The Basics of Framing |

Getting a Price Quote on the Phone:

When you call a professional picture framer there is some basic information that will help them give you a more accurate price quote by phone.

When calling for a quote, here is the information they will need, with a more detailed explanation below:

Size of artwork.
Type of art (poster, textile, canvas, photograph, original art, etc.).
General idea of width and color of frame you’d like.
Mats around the art or not.
Glass or Plexiglas

Size of Artwork: Measure the height and width. This helps determine the amount of materials your art will require.

Type of Art: Each type of artwork has different material and labor requirements.

Posters – Most requested frame is a simple black. Most posters are framed without mats, though that is an option. If a mat is not used, there will need to be narrow spacers used between the glass and the art so they don’t touch.
Textiles – This includes sports jerseys, silk embroideries, and needlepoint, anything that is made with fabric. These require mounting onto a backing board and extra care.
Canvas – This requires stretching on bars or mounting on a board.
Photograph – These require either a mat board or spacers so the glass and photo don’t touch.
Original art or limited edition art with a high value – These require conservation materials in the matting, backing board and a glass with light protective features.
Objects – these require a deeper frame (called a “shadowbox”) and extra labor to secure them.

Frame Style:

Frames are available in all colors, widths and prices. Let your framer know if you want economy or average or higher end for price quotation purposes
Width of frame becomes a factor on larger pictures. A framer can put a skinny frame on a large job, but they will need to reinforce it, so there’s actually little price savings over a wider frame that is strong enough for the larger size art.

Matting:

Mats are often used to give the art a “finished” look, or to add size, or to add color to the framed presentation. Mats also serve the purpose of keeping the glass off the art.
When matting, there is a top, wider mat and often another thin mat that shows on the inside edges.

Glass (sometimes referred to as “Glazing”):

Most art requires the glass to protect it. The exceptions are oil paintings and some textiles.
There are options with glass, including non-glare, UV protected, and a combination of both. Plexiglas is recommended for large framed art and also comes with similar options.

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This is an excellent article from the Library of Congress:

“To increase the life and enjoyment of your print or photograph and to save money in the future on conservation treatments, you should invest in appropriate preservation matting and framing. Reviewing the following information and then interviewing the framer regarding the procedures and materials will help you decide.

What is preservation matting and framing?
It is the appropriate housing to display the intrinsic beauty and interest of an object, while prolonging its life by securing the object in a mechanically and chemically stable environment. It minimizes the problems caused by deterioration of the components of the object itself and other problems introduced by environmental factors such as air pollution, heat, light, and humidity.

What should I look for in a frame shop?
There is a growing awareness of preservation issues in the field of matting and framing. Indiscriminate use of terms such as “preservation quality” and “archival quality” can be misleading. However, there are established specifications for materials, and standards for procedures. Make sure the frame shop you select follows them. The field of Preservation is constantly evolving. Be an educated consumer by keeping abreast of new developments in the preservation techniques and materials used in this field.

What materials and techniques should be used for mats?
A mat is made of a series of components, as shown in this diagram. The mat must be constructed to fit the object. Objects should not be folded or cut to fit a mat/frame package. ”