When you have something framed you are making a real visual statement. You can turn a fairly unassuming piece of artwork into the focal point of a room.  By framing something as a gift you create a unique and special present, which shows the care and thought you have put into your choice. 

To help you pick your way through framing jargon, here are some helpful pointers.

MOUNT:

Mounts are the coloured card windows, through which artwork is seen. They go between the artwork and the glass.  This is important because all artwork will become damaged, over time, if it remains in contact with glass, including fabric based pieces.  So not only does a mount help to make the framed piece look good with its proportions and colour shade, it also protects your work.

DOUBLE v SINGLE MOUNTS: 

Double mounts are essentially two windows of board, one on top of the other.  Because one window has been cut larger than the other, you will see both layers.  Choosing good combinations of colours will make it look better and give the picture extra depth.  Some pieces, such as certificates, may only need a simple display and are fine with a single mount.

If you want to be even more creative ask about other decorative mount styles on offer.

 

 

MOULDING

Mouldings are the wooden strips which are sawn and joined to make the frame.  Choosing a style of moulding to compliment the mount and artwork can be quite daunting.  There are several factors to consider:

• finish – (gold, silver, black, natural wood etc)
• width – (what it will look like and how strong it will end up being)
• profile shape – (what it looks like in cross-section)
• type of wood – (remember oak, ash and pine have different looking grains)
• depth – ( you may need a deeper moulding if you want to fit in double mounts etc)

GLASS

Glazing is important.  There is a wide variety of quality to choose from.  The main two are standard glass and anti-reflection glass.  They will look different on the work but offer the same level of protection: however, anti reflection glass is about double the price to fit.  For other options used to protect artwork from light damage etc, take advice from your framer or glazier.

In order to reduce the weight of a framed piece or where safety is an issue, consider using plastic glass – work will still look very good.

Whatever the reason for framing something, the way you choose to make it look is personal and important: we will make sure that we give you the opportunity to get it right.