mat offset.

Use cellulose or tape when drilling hole for hanging picture

By using a piece of tape on wall at the place where nail will be placed can prevent chipping of your wall . So when you decide to remove your picture from that place in future the hole would be easier to fill.

Use sheet on the counter

While assembling the frame, put a sheet on the table you are doing your assembling. This will prevent your furniture and frame from being damaged.

Find the center of frame

It is always a good practice to mark the center of frame with a pencil before hanging it. This will help a lot in hanging the frame perfectly.

Order Mat Samples

It is best to order mat sample and check it in contrast to your picture. This extra step will ensure that no mistakes are made in choosing the mat color. Normally companies send mat orders for free or for a very nominal charge. This extra step will make sure that your picture perfectly matches with the mat color that you plan to use.

Use a good quality hanging tape

When mounting your precious artwork always ensure that you use good quality hanging tape. A low quality tape will sap and will lose its adhesiveness over time. Filmoplast is one of the good brand that can be used for such purpose. This tape is acid free and is easier to tear and paste. This is important because in a scenario when the artwork is pulled out of the frame the tape will tear first then the artwork. 

Always use good quality cloth and sprays to clean glazing

It is very important to use a high quality cleaning agent to wipe of dirt from glass along with a good quality cloth which does not leave scratch on your glass. To clean the frame glass, highly recommended is dish washing liquid with warm water. This works like a charm and is safe to use.

Always hang artwork from Top

It is always recommended to hang the frame from top only and leave it freely hanging at the bottom with gravity pulling it down. This prevents buckling of the frame in future.

Museum Quality Custom Picture Framing Services

While there are technological developments taking place regularly in framing industry these little handy tips and tricks if followed will lead to longevity of your frame and artwork.

7 Step for Custom Picture Framing

A framed artwork helps to protect your artwork from environmental conditions and will visually enhance your art or painting. Frame give a complete touch to your painting and make it glorious and attractive. There are also practical and economical considerations which the artist must remember a framed paintings are sold more easily and quickly than an unframed one.

Framing your painting requires both good selection and some basic framing knowledge to ensure proper safety of your artwork. Your personal taste is called upon when choosing the shape, size and color of the frame and mat. The more knowledge you have about conservation and the environmental hazards, the better you will protect your artwork from it.

This days people are found of having paintings for their home decor, they demand an attractive look for the paintings. This look is only possible through applying frame on your paintings, frames which have traditional look are more eye catching as they are crafted with hand crafted designs.

There are various types of frames available nowadays, which has enlarged the choice of people and helps to get the best combination for their choice.

1) Frame

Frame is a very basic platform of the whole framing process. A frame can have different type, shape, size and color. Wooden frame, Metal frame, plastic frame and glass frame are basic types of frames. Shape consist of a box (square or rectangle), oval, circle, triangle and so.

2) Mat Board

Utilizing a mat will creates a professional looking artwork at a low cost and supports the fine art while protecting it from touching the glass. Quality mat boards which are acid-free should be used as it will protect your artwork getting damaged from dust and other atmospheric particle. It's up to you to decide whether you want to frame art with a plain, colored or textured mat. Generally, artists use plain white mat with art as it gives more glove to your art.

3) Attaching Art Work

After Cutting mats the next step is attaching your artwork. While attaching art work keep in mind by using acid-free tape for fixing art and hold it in place. When you frame artwork, tape the art to the back of the mat board.

4) Frame your art behind an acrylic or glass surface.

It's with you that you want your artwork on acrylic or on glass surface select the best suitable for your art. Acrylic is a better insulator and much lighter than glass. It is also shatterproof. However, acrylic can cause static electricity, so never place charcoal and pastel artwork behind it. Cost of glass is less as compared to acrylic, but it can create a glare.

5) Fix glass in the frame.

The mat with your art will be fixed beneath the glass. Fix the glass with the frame and cleaning the inner glass with a soft liquid and make it ready for the final stage.

6) Seal it with backboard.

At last seal the back with a board, the material of backboard should be acid-free so that it will protect your art for a long period of time. There is a paper between this board and mat with art, paper has been just a purpose of safety.

7) Completed

Now your art is framed completely and you may put where you want it to be. You will notice that the artwork having frame became more attractive than before.

So, at last framing is a very important for your artwork or paintings, they give a unique look to your paintings.