Choosing the Frame - Framing MemorEze offers several styles, colors, and designs of both wood and metal frames. This can make your decision a bit difficult – below are some helpful hints:
- Size - The trick to making any size frame "work" with a piece is to control the proportions with matting. A wide frame requires more matting than a narrow frame.
- Style - The color, subject matter, and tone of your art will all point you toward an appropriate selection of frames. The frame should not take away from the presence of the art. If the art doesn’t have that presence, then use the décor of the room in which the piece will hang as your guide.
- Type - Wood frames will look good on almost any piece of art. We use walnut, cherry, oak, ash, basswood, poplar, and pine - all domestic woods - in our frames. Stained wood can be plain, carved, simple or ornate. And, many wood frames are available in lacquer finishes, faux finishes, and gold or sliver leaf. And, we also carry metal frames, which work well with certain décor, or with modern pieces and posters.
Choosing the Mats - Mats are more than decoration, they protect the surface of the art and keep it from touching the glass. To decide which mats to use, let the colors of your art guide you. Using multiple mats will add to the beauty of the finished piece. Here are a few basic rules:
- Dark colors tend to contain the art, while light colors tend to expand it.
- Mats should be at least twice as wide as the frame width. In a multiple mat combination, that means the top mat.
- Vary the amount showing on each mat in multiple mat combinations to avoid "striping."
- The top mat can be whatever color is predominant in the art. You can also use a neutral top mat with lower mats as accent colors.
Choosing Your Glass - Just when you think you are done making choices, you have to choose the right piece of glass. Each type of glass has specific benefits:
- Conservation Clear Glass - This is a laminated optical glass that should be used on artwork that is of great value or is very detailed. This glass effectively blocks 97% of the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays. Reflection control is also available on conservation glass.
- Reflection Control Glass - This is the best choice for artwork hung opposite a window or lamp. Because it's only etched on one side, it does not glare or produce distracting reflections on your art. It actually enhances some images such as portrait photography and impressionistic landscapes. Also available with ultraviolet coating.
- Premium Clear Glass - Use this for artwork that demands crisp, clear treatment, especially when clarity and detail are important.
- Museum Glass - Use this to protect your most valuable pieces, as the name implies it is what museums use.
- Plexiglass - Generally used with artwork that is very large or heavy, as it reduces the total weight of the finished piece. It can also be used for art that will be hung in high traffic areas or areas where broken glass would be a hazard, such as a child's room. You may also consider Plexiglass if your art is extremely valuable or irreplaceable, since it won't damage your art if it's broken. Plexiglass is available with conservation properties.
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