Although they are rarely in the spotlight, picture frames play a critical role in making your photo and art displays a gorgeous part of your home or office décor. A good frame, especially when combined with the right matting, finishes the look of a photo or piece of art. It also helps attract the eye to appreciate it, setting it apart from the surrounding space.
When people look at your artwork, they also see your frames, even though the frames are not what they are focusing on – and that means if your picture frames are dirty or dusty, they’re going to see that, too. A dirty, dusty frame won’t do any favors for your home décor or the piece that’s framed, and it can easily distract from the pictures you actually want to be on display. Picture frames need regular care and cleaning to look their best and show off your photos and artwork at their finest.
Basic Cleaning for All Frames
You can keep frames in great shape for a long time with simple, regular dusting. Just like the rest of your furniture and home accessories, dust will collect on your frames and start to distract from your pictures. Giving your frames a light regular dusting every other day with a feather duster, lamb’s wool duster or a similar synthetic product is a quick way to keep dust in check. Just be careful not to knock hung artwork off the wall if you don’t take pictures down for this fast dusting!
If you dust less frequently, you may need to take more serious dusting measures for your frames. Take down hung pictures and wipe them very gently with a slightly damp cloth to remove larger amounts of dust. Do not spray water, wood polish, glass cleaner, or any other cleaning agent onto a frame with a mounted picture to make sure that none of the moisture gets inside the mounting and damages the picture.
Deeper Cleaning for Frames
If you need to take a hung picture down to dust it, you may as well take the time to give it a deeper cleaning and get rid of deeper accumulations of dust and dirt.
- Take it apart: To start, you should remove the photo or artwork so you can clean the frame without damaging what’s inside it. Start by laying a towel or soft blanket on a flat surface. Carefully lay the frame face down and disassemble the back to remove the photo and any mounting. Put these aside in a safe place, away from where you will clean the frame.
- Clean the glazing: Take the glazing out and give it a good cleaning to remove any dust, fingerprints, or other smudges. Glass can be cleaned with your preferred kind of glass cleaner. Acrylic glazing should only be cleaned with a gentle soap and water, or a cleaner specifically designed for plastics like our Brillianize® Acrylic Cleaner and Polish. Use a soft, lint-free towel to wash and dry the glazing to avoid scratching the glazing or leaving behind lint particles. Paper towels can scratch acrylic so avoid using them when you clean acrylic glazing. When the glazing is clean, lay it aside in a safe place, too.
Cleaning Wood vs. Cleaning Metal
Picture frames need different kinds of care depending on what materials they are made from and what kind of finish they have. When in doubt, clean frames with the gentlest cleaning solutions and techniques to make sure you don’t damage either the frames or finish.
- Wood frames: Wood picture frames that are finished can be cleaned with a damp cloth or with a wood furniture polish. When using this type of product, spray a small amount onto a cloth and use that to wipe the frame. This way you can avoid spraying too much polish directly onto the frame. If your wood frame is unfinished, use a towel dampened with water to clean the frame. Cleaning products may absorb into the unfinished wood and discolor it. If your frame is ornately carved or has other surface texture, use a soft toothbrush to help get dirt out of the nooks and crannies.
- Metal frames: Metal picture frames can be cleaned with a damp towel. Use a tiny bit of soap to clean the frame if it is especially dirty. If your frame is made of unlacquered pewter, sterling silver, or is silver plated, use a high-quality silver polish. If you are unsure about cleaning your frame, test it by first cleaning a small, unnoticeable part of the frame.
Once your frame is clean, make sure both the frame and glazing are completely dry before remounting your picture. Carefully replace the picture in the frame, seal it back in and rehang the frame. Now your frame is clean, and your photo can take center stage again with no dusty, dirty distractions!
Although they are rarely in the spotlight, picture frames play a critical role in making your photo and art displays a gorgeous part of your home or office décor. A good frame, especially when combined with the right matting, finishes the look of a photo or piece of art. It also helps attract the eye […]
Great framing protects art and displays photographs at their best. Frame Destination provides quality, affordable framing materials to suit any type of artwork. Our custom frames allow you to choose exactly the right size and style to support and showcase your photographs or artwork. However, custom framing may not always be part of your budget (or time frame), and many pieces of artwork fall into familiar sizes and shapes that don’t require a custom size. To help you get your art framed and displayed quickly, Frame Destination offers affordable ready-made frames that are easy to order and easy to assemble. Unlike many other retailers whose standard size offerings are between 3x5 and 8x10 only, Frame Destination has 20 sizes of ready-made frames available.
Ready-Made Frame Details
Frame Destination’s selection of ready-made frames includes the most useful sizes of larger frames, standard sizes like 8x10 and 10x13, and also less common sizes such as 10x20, 10x30, and 20x30 frames. All of our ready-made frames can be hung vertically or horizontally, making them even more versatile. You can choose between our Profile 2 or Profile 11 black anodized aluminum frames, depending on whether you would like a slightly wider or thinner frame. These durable frames are side-loading for easy use and require no picture corners or mounting tape. We include an 1/8-inch foamboard backing, standard glass or acrylic glazing (larger sizes use acrylic only), and a free wire hanging kit with each frame. As with all of our frames, full instructions for assembling the frames are included so you can get your artwork mounted, framed, and hung with no hassle.
Why Use Ready-Made Frames?
A simple black frame gives artwork a minimalist, modern look. Narrow black frames do not detract from the artwork and can be used in nearly any setting, especially where a more ornate frame may not harmonize with all types of décor. Many art galleries and museums recognize the value of simple black frames for creating an understated look that is consistent across an entire facility or space. You can take a tip from galleries and use matching frames throughout your entire house or office, unifying the look of all of your art and also giving you the versatility to move artwork from room to room or to change one framed piece for another while maintaining the same look.
Choosing a ready-made frame is the simplest way to order one of our aluminum frames if you need a standard size with no matting. Many photographs, prints, and art pieces are made in standard sizes, so unless you want to have matting around your artwork, a ready-made frame allows you to quickly and affordably choose a frame and display your art. Our ready-made frames use the same materials as our custom frames, as such you can be confident that you will be able match any new piece of art in your home or office, even if you need to order a custom size. Just choose a metal custom frame in the same profile as your ready-made frames, either Profile 2 or Profile 11, select no mat, 1/8-inch foamboard, and standard acrylic glazing (or 2mm glass if you prefer, for smaller frames). Your new custom frame will match your ready-made frames exactly, continuing the clean look of your artwork throughout your home or office.
Picking frames for your art should be a pleasure, not a chore, especially if you want your art to remain the focus by using frames that provide a minimalist look. Frame Destination’s selection of high-quality metal picture frames allow you to create your own beautiful gallery of art in no time and at a minimum expense.
Great framing protects art and displays photographs at their best. Frame Destination provides quality, affordable framing materials to suit any type of artwork. Our custom frames allow you to choose exactly the right size and style to support and showcase your photographs or artwork. However, custom framing may not always be part of your budget […]
Framing art with a protective glazing (glass or acrylic) is usually a good idea. Printed artwork such as photographs are generally fine with glazing, and the right choice of glass or acrylic, along with a quality picture frame, can help prevent the deterioration of photo paper over time. However, glazing isn’t suitable for all types of art.
Paintings are a different story from printed art. With oil or acrylic paintings, sometimes it is better not to use any glazing, regardless of whether it’s glass or acrylic. Art prints or photographs can usually come in contact with glazing with no risk of harm. But the same isn’t true of painted surfaces, where direct contact with any material — including glass or acrylic glazing — can very quickly damage the surface of the painting by smearing, chipping, or sticking to the paint.
Besides, one of the wonderful qualities of paintings is the textural surface of the painting itself: think heavy brush strokes, spackled-on gesso, or thick paint troweled on with a painting knife. Such details are an integral part of the artwork. Worst-case scenario, glazing can damage the art; best-case scenario, glazing can obscure the painting, creating separation between the viewer and the art.
For these reasons, when you frame an acrylic or oil painting, it’s generally better to avoid glazing. This means you have to take special care of the artwork to keep it in the best possible shape and to avoid damage.
Care of Framed Paintings
“Look with your eyes, not with your hands.” To keep a painting in beautiful condition, make sure that no one touches it with their fingers or any other implements. If you have an occasion such as a dinner party or another event where there will be a sizeable group of people in attendance, you may want to hang a small plaque besides the painting asking people to look but not touch, or even create a clear plastic “shell” that can be temporarily installed over the picture frame. If the gathering is going to be especially crowded or could potentially get rowdy, you may even opt to take the painting down and store it in a safe place.
Dust and Dirt = Dulling and Damage. Dust and dirt can become attached to the surface of a painting, dulling the colors and damaging the artwork. Careful dusting prevents dust from accumulating and sticking to the surface of the paint. A soft artist’s brush is the best tool to use. Look for a flat brush that is about two or three inches wide with soft, springy, gentle bristles. Inspect the painting before dusting.
If there are any chips or cracking paint, it’s not safe to dust the painting because you may further chip the paint and brush it away from the painting. If the surface is intact, very gently dust the painting. A strong light will help you see where there is dust or quickly catch any flaking of the surface paint so you can stop before causing damage.
Where to Hang Paintings
Location, location, location. The spot you choose to hang a painting can help protect your unglazed artwork. If you have children or pets in your household, hang your painting where they can’t touch or brush up against it. Oil and acrylic paint are both sensitive to temperature (although the specific range of temperatures that affects each is different). Warm temperatures can soften the surface of a painting, making it more susceptible to damage by touch or by collecting dust and dirt in the paint. Avoid hanging paintings near heating vents, fireplaces, or any place that receives a lot of direct sunlight or heat. Also, dust paintings on cooler days to avoid causing brush damage.
Painted artwork can be a wonderful addition to your home, adding charm and vitality that printed artwork cannot match. Although most paintings are not protected by glazing, some careful work and the right location can keep a unique piece of artwork in beautiful shape for many years to come.
Feature image artwork by Artie's Eight Artist – Megan Rowley Stern. Read more about her here.
Last Updated June 26, 2021
Framing art with a protective glazing (glass or acrylic) is usually a good idea. Printed artwork such as photographs are generally fine with glazing, and the right choice of glass or acrylic, along with a quality picture frame, can help prevent the deterioration of photo paper over time. However, glazing isn’t suitable for all types of […]
New camera gear is an exciting investment, whether you’re a total beginner starting out with a mid-range digital camera or an avid amateur investing in a high-end camera or accessory. However long you’ve been shooting, there’s always something new to learn — and new images to create.
As you get ready to unleash this new gear, it’s a good time to learn some new skills or brush up on old knowledge. Here’s a quick rundown of photography tips, plus some hints for choosing and displaying photographs to show off your work.
Learn Your Camera
The first thing you should do is learn what your camera can do. If you bought the same brand as you’ve previously owned, some features may be similar. Still, you invested in a new camera for what it can do, so make sure you get the most out of it. Some people can happily sit down with the manual and read through it from front to back. Others prefer to alternate between reading the manual and trying out different features during a shooting session.
As a way to experiment with your new toy, veteran commercial photographer Chris Davis suggests venturing away from automatic settings. “First shoot a picture in automatic, taking note of the aperture and shutter settings,” says Davis. “Then experiment with changing the setting in manual mode, trying to keep the exposure consistent. This can lead to interesting effects and change the image in unexpected ways.”
Subject Choice and Composition
The best subjects for your photography are whatever you find interesting, and the more you shoot a particular type of subject, the better you’ll get at it. On the other hand, if you are feeling uninspired, look for something completely out of your comfort zone. This can give you a fresh perspective and wake up your “eye” for color and composition, and it can teach you some new tricks for visualizing and framing shots. You can also learn a lot by challenging yourself to shoot random items around your house or by walking around town to shoot whatever you find. Discovering an interesting aspect of an ordinary item or scene is in itself an art.
The most basic rule of composition is the “rule of three,” which instructs you to divide your frame up into thirds both horizontally and vertically, and take note of the places where the lines intersect. The eye naturally gravitates to those intersection points in a photograph, so try to put the most important element of your shot at one of them. This is a good guideline to follow for most shots, but you should never be afraid to break the “rule” and see what happens. Also pay attention to color, shadow and natural lines in your shots. Any of these elements can be used to emphasize or distract, depending on what you want your picture to capture and how.
Join a Photo Club
Whether you’re new to photography or a seasoned pro, photography clubs are a great way to enhance your skills while meeting people who share your interest. Because there’s typically a range of skill levels in a photo club, you can learn from those who are further down the road than you, and you can “give back” to lesser-experienced shooters.
There are two basic types of photography clubs: non-competitive and competitive. The former offers opportunities for members to improve and display their work, while the latter is made of members who enjoy competing for rewards. (Speaking of rewards, just by joining a local, regional or national photo club, you can get an automatic discount on all Frame Destination products.)
In addition to joining local or national photo clubs, try scouting and joining a meetup group to get more experience with the camera and learn from others. Many also offer opportunities or events to showcase your work. One example is a group I belong to in Asheville, North Carolina, called Vagabond Photo Walks.
Display Your Work
Some people take hundreds of beautiful photographs, but they neglect to display or to share them with friends. While uploading a casual snapshot online now and then is one fast way to share your work, displaying your best photos properly will give you a different sense of appreciation and pride in your photography, as well as highlighting your skills for others to appreciate.
The most natural candidates for framed display are your best shots and your favorites (hopefully, they’re one and the same). Choose a photo that complements the décor in a room, or one that will make a striking focal point on your desk. Invest in a high-quality picture frame to showcase your art as well as a mat board in a neutral color or a shade that enhances the photo. You can either enlarge one photograph to become a showpiece in a room, or assemble collections of smaller photographs in matching frames for a collage effect. However you choose to do it, make a point of appreciating the work you’ve put into learning your skills!
Last Updated November 23, 2021
New camera gear is an exciting investment, whether you’re a total beginner starting out with a mid-range digital camera or an avid amateur investing in a high-end camera or accessory. However long you’ve been shooting, there’s always something new to learn — and new images to create. As you get ready to unleash this new […]
By Tom Hubbard for the Portland Metro Photographic News (11/09/2009)
For exhibiting photographers, one of the most time consuming, costly and frustrating experiences is packing valuable pictures for shipping. I consider this on-going and thankless event a total waste of my time. Yet, it can’t be avoided.
Pictured above are the tools of my picture packaging trade.
• Bubble wrap
• Various types of tape
• Knife
• Scissors
• The compulsory first-aid items
I’ve been preparing pictures for shipping for decades. Even with my experience, I can expect to spend about 15 to 20 minutes wrapping each framed picture. Multiply that by an exhibit containing 20 images and I’ve lost 5 hours or more of my day. And, I still have to box up all the wrapped images to FedEx or UPS specs.
The result looks something like the picture above – a framed picture enclosed in bubble wrap and secured with “the tape of the day”. It works, but in the process, I have cut the bubble wrap to size, “popped” several bubbles and probably nicked my fingers on the tape dispenser or knife.
To make matters worse, I have to carefully unpack each picture to re-pack them at the conclusion of the exhibit. Forget about the tape, it’s trash. New tape will have to be applied when repacking the picture. As a result, I take extra bubble wrap and tape to each exhibit to replace any damaged shipping material.
Can you tell that I dread this chore?
A company called Frame Destination, based in Dallas, Texas sent me samples of their newest product GalleryPouch™. The decision to send PMPN these samples was not arbitrary. A PMPN Guest Commentator and PMPN Photo Contest judge, Andrew Darlow, was one of the developers of this product. Andrew is aware of the vibrant fine art photography community in the Pacific Northwest and was eager to give PMPN a first-look at this 21st century packaging solution.
GalleryPouch™ is a simple, but impressive, solution for packing fine art prints. After using the GalleryPouch™, the first question that comes to mind is, “Why didn’t someone think of this before?”
GalleryPouch™ come in two flavors – with a flap or with a Velcro strip. They are heavy-duty, see-through plastic “envelopes” made of a special 3/16 inch bubble wrap material that is permanently sealed on three sides. The open end of the pouch is secured with a flap or a reusable Velcro strip. PMPN tested the Velcro strip version (shown above).
I first noticed the label in the corner of each GalleryPouch™. In large block letters is the size of the pouch – making it easy to find the right size bag from a collection of multiple bags -- with room remaining to personalize the pouch with the name of the picture enclosed.
Close up of the unique bubble wrap envelope with pre-positioned Velcro strip
The bubble wrap material is special because it’s SMOOTH on both sides. There are NO exposed bubbles. Popping bubbles is nearly impossible. I intentionally tried to pop some of the bubbles. This included the traditional “between the fingers” popping technique every child relishes as well as standing on the envelope. It wasn’t until I used a sharp object that I could destroy a bubble. Being smooth on both sides means the picture EASILY slips into the wrap without catching on a bubble OR, worse yet, popping a bubble.
My picture slipped into the end of the pouch. (Taking all of 2 seconds.) The GalleryPouch™ comes in a variety of standard sizes or you can request custom sizes to fit your specific frame dimensions. Nice.
GalleryPouch™ closed and sealed with two-part Velcro strip
When the picture is slipped into the pouch for the first time, the protective strip from the Velcro is removed and the flap is bent to contact the pouch surface for a permanent seal. From this point on, the two-part Velcro strip only needs to be brought in contact with each other to seal the picture. Another 2 seconds.
Walla -- my masterpiece is packaged, sealed and ready for boxing. The entire process took less than 5 seconds. And the pouch can be re-used indefinitely. Imagine, a one-time packaging investment to protect an image for its entire exhibition life. No more rolls of bubble wrap. No more tape. No more scissors or knives. No more frustration and time wasted. Because the pouch is clear, I can see the image without taking it out of its protective bubble.
Because of their construction and perfectly flat design, I can store all my pouches in one of the final shipping boxes. That’s quite a space savings and headache eliminator.
For a few pennies more, protective corners can be ordered to prevent a sharp-edged frame from piercing the bag. (Add 5 more second to attach the corner.) If you normally place cardboard on either side of your shipped pictures, there’s room for that too.
Now when it’s time to strike an exhibit, I can pull out all my pouches, place them below each hung picture, take the picture off the wall and slip them directly into their protective shipping pouch. An entire exhibit “struck” and ready for boxing in 10 minutes or less.
The GalleryPouch™ I used was 20” x 24”. It can be ordered with the flap/Velcro on either the vertical or horizontal edge. You specify the opening when you order. Pouches can be ordered in more than 100 standard sizes or custom sizes up to 50 inches by 156 inches.
The same pouch can be ordered in a “tube” version for rolled prints, posters, etc. The pouches in their smaller standard sizes also provide excellent protection for your camera gear. Camera bodies, lenses and sensitive accessories can be afforded extra protection from bumps, dust and moisture when placed inside a GalleryPouch.
Because the bubbles are nearly impossible to break, I found that the GalleryPouch™ also make an ideal knelling cushion and work surface when shooting on location.
For it’s primary purpose of economically protecting photographic artwork and simplifying the packaging process, I know of nothing better. Frame Destination gets high praise from PMPN for developing a creative, versatile and cost-effective solution to an on-going problem as well as giving photographers a simple product that saves hours of time and frustration – the GalleryPouch™.
Prices for the GalleryPouch™ are size dependent and begin at $5.37. It’s worth mentioning that each re-usable GalleryPouch™ is a long-term investment. These are not one-time, throwaway shipping envelopes.
Learn more on our website or the website established specifically for the product.
This post was originally published on pmpn.com and has been reproduced in its entirety.
By Tom Hubbard for the Portland Metro Photographic News (11/09/2009) For exhibiting photographers, one of the most time consuming, costly and frustrating experiences is packing valuable pictures for shipping. I consider this on-going and thankless event a total waste of my time. Yet, it can’t be avoided. Pictured above are the tools of my picture […]
The artwork we collect in our homes becomes a part of our personal stories, reflecting our own tastes and individuality and offering insight to about who we are. Hanging framed artwork in our homes can inspire, calm and remind us about what we find beautiful in life.
It’s pretty absurd, then, that so much of this artwork is printed on material that has an inherent lack of durability. Printed photographs, watercolor paintings, certificates, letters, maps and other types of documentation are all printed on paper, which is easily damaged: torn, stained, faded, stretched or wrinkled. Worse, improper framing and display techniques — which are supposed to protect the piece — can cause or exacerbate any of these problems. Once damage has begun, it won't get better on its own, and it may or may not be reparable. Being aware of the dangers to artwork from improper framing is key to preserving important art or documents in a good state.
Types of Possible Damage to Artwork
Artwork printed on paper can suffer damage from environmental conditions, which can include to the specific storage methods and materials of the frame or external factors such as high (or low) humidity or sunlight.
Acid: Acidity is one factor that causes great harm to artwork and documents. Paper made from wood pulp naturally contains acidic compounds, and these will cause the paper to turn yellow and become brittle over time. Matting and mounting boards can also contain acid, which affects both the boards and the art framed with them. Excessive heat can speed up the breakdown of paper from acidity.
Adhesive: Cellophane tape and masking tape are often convenient to use, but they both cause stains. Even some tapes marked as “archival quality” can cause damage, and these stains on artwork may not be removable.
UV light: Light is a known enemy of artwork and other colorful things — it’s common knowledge that if you leave something out in the sun for a long period of time, its color will fade. The sun’s rays interact with the chemical bonds that make up color in some materials, including printed art, breaking them down and causing the colors to fade.
Moisture: Humidity damages paper by changing the structure of the paper itself and encouraging the growth of mold or mildew, which can lead to further damage and potentially disintegration.
How the Right Picture Frames Protect Artwork
Quality framing practices are designed to minimize all of the specific dangers that can damage printed artwork and documents. Proper framing uses materials designed not to damage artwork while keeping out environmental elements that can cause harm.
Acid-free mat board and mount board prevent acidity from damaging artwork. These materials, often referred to as “conservation quality,” are made from materials that are naturally acid free, such as cotton fibers rather than wood pulp, and further buffered to reduce acidity and maintain a neutral pH.
Special acid-free mounting products, such as linen hinging tape or acid-free hinging tape, prevent the kinds of staining that occurs when using standard cellophane or masking tape to mount photos in mat boards. Dry mount tissue sheets are another alternative for light pieces of artwork.
Glazing, the glass or acrylic material that’s placed in front of a piece of framed artwork, protects the piece from moisture and from being contaminated by touch. It also keeps dirt and microbes out of the artwork. Light is art’s greatest enemy. UV-filter glazing, available in both glass and acrylic, filters the harmful UV rays to protect against sun damage and fading.
Finally, a good frame supports the entire package, sealing in the artwork and keeping everything — the print, the mat, the glazing and the backing — flat, tight and protected. Archival frames minimize the presence of acid or other damaging compounds that can also damage paper. Properly mounting and framing artwork is the best way to protect it from damage while still being able to appreciate it in your home or office.
The artwork we collect in our homes becomes a part of our personal stories, reflecting our own tastes and individuality and offering insight to about who we are. Hanging framed artwork in our homes can inspire, calm and remind us about what we find beautiful in life. It’s pretty absurd, then, that so much of […]