Considerations for your framing consultation

Before you make a time to bring your art or special objects in for frame design advice, here are a few considerations to take into account to help with the selection process.

🟠 Decide first if economy is your priority or if is it design excellence with no compromise (we offer several price ranges as they exist in available supplies). If the maximum economy is what you are after, then Ikea and Kmart have mass-produced frames(mostly synthetic) for those situations. Custom framing cannot possibly be made for those prices.

🟠 If your piece is valuable, consider asking for archival or museum standard framing materials (glass, backing, matt boards). They are designed and made to

🟠 Take photos of where you are planning to hang your new piece if it is to become a part of your established decor.

🟠 Include flooring, furniture, other frames and art in these photos

🟠 Likewise, if it will hang temporarily there, think about choosing your frame ideally for the individual piece, regardless of its hanging place, as there are many options to choose from usually, some will be better if chosen for assimilation into a particular decor (which of course is not necessary if it will not hang there always).

WORKS ON CANVAS

🟢 Stretching of canvas and linen is one of our favourite things, and as artists, we have decades of experience to offer here.

🟢 Consider if you will add a fitted or floating frame after stretching the canvas on a timber strainer frame, or will the edges of the canvas be the ‘frame’ which will be seen from the side. The ‘gallery wrap’ look was it for many years, but over the last decade, the sophisticated finish (and protection) as well as the many decor-friendly moulding options have made floating frames very popular.
🟢 If your canvas has only a small amount of selvage or edging, stretching it onto a standard 38-40mm deep internal frame could require cropping some of the composition, which is some cases is not a desirable option. In this case, we can use an 18 - 20mm stretcher frame, however, they definitely look best when finished with a fitted or floating frame. Another option is to mount the canvas (glue down) onto board and trim to the exact image, then add a fitted frame (losing none of the composition). This is the least archival option, so consider the value of the canvas before selecting this option.

WORKS ON PAPER

🔵 In general works on paper require glass (and ideally matting) for protection from dust, humidity, uv fading, yellowing etc. Many grades of glass are on offer, priced according to their functions

🔵 For valuable works, a matt board is a lovely design feature but in addition, gives a 2mm space between the printed matter and the glass (damage or transfer of the printed matter to glass can happen in certain atmospheric conditions)

🔵 Many design options exist for matt board surrounds, including colours, reveals(a small showing of a harmonising colour from the artwork under the main border matt, or positioning off matt board over or under the piece, used as a box lining etc.

🔵 Art on Synthetic art papers (eg. stone paper and yupo) can be framed without glass but need proper glazing with several layers of UV varnish by the artist)

3D OBJECTS

🟣 We have designed all sorts of display frames for 3D unique objects, sports jerseys, books, bibles, weapons, mementos, tools, booties, teeth!! Whatever item you would like to display and protect, we will design & create a custom approach to fit your needs. Consider where and how you will display it, in terms of how it will marry in with your decor and are there any partner pieces that could benefit from a pairing or even displayed as a suite?

🟣 Probably the most common object to be mounted in a display box is the good old footy jersey. There are many approaches for this, from fully stretched out(using an internal template framework), to a natural loose (as worn) look. The box can be lined with white or team colours. The mats can be surrounding the item or just around it as the box lining. Windows can be created in a larger matt board for your associated photos, plaques etc

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