Framing and Mat Guide
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Some Great Tips for Framing Your Artwork
For those of you who are not familiar with framing prints, below we offer our framing and mat guide from our contemporary wall art store. This includes a list containing some great tips when looking for frames and mats for your art prints.
Firstly, we always recommend taking your print directly to your preferred framer. This reduces the risk of damage and they can discuss framing options with you.
Avoid removing your image from of its packaging in the meantime. Excessive and/or improper handling can lead to damage. A professional framer will know how to correctly handle your print, including safely removing it from the packing tube while not contacting its surface.
Read on below to discover some great tips when deciding upon frames and mat combinations for your new art piece!
Fantastic Framing and Mat Tips to Consider
Firstly, decide where you want to place your image. Take the time to measure your wall space and ensure that you choose your size accordingly. Placing a small artwork on a large and open wall won’t do your image justice. On the other hand placing a large, framed image into a tiny corner will make the room feel overly small.
Once you have found a wall that suits, we strongly advise using a stud finder to discover where best to hang. As we discuss later, framed prints can be relatively heavy (and get heavier the larger they are). Taking the time to find the optimal place now saves potential issues later.
Also, take the time to look at the surroundings of where you’re planning. Is there existing artwork on the walls? What colour is your paint/wallpaper? Taking a few moments to notice these details is always a great idea. Discuss these considerations with your framer. Often times, they may offer you some sound recommendations that may appeal!
We have also composed an introductory guide to mats for your prints, which we encourage you to check out. This offers some great tips to help assist in choosing a mat for your image. We highly recommend having a read through this brief guide.
Big Frame or Small Frame?
As you will no doubt discover, there is a vast range styles to choose from. Some of these offer a thinner profile while others a larger, more chunky profile. There is no right or wrong and the most important thing is to simply choose what appeals most to you. We do recommend that you do find some balance; as a small print featuring an overly large frame will tend to be dominated.
Along a similar line, you will also need to consider the kind of mat you wish to use. We always recommend having a mat when framing. These are available in an assortment of colours, and like with frames, you may opt for a large mat or perhaps a small one. Again, your framer can offer you advice and show you some examples to give you a great idea of how your finished piece will look. Be sure to check out our featured blog post introductory guide to mats to find out more.
Framing Designs
In addition to opting for a thin or thicker frame, you also have the option of a simple design or a more ornate design. Like many of the choices discussed here, this mainly comes down to personal preference. One thing we do advise to consider, is that a large, ornate frame on a smaller sized print tends to detract from the image itself. I.e. the it becomes the feature piece instead of your artwork.
In this case, this can be mitigated by opting for a more ornate, but perhaps thinner profile frame. Again, be sure to discuss these options with your framer.
If you’re considering hanging multiple frames on the same wall, don’t be afraid to be creative with your hanging solutions. There are several different and creative ways to hang your images, so be sure to ask Likewise, be sure to browse places like Pinterest to get some fabulous ideas and inspiration.
UV Glass Options
Be sure to chat with your framer about the different kinds of glass available. These range of standard glass through to UV glass, which offers protection from UV light. The cost of these varies greatly and depending on the size required.
We always recommend finding a place to hang which is out of direct sunlight. If you would like to find out more about the differences in glass, head on over to our guide to UV glass.
Be Sure to Hang Your Prints Safely
Once you have decided upon your frame, mat and glass, the final step is to ensure they are mounted correctly on your wall. Large frames can be heavy, so you will need to ensure you hang them appropriately and handle them with great care.
If choosing to mount them to your wall with framing hooks, ensure that they are more than capable of holding your framed image’s weight. This is essential. Likewise, as mentioned previously, ensure all images are mounted securely into your wall, i.e., into a stud.
Hanging a frame onto an unsupported wall is dangerous and can cause damage to your wall, and your frame to fall due to the lack of support.
In Summary
We hope this guide has given you some useful tips and considerations for framing your artwork. As discussed, your professional framer will offer you additional information and guide you through the options available.
These easy to understand concepts will ensure that your limited-edition prints will be well looked after when proudly displayed.
If you have any queries you are welcome to contact us at Vogue Art Studio!