What Goes Into Professional Picture Framing?
Framing photos or artwork is a popular way to improve the ambience when decorating your house. We have a variety of ways we can frame, depending on your taste and what you’re framing. So what options do we have? Pre-made department store kits are popular but can’t always offer you the unique look you want. You may need a bespoke frame to accommodate distinctive elements in your artwork and photographs.
Hiring professional picture framers is an option in these situations, but buying wholesale photo frames and custom frames is much less expensive and not as challenging as you may imagine. Working out the components of a picture frame is the first step to framing your photos and artwork at home. When you know what you need, you may select designs that will give your framed print the unique, custom look you desire.
If you’re looking to understand what goes into framing and get some ideas for your upcoming decorative projects, then you’re in the right place. This article will show you precisely what is involved in professional framing.
What is a Frame?
The frame is the first thing you’ll need to buy. When it comes to bespoke framing, the possibilities are virtually limitless. However, the first step is visualising your finished piece in its final location. What kind of picture do you have in your head? What is its size? How deep and how big is the art within the frame? What is the frame made of? Once these parameters are decided, you can move on to the next step.
You can choose from various wood and metal frames in different sizes, depths, and finishes; try getting a sample kit to examine your options in person if you’re unsure which frame will look best with your painting.
Components of Professional Picture Framing
There is a range of components important in framing; each part can add an element of uniqueness when choosing your frame. These will include the glazing, mat, backing board, and hanging kit.
Glazing
Glazing is the first component of professional picture framing. The front-facing glass or acrylic shields the mat and artwork from the weather is what we mean by this term. Regular glass and static-resistant acrylics like optium, which are both non-glare and non-reflective, are just a few of the many alternatives for glazing.
Mat
The matboard is the piece of paper or fabric between the picture and the backing board. Matboard is commonly made of paper or rags but can also be covered in silk or linen. The colour and size of the mat you choose can help to draw attention to the artwork while tying the design together.
An alternative to using a spacer mat can keep the artwork from touching the glass. Your options depend on what kind of art of photo you’re framing; some opt to have a barely visible matboard, while others like to use it to add some emphasis to your piece.
Backing Board
For a stable photo, you need a backer board or mounting board. Safeguarding your photos from pollutants and yellowing is possible using an archival-quality mounting board and a black backing board. The purpose here is to maintain protection for your artwork/photograph and hold it in place sufficiently.
We should purchase a photo-safe adhesive if you choose a non-adhesive backing board for your photograph. You can ask professionals for help if you’re unsure which backing board suits your project.
Hanging Kit
Finally, you’ll need a hanging kit to display your framed photo. Different types of hanging hardware are required for each frame to avoid damage or to have the frame drop unintentionally. It depends on the weight of your board and piece. Some frames could be cumbersome, so that you would require heavy-duty hanging kits. It is better to be safe than sorry, so we recommend looking for higher capacity hanging kits just in case.
Conclusion
We’ve gone through the options and what goes into picture framing, so hopefully, you have a good overview of what’s involved. Professional framing is an art form in its own right, and like other art forms, it adheres to specific standards and conventions. It can add to your existing pieces, so don’t discard the importance of having the proper framing when putting up your pieces.
Your artwork can be seen in a completely new light once it has been framed. However, if the framing process is done correctly, the picture frame can also serve the essential purpose of containing, maintaining, and protecting precious artwork. We hope this article has given you some new trick tips and ideas for your next framing project.
