Framing Information Framing Glossary | Framing Glossary |
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Acid free Paper or board that has been treated to maintain a neutral pH. Acid and lignin and other harmful factors are removed which could cause staining to artwork over time. Archival, conservation, gallery, museum, preservation All of there terms are more or less interchangeable. They refer to a method of framing in which all processes are completely reversible and the visible and chemical deterioration of the artwork is minimized. This type of framing may include acid-free materials and UV glazing. Also known as "C/P." AR A very special type of glass with a micro-thin coating that disrupts the energy contained in light waves causing them to flow out of synch. This technique called "destructive wave interference" virtually eliminates reflections off the glass surface. Bevel The bevel is the slanted edging on the inner opening of a mat. The bevel can be plain white (exposing a white matboard core) or it can be gold leafed, painted or colored in many ways. Mats are traditionally cut with beveled edges to prevent unsightly shadows from falling onto the artwork. Block Blocking refers to the straightening of needlepoint which has been worked without a frame support and is slanted in appearance. Sometimes crewel stitchery needs blocking, but this is rare. Dry mount Dry mounting is a process, considered irreversible, by which a piece of paper, most frequently a poster, is bonded to a backing board so that it will stay flat after it is framed. Dust cover The dustcover is the piece of paper glued to the back of a wooden frame package. This covering keeps not only dust but also insects out of your frame. Encapsulate Encapsulation seals a fragile or two-sided item inside a "sandwich" with inert Mylar film. It is a completely reversible process. Fillet A fillet is a narrow strip of wood, with a shape and a finish that looks like a miniature frame. This fits inside a mat or the lip of a frame to add an extra special touch of class. Fitting Fitting refers to the completion of the framing package and the final insertion of the glazing, art and backing into the frame, the application of the dustcover and the installation of the hardware. Float When a piece of paper artwork has interesting edges or the artwork goes all the way to the edges of the paper, the piece can be floated on top of a mat instead of positioned under a mat opening. Glazing Glazing is the glass or acrylic that protects your framed artwork from both physical harm (dust, pollutants) and the effects of light. Glazing is available with many different features, such as UV filtration or reflection control. Hanger The hanger is what goes onto your wall to support the frame. There are many types of hanging devices. Hardware The hardware is what goes onto the back of your frame to hang it on the wall. Hardware includes screw eyes, D-rings, strap-hangers, and wire. Hinge A hinge is an attachment device made from Japanese paper and adhered with a neutral paste in Conservation framing. laminate Laminating seals an item in plastic. Like your driver's license. Framers don't do a lot of laminating because it is in no way reversible. Liner A liner is a plain, flat or slightly beveled wooden frame, usually covered with linen fabric, which goes inside a more ornate outer frame and acts as a visual "rest area" between an unglazed painting or photograph. Liners can also be painted in a variety of colors and methods, or covered with velvet. Mat A mat is a piece of board which has one or more windows cut into it to display underlying images. Matte Matte is a type of finish, it means "Not glossy or shiny but flat or dull." This is a term familiar to anyone who has tried to buy interior housepaint. Mount Mounting means to fix or position artwork into a mat or onto backing material. pH This is a chemical scale which describes acidity or alkalinity. Profile The shape or style of a frame. Frames come in millions of profiles. Rag Rag is a short term for 100% cotton rag, ie, rag matboard. Shadow box A shadowbox is a deep frame made to accommodate three dimensional objects. Sink mat A sink mat is created with a "well" underneath it to hold the framed item in place without damage. This is an ideal approach to the framing of an entire magazine - you will see the page or cover you desire, but the rest will be tucked safely in its sink mat. Also great for framing LPs. Spandrel A spandrel is a style of frame which is square or rectangular on the outside and round or oval on the inside. This type of frame is especially perfect for rectangular photos which you do not wish to trim into an oval shape. Stretch Paintings on canvas or works of art on fabric are stretched over a rigid support (usually wooden stretcher bars) so that they may stay square and flat for framing and viewing. Substrate The substrate is the board or material which goes under your artwork in a frame package. UV Ultra violet light This type of light is found in both sunlight and artificial lighting. UV wavelengths cause fading, embrittlement and discoloration in unprotected frame packages. UV Glazing A coated glass or an engineered acrylic which filters UV wavelengths. Also available in AR. UV glazing is like sunscreen for your artwork. Just as an application of sunscreen won't protect you forever, UV glazing can only slow down the damaging effects of light for your artwork. |
| Canvas Printing |
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Printing on canvas is incredibly versatile and a great way to create a ready-to-hang image or artwork. Every canvas that we print is protected with a UV coated acrylic finish to guard the print from dust, moisture and fading. Do you want your canvas stretched on bars or non-stretched? Framed or unframed? Customize the work to make it truly your own. |
| Art Prints – How are they made? |
 Photography by Laurie Barone-Shafer Here are a few tips, tricks and techniques on how to make art print poster ready photographs and print ready digital files. Don’t get overwhelmed, there is a lot of information here, but a lot of it is just intuitive. Well, a bit of patience will always help. First thing – Photo Size |
| Learning to Paint Watercolors |
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Watercolor is an easy, fun medium for creating art. Color theory, composition and design can be explored freely with watercolor paint, paper, and brushes. Several techniques may be used with watercolors for varying effects including painting wet on wet, wet on dry, layering washes, and more. Watercolor paper comes in cold press, hot press, and rough. Rough paper has the most texture, and its hills and valleys can result in interesting effects when paint is added. Hot press is the smoothest and has the finest texture. Cold press has a moderate amount of texture and is the paper most commonly chosen by watercolor artists. Watercolor paper comes in several weights ranging from 90 lb. to 300 lb. based on the pounds per ream of paper. Most artists prefer to use at least 140 lb. paper. Papers vary somewhat between manufacturers, so sampling different papers is advisable. Paper can be purchased in pads, in blocks or in large sheets. The large sheets are usually the most economical and can be torn into whatever size is desired. |