It's a good idea to use custom framing when framing fine art, heirlooms or special personal objects. Custom framing creates a perfect combination of color and embellishment to enhance the artwork. Your artwork is an investment and should be properly protected from the elements that slowly deteriorate it. We can help you choose the right combination of framing materials to turn your treasured keepsakes into beautiful works of art. We will discuss some of these now:
Matting Combinations:
Matting is necessary to prevent the artwork from being in direct contact with the glass and provides support for the artwork within the frame. Over time, silver oxide emulsion can cause a photo to stick to the glass causing irreparable damage. Humid conditions can also damage the art if condensation is caught between the artwork and the glass.
Matting is an important design aspect for bringing out the best in your work of art. Two or three mats can provide depth and dimension. You want the mats to compliment the artwork, not call attention to them. The main purpose of matting and framing is to accent the artwork and provide space around it so your eye is drawn to the art.
Mat boards are available in a variety of colors and textures to suit your needs. There are three basic quality levels of matting. Paper mats are best suited for matting non-valuable art because they can be damaging as a result of the acids they contain. Over time, you will see the bevel of a paper mat turn yellow and it's doing that to the artwork underneath as well.
Rag mats are made of 100% cotton rag and are acid free. If you want to protect the value and quality of your artwork or keepsake, this is what you
want. Rag mats are used in conservation framing and are worth the extra expense.
The third option is Archival mats, which are a combination of rag and paper that has been treated to remove most of the acids and impurities. This provides some protection to your artwork but not as much as with rag mats. Archival mats are available in a large selection of colors. Most of the mats we use are archival, but we use rag mats when appropriate. The bevel of archival mats is pure white and will stay that way for many years.
Special Design Treatments:
This is what makes your framed piece really special and personalized! There are many options here:
Multi-Openings:
Multi-opening mats are used for a collage of photos, a collection of seashells, or whatever your heart desires. Multi-openings can be cut in rectangles, ovals and circles and can be double matted too.
Hand Wrapped:
We take nice linen or another suitable fabric and cover a mat board using a special adhesive. This is especially elegant when coordinated with a fillet which is a small wooden frame along the inside edge of the cut mat. Foam board can also be fabric wrapped to create depth and a shadowbox effect.
V-Grooves:
That's pretty much what it is?a special cut in the shape of a V which is cut into the mat. This looks really nice when black core mats are used and the V shows in black.
Marble Paper:
This is hand painted paper with a marbleized effect. It comes in a wide array of colors and designs and is applied in strips to the surface of the mat to produce an inlay effect.
Calligraphy:
Want another option besides an engraved plaque? We offer calligraphy in 3 styles and several colors. Add scripture to an incredible photo of Nature or a title to any piece of art.
Custom Mat Corners:
Add some style to the corners of your mats for that extra special look.
SOME
CUSTOM
CUTS
These are just a few of the design techniques we offer at Angles & Edges, Inc. Part of the fun is consulting with you to see what ideas you may have, or we will be happy to design your mats for you with your final approval.
What is conservation glass and when do I need it?
Conservation glass is used in many cases; there are two really common instances. If your artwork is going to be hanging on a wall facing a window, it would be a good idea to use conservation glass. Another reason for using conservation glass would be if you plan on using lights to highlight your artwork on the wall. In both of these cases the need for this type of glass is important because you are exposing your artwork to Ultra Violet (UV) light. Ultra Violet light waves are much shorter than visible light and contain more energy. This energy is the same energy that causes you to sunburn and will deteriorate your artwork much quicker. Conservation glass blocks around 97 percent of the UV rays compared to the 45 to 50 percent you would get with regular clear & non-glare glass.
What should I use to clean my picture framing glass?
Any commercial window cleaner is good for cleaning framing glass. If conservation glass is used you should avoid using any cleaner that contains ammonia (including some commercial cleaners). Another good glass cleaner is vinegar or commercial window cleaners with vinegar-D in them. These cleaners have been tested safe for cleaning any type of framing glass. It is best to spray the cleaner onto the cloth and then wipe the glass clean. This avoids the possibility of the liquid spilling over the edges of the glass and onto your art. Avoid all multi-purpose cleaners, as most of them contain waxes or abrasive that can coat or scratch the surface of the glass.
Selecting a frame:
The frame provides structural strength to enable you to cover your art with glass or acrylic and to hang it. But the color, style and texture of the molding adds its own unique element to the beauty of your custom-framed art. We have a huge variety of moldings, but your choice should coordinate with the art, the mats, and the particular effect you desire to achieve. For example, a bamboo-like molding is great for oriental work, or a 'Navajo' inlay works well for southwestern art. Moldings made from natural woods and finishes are often used to coordinate with similar wood furnishings and to provide a simple elegance to the art. Moldings can be used in combination to build a truly unique frame that will add additional width and color to your custom-framed art. The possibilities are nearly endless, but we can help you choose the best combination for your very own presentation.
Misc Framing Ideas
Shadow Boxes/Display Cases:
Three dimensional objects present no problem to us, as we have done many of these in the past. There is a way to encase everything from WWII military medals for your grandfather, sport jerseys, baby shoes, vacation souvenirs, or a china doll for your daughter. A shadow box can be very simple or it can incorporate rich fabrics and woods for a superbly elegant effect. Heirloom plates, spoon collections, coin collections, medals, and antique pistols are some examples of items that can be displayed in shadow boxes. Larger items, such as dolls, or an autographed football require display cases. Aa your design consultant, we can determine the best way to display and protect just about any object in a shadowbox.
Stacked mats like the above example provides a third dimension to your work.
Needlework/Tapestry/Canvas Framing:
Needlework includes all needlework, embroidery, crossstitch, and crewel, whether they be from kits or original designs. Tapestries include hand woven rugs, handmade quilts, and batiks. Since these articles represent a considerable investment of skill and time, it is very important that they be displayed and protected from damage. There are many ways to display these items, and each may require special treatment to bring out the best in the work and to ensure its preservation.
Mirror Framing:
We can build a mirror frame to fit in perfectly with your decor. A mirror can be cut and framed to fit any place, to within a quarter inch. Department stores or furniture stores may be limited to only certain sizes or styles of mirrors, whereas, we have a whole arsenal of sizes from which you can select. We carry over 3000 mouldings so you'll be sure to find the perfect combination.