Methods & Materials
At MisterFrameMan we understand that the seemingly endless options and choices can be somewhat overwhelming when looking to frame an artwork.
With a great eye for design, unprecedented framing knowledge and over 30 years’ experience, we can guide you through every stage to ensure you make the perfect choices throughout the whole consultation process.
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Glazing Options
Hanging Options
FinishingMounting Options
The best mounting method for an artwork depends on several factors, including the type of artwork, your desired aesthetic, level of protection required, the frame style being used and the size and proportion of the piece once framed.
When mounting an artwork our primary consideration is always “conservation”, ensuring that the artwork is framed in a way to protect it whilst in the frame, and ensuring that all techniques used are reversible should the piece ever be removed from the frame.
For this reason, we only use fully archival conservation mount boards with a quality of paper that has neutral pH (lignin-free and acid-free) and resistant to ageing. Our mount boards come in a vast range of big bold colours, a very wide selection of neutral hues and a variety of thicknesses.
Window Mount
This method creates a “window” around the artwork, providing a border and space between the artwork and the glass. A window mount typically consists of two pieces of acid-free mount board. The “window” mount is the visible front piece, with a cut-out or aperture that exposes the artwork. The second piece is a solid backing, hinged to the front along one edge to provide the artwork with a solid backing. Your artwork would be hinged to the backing board using archival materials and conservation framing methods ensuring it is protected and can be reversed at any time.
Float Mount
Float mounting, or “floating” means your artwork sits on top of a solid piece of mount board, as opposed to being behind an aperture in the mount board. This technique is a popular choice for contemporary artworks and works particularly well for pieces with “deckled” (torn like edges) as it allows the full artwork to be shown.
During this process strips of archival paper tape are adhered to the reverse of the print, threaded through slits in the backing card and taped down to ensure that your artwork is securely attached, whilst still being free to move when the paper fibres expand and contract during changes in atmospheric conditions. When float mounting the choice of frame needs to be considered as it must be deep enough to add “spacers” which prevent your artwork from touching the glass.
Raised Float Mount
This once again gives the impression that your artwork is “floating” in the frame, but with the addition of space between the backing board and the artwork, giving a stunning shadow effect around the paper edges.
As with float mounting, the work is hinged to the backing card, but this time the backing card is cut slightly smaller than the artwork itself, so is hidden. This is then adhered to a piece of foamboard which raises the work up above the solid backing, giving the illusion that the artwork is suspended within the frame. Once again, the choice of frame needs to be considered as it must be deep enough to add “spacers” which prevent your artwork from touching the glass.
Frame to Edge / Spaced
For a more minimalist and sleeker look you may want to consider framing your artwork to paper edge, whilst still ensuring that it is 100% safe by spacing it back away from the glazing.
For this technique we line the rebate of the frame and the wooden spacers with archival acid free tape, we then rest the artwork on the spacer before backing with a thick core mount board. For larger works we may need to “float” your work to a backing card to prevent it from sagging through the spacers.
We line the frame and spacers with acid free lining paper to ensure that no damage occurs where the very edge of artwork touches the spacer, the spacer can match the paper colour, the external colour of the frame or can pick out one of the colours from the artwork.
Framing Options
At MisterFrameMan we believe that your frame should be aesthetically pleasing whilst complimenting and protecting the artwork within. The perfect framing solution should enhance a work of art, whilst at the same time allowing the artwork to take centre stage.
When mounting an artwork our primary consideration is always “conservation”, ensuring that the artwork is framed in a way to protect it whilst in the frame, and ensuring that all techniques used are reversible should the piece ever be removed from the frame.
Wood Frames
Our wood frame range is HUGE and makes up a large proportion of all frames that we have made over the years, available in all shapes, colours and sizes the choice is literally endless.
- Standard white and black box frames, with a matt smooth finish or with a soft wood grain, available in a multitude of widths and depths.
- Natural wood tones such as oak, walnut and wenge, just to name a few, available in solid wood or as a veneer which gives a more consistent finish.
- High gloss finishes in white, black and metallics, for a particularly modern and sleek design led look.
- Classical ornate profiles adding a touch of elegance and sophistication to the frame, available in a comprehensive range of finishes.
- Coloured frames, all the way through the colour spectrum, available in bright neon finishes through to the more subtle pastel tones.
- Metallic finish frames available in aged, brushed and polished gold & silver. Gun metal, bronze & copper finish frames, all in a wide selection of profiles.
Aluminium Frames
Our aluminium frames are manufactured in Germany by Nielsen Bainbridge, a market leader in the field of aluminium frames for over 35 years. Because of its simple and linear form, aluminium profiles are the ideal frame for the purest of picture presentation. Simple and discreet, but with a wide range of colours, finishes, widths and depths available.
Perspex Box Frames
If you are looking for a modern minimalist framing solution, then our bespoke handmade Perspex box frames are sure to be the answer. Each is made to measure and constructed using UV protective 3mm or 5mm acrylic and featuring a choice of black, white or 10mm all clear acrylic backing.
Our contemporary Perspex boxes can be made to any depth allowing you to display items such as works on canvas, wood and metal, or larger 3D items, whilst having the benefit of being able to view them from all sides.
Also available with coloured acrylic sides, enabling us to pick out a colour from the artwork within.
Canvas Tray Frames
Our canvas tray “floater” frames offer a modern minimalist framing solution for stretched canvas works without covering the artwork edges.
We use this range of frames when no glazing is required for the artwork, not just for works on canvas but for artworks on wood panels, acrylic and dibond.
The tray frame range has a narrow face typically between 5-20mm, and are available as standard in black, white, metallic finishes and in natural wood finishes. We also offer a bespoke spraying service for these frames allowing us to match any Ral or Pantone colour.
Metal Frames
Our metal frame range offers a contemporary and minimalist look, allowing the artwork to take centre stage. Every frame is 100% bespoke made, cut, welded and finished to the highest of standards by our metal work technicians.
Therefore, the frame profile can be any depth and have any face width you desire. The welded steel construction, along with a split baton sub frame provide the strength required when framing larger artworks.
Our steel frames come in a range of striking finishes shown below, such as polished steel, brushed steel and even “rusty” Corten steel, once again they can be bespoke sprayed to any Ral or Pantone colour.
Handmade Decorative Frames
We work with a British based company who have been established for over forty years, specialising in modern and traditional handmade frames. Every frame is bespoke built, and hand finished, creating an individual one-off frame every time.
Our selection includes modern and contemporary styles as well as ornate and authentic period designs including Victorian, Regency, Neo Classical, Art Deco, Nouveau and Swept Frames using a collection of several hundred authentic original 18th century box moulds.
With over 20 profiles, finishes which include silver and gold leaf, burnished gilts, impressionist pastel shades and numerous paint colours, along with various colour wash finishes the options available are endless.
Glazing Options
At MisterFrameMan we understand that making clear decisions about glazing is essential when framing a client’s artwork. As we all know, having the correct glazing can not only make a huge difference visually but can impact on the lifetime protection of the piece.
When choosing the type of glazing for your framing project there are several factors to consider, such as the level of UV protection required, the need for an anti-reflective glazing and the potential requirement for a “plastic” glazing solution for additional safety and peace of mind.
Think about the monetary value of the piece, the sentimental value that the artwork has for you, and the material and mediums that make up the artwork.
We will always offer you the best advice as to which glazing solution is recommended for your framing project!
UV protection
UV-protective glazing filters up to 99% of UV light, protecting artworks from fading and other types of deterioration associated with UV light damage. UV-filtering glass acts as a protective barrier that either reflects or absorbs UV light and safeguards artworks from deterioration.
Ultraviolet light, like all other light waves, comes from the sun. It exists everywhere where there is sunlight and causes damage to our skin, materials, and artworks. UV light has shorter wavelengths and is packed with much more energy, which means a more potential negative impact on your artwork.
Artificial light, especially prolonged or intense exposure, can also cause significant damage to artwork, leading to fading, discoloration, and weakening of materials. This damage is cumulative and irreversible.
Anti-reflective
When light hits glass, not all visible light travels through to the artwork. Instead, 8% of the visible light gets reflected from the glass, creating reflections. While glazing is an important part of any frame to protect the work from the environment, it is not always desired because it can create an obstruction at the front of the framed piece.
Anti-reflective glass is a premium glazing solution ensuring artworks are protected from the outside environment yet remain as clear as if there wasn’t any glass in the frame at all.
Acrylic Glazing
On certain framing projects acrylic glazing offers a great alternative to the more traditional glass glazing options. Acrylic glazing offers excellent optical clarity, with a high-level light transmission. It is tint free and visually colourless and can also be shatter resistant, making it much safer and easier to transport and handle.
We offer a range of acrylic glazing options which include 3mm and 5mm fully UV protective acrylic. We also offer a museum grade acrylic glazing solution which is anti-reflective, scratch-resistant, and anti-static that combines the best benefits of glass and acrylic and provides maximum UV protection for your art.
We would recommend acrylic glazing in high traffic or public areas, for particularly largescale artworks, for collections which may be moved on a regular basis and for pieces which may be in danger from high flying toys in a family home!
Backing Board & Hanging Options
Once we have your treasured work of art safely in its new frame, we turn our attentions to the back of the frame… Not a part many people see, but equally as important as the front!
Backing Board & Sealing Tape
We use a 2.6mm conservation Corri Cor Plus backing board, or for larger works a 4.4mm version, these strong and rigid boards have a water-resistant coating and are 100% archival.
This is pinned into the back of the frame and then sealed using a long-lasting acid free lignin free self-adhesive tape with an aluminium barrier to stop acid migration. This combined with the water-resistant backing board also helps prevent moisture and “bugs” entering the back of the frame.
Hanging
Next up we must consider the hanging fixings for your frame, this can depend on the size of the frame, the thickness of the frame, the weight of the framed artwork and the type of wall it will be hung on.
For smaller artworks which are framed in a standard frame we tend to use a metal fixing either side of the frame, with a heavy-duty nylon cord across the back. This can be a single hole or double hole “D” ring, or a triple hole strap hanger depending on the weight of the piece.
With larger and heavier framed pieces, we would recommend a triple hole strap hanger either side of the frame with no cord, or a heavy-duty brass bezel hanger attached to the two top corners of your frame.
Again, for larger and heavier artworks we offer a split batten sub frame, this doesn’t only offer an easy solution for the hanging process but also adds strength and support to the actual main frame. The split batten system makes use of an angled batten sub frame integrated into the main frame that will slot securely over an opposing angled batten affixed to the wall.
Split Batten frames are only suitable for deeper style frames with an internal depth of at least 30mm, but because they bear the majority of the weight and strengthen the outer frame, they allow us to use modern narrow profiles to frame larger works than usual.
Other hanging options would include chain fixings for picture rails and security fixings for public areas.
Finishing
Finally, the finishing touches…
Everything is checked over, then checked again, corners are “touched up” using pastes or creams, glass is cleaned, corner “bumpers” are attached to the bottom corners of the frame to protect the wall, allow air circulation behind the artwork, and keep the frame level.
If your artwork was accompanied with a Certificate of Authenticity this is carefully applied to the backing board in an archival plastic sleeve, before the final “pièce de résistance”, your very own MisterFrameMan certification sticker is added with details of your choice of glazing and signed by our certified conservation framing expert.
To ensure your newly framed piece “travels well”, we carefully and responsibly pack to a standard suitable for the method of transportation. We are careful to ensure that the piece is well protected, but just as careful to ensure that we do not use excessive packaging and only use packaging which is made from recycled materials.
Let’s Frame Your Next Masterpiece!
Whether you have a single cherished artwork or need an exhibition framed, we’re here to help.
Email: enquiries@misterframeman.co.uk | Call: 07958 752226
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