Brief History of Picture Frame

Frame was supposedly invented in 2nd Century B.C, when archaeologists found borders drawn on cave paintings in Etrusan. It seems, since the time people started creating art, they also started to look for ways to display them attractively.

During the middle ages, frames were hand crafted and made out of wood and then were covered with Gesso and Gold Leaf. These frames were stunning looking, and increased the interest of onlookers in the display picture. Frames later evolved from these carvings into even beautiful looking mosaics, which had decorative panels. Early Christian art form adapted these frames and these frames found their way onto ivory books and diptychs and finally into altarpieces.

The function of picture frames started changing during 14-15th century. Most of the designs at that period were modeled around church themes such as tabernacle frames. These frames although, could provide good protection from dust or water but their main purpose was symbolic. Theses frames acted like a shrine, and images inside were revered and worshiped. These eclectic designs were the first modern day picture frames and were commissioned by monarchs for purpose of boosting their status. These frames signified power and wealth due to elaborate and rich craftsmanship.

Frames created during 14th and 15th century Italy were inspired heavily by mediaeval cathedral in cross-section.

During 18th century, frames had become popular, and each country started developing their own characteristic frame form – the Italian Renaissance cassetta frame, the 18th century French Rococo frame.

Today these frames are also categorized by style of their era - renaissance, Mannerist, the polished wooden cabinetmaker's frame, Baroque, Palladian and Rococo, the Roman 'Salvator Rosa', Neoclassical frames, and the academic or artists' frames of the nineteenth- and twentieth-centuries.

The Italian Renaissance cassetta frame,

The Cabinetmaker's Frame

Baroque Frames  

The Palladian Frame

 

Neoclassical and Empire Frames  

Mannerist Frames

           

Rococo Frames

         

The Salvator Rosa Frame

Frames purely crafted by hand continued to be popular through many centuries, mainly due to absence of any modern technology. As each frame was handcrafted, each crafter provided its own unique sense of style to the frames. By 19th century with advancement in technology, handcrafted frames started seeing its downward trend as frames started getting mass produced. In today’s world, frame making is no longer a pure art form. Digital frames are being made and have features that people could have never imagined few decades back. People are able to upload picture to digital frames and show multiple pictures as slideshows. 

However, modern frames have their convenience but frames made in traditional style have their own look and feel which attracts art lovers to vintage frames till date.

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.

What do you look for while going for expert custom picture framing

Custom framing is an art of framing which requires skilled craftsmanship, years of experience and gives the option of customizing your frame as per your requirement. It also helps in protecting your art and displaying it in the best way possible. In custom framing you are free to choose your material, design and layout to show your picture as per your liking.

Key things to consider when choosing custom framing:
Do not choose big chain store to get your framing done:
In big chain store you do not exactly know who is going to do the framing for you. The person at the counter who does the designing for you has minimal training and experience. You are almost guaranteed not to be satisfied with the result that you receive at the end of this process. Under no condition should you give your valuable art to big chain stores as more or less they do a bulk production job without much deliberation to quality.

Material Quality:
Always insist for a good quality molding.  A bad quality molding warps, fade and destroy the picture over time. Best quality molding are made hardwood and is acid free.

Glass:
Quality framers always use only highest quality glass which helps in protecting screen my harmful UV rays and also prevent glare from direct light. There are generally 2 types of glass in market Anti-Glare glass which reduces glare, UV rays reduction glass which reduces UV light entering the glass and also combination of both i.e. anti-glare as well as UV protecting glass.

Matting:
This is probably the most complicated part of buying a frame. Mats can be made of cardboard or other materials that can serve as a frame within a frame. The frame separates picture from direct contact to the glass. Small air space between photograph and glass also prevents moisture build up. A mat can be decorated as per photograph’s specification- colored, decorated or pure white.

Conservation Materials:
Conservation materials are mats and mounting materials and they should be made of acid free material. Everything that is in contact with the artwork should be acid free. Mats and mounting material should also, not only be acid free but should have the quality to absorb air-born contaminates that has the ability to damage your art.

Custom made frames are best used to preserve family heirloom or irreplaceable artwork and should be always done by experienced framers. This is the reason why custom are often expensive as they tend to be made of high quality materials. Hope after following the above key points you would be able to create a frame which is accentuates your work and displays it in the highest quality possible for everyone to admire everyday.

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. 

6 Clever ways you can re-use your old & trashy picture frames to decorate your home

Common people just throw away their beautiful picture frames out of their homes as soon as they get older (and quit looking as glamorous as they used to be). But if you could see them from an artist's eye, you could never do that.

Know why? because those little pieces of crafts still have the same beauty. The only thing that changed is the charm they had.

Being artists, we at PaintBox , know it very well that old is really gold. So we are here at your help to teach you something that might never get older even if your frames get. Here are the six ways you can re-purpose your old frames and use them as beautiful pieces of crafts for decorating your home.

1st- Make an art by re-arranging multiple frames

You can just simply take multiple frames, cut them, paste them the way you want & make beautiful crafts like the home shown below or just randomly hang them on your drawing room wall. It will always look good (if done with a bit good sense of art).

2nd- Use it as your Jewelry holder

Why don't use your old picture frames as jewelry holders? Trust me, it will look great. You simply have  to have the backing board of frame screwed with hooks upon which you could hang the jewelry or you could stretch few crafted knits along it & show off your jewelry with it.

3rd- Use it as mirror frame

Old picture frames look beautiful when used as mirror frames. I think i don't have to describe you more as pictures say themselves.

5th- Repaint & upcycle.

If your picture frame is old but not-so-worn, This one is good option. Just spray-paint the picture frame with shiny & beautiful colors and they will be ready to decorate again. You could use these naked frames directly as decorative pieces or you could use them again just like new frames.

6th- Make a cholkboard out of it.

You can also use your old frame as frame of your blackboard. This simple cute blackboard can be used to leave messages and quotes. Parallelly it would serve you as a piece of decor too.

Here below are few other great examples of re-purposed old frames. Hope you enjoyed this post.

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image source : pinterest.com

How To Find And Choose Best Picture Framers / Framing Service In Your Area

 If you are an art lover or collector you will need getting your artworks framed many times. Frames are inevitable for long lasting protection of your artworks and it looks good too. But probably, the most critical step in getting your works framed is choosing a dependable framer that offer you great quality of framing services at affordable price.

If you feel the same, we have analyzed and listed few good tips here below that will help you find picture framers and picture framing for your dream projects and daily needs. You can follow this guideline to get great framings on your artworks.

Step 1 - Finding local picture framers / framing services and their reviews

Online reviews
Sites like Google places, Yelp.com and citysearch.com etc give you truly dependable and honest customer reviews, most of them also provide ratings so that you get instant idea of their services. More customers and more positive reviews means more dependable and higher service quality. If you want to search directly for picture framers in your area, here for example NYC, you can search keywords like “picture framers NYC”, “Custom framing NYC” etc. And you will get number of picture framing stores listed on your computer screen, most of them with reviews too.

Direct referrals
Ask people around you which framing shop is how much good. Generally this is best method as you can ask specific questions to persons directly and know whether a particular shop is best suitable for your requirements or not.

Manual inspection
Go to framing shop directly and review the store directly. Checkout variety of frames they are delivering. Checkout readymade samples and their finishing qualities. Also observe which other services they provide and how much experience they have in doing their work.

Location
Location is also great factor of good framing service. Framing stores located among number of art galleries and other framing shops, will be great for high-quality picture framing. This is because number of art-galleries and competiting framers in locale will add more competition to them. And when there is more competition, there will be better services and lower rates too. For example, SoHo, New York is destination of many famous artists around the world and have many art galleries there. So it is best place for getting museum quality custom picture framing services.

Along with all this sources, you can also search on local yellow pages, business guides etc. After all or few of these researches, you will have a short list of few selected picture framers around your area. The second step is choosing the best one for your needs.


Step 2 - Choosing the best framers suited for your needs
So here are some questions you should ask yourself. Then answer them in your words and according to the answers finalize the one best suited for you.

1. What do you want to get framed?
It may be a piece of paper or important document, it may be a painting, or set of gold medals you won at high school or anything else.

2.What other services you need?
List out all other services you need for that. For example, mating, canvas stretching, float framing etc.

3.Who will offer framing on it?
If it is painting or artwork, almost every framer would be doing it. But for specific items like set of old coins or your baby's first shoes etc. Only few of them would be ready to do it. Find out it by contacting them or looking through the services they offer. Some of them offer museum quality picture framing which is best-suited for delecate and fragile artworks to be kept in museums or art galleries.

4.What does they cost for it?
This is mostly an important concern for people. As you already have their reviews you don't have to worry about service quality. So next thing is to find out prices they ask for framing and other services you require. Each of these framers would be charging its customer different price. Find the best one for your budget and finalize the one for you.

Canvas Art Custom Picture Framing

In earlier days of its emergence (almost few hundred years ago) frames were merely carved and colored pieces of woods hanging on walls at homes of posh people, usually kings and their fellows. But scenario is quite different today. People now use beautiful frames to decorate almost every space from cozy cabins to huge palaces and from personal offices to public museums. With emergence of contemporary art concepts, people began to frame almost everything to preserve it for years in its ideal condition. Custom Art Framing is a great way to preserve anything you love and want always to be in your memories.

There are many things you may have stored carefully in your cupboards or old chest boxes which you may retrieve while cleaning your house or renovating the things. But have you ever though those things would look even beautiful when framed and swanked in your drawing rooms or guest rooms. Here are ideas about few cute, memorable and beautiful things you can actually get framed and preserved to display at your favorite places and to show to your friends, family or anybody that matters that much.

1. Childhood Memories :

You can get your childhood achievements or cute and naughty childhood photos picture framed. It may include anything like your first casual shirt, your drama winning certificate, your first gold medal or your tiny shoes.

2. Family Photos :
Family photos looks great on your home walls. They are true pieces of happiness and such a beautiful moments which you would never want to forget and show off.

3. Trophies :
Prizes and trophies which you have got for your skills, special achievements and acts of honour are really things worth showing off. You get it with a great combination or co-incidence of hard work, confidence and luck. So why don't show it off?

4. Collectibles :
Whether you are an enthusiastic collectionist you might have collection of something. One of our customers had a set of various sizes of nails. It can be a set of antique watches or your grandfather's clothes or postal tickets or anything.

5. Wedding Memories :
Marriage is, without any doubt, too important event of a person's life. These are moments one will always love to remember and be in forever. Why don't get your marriage photos printed and picture framed by some really best framers.

6. Pet Portraits :
Your cute, innocent pets are also a part of your family. They have always served you with un-conditional love. Get their photos framed and place them at your favorite places.

7. Memories :
Remember your son's first drawing of a dinosaur with a bone in his mouth that was actually supposed to be a dog? “Of course” you would say. So why don't have it framed with a colorful picture frame?

8. Mirrors :
Want to feel like a king everyday? Get your mirror framed with royal looking woods. Most of people watch their face in mirrors every morning. Even your guests will appreciate the beautiful mirror when they see themselves in it.

9. ArtWorks :
Anything that is artistic can be art framing nyc and would look beautiful when framed by best framers. It may be painting you purchased from an auction, a photo of jesus, or a beautiful self drawn piece of art.