Framing FAQ’s

June 5th, 2011

We have gathered a few tips and framing FAQ’s for chosing the right framing products and taking care of them. Please feel free to email us at manager@vistagallery.com

CLEANING

Q: How should you clean glass?
A: You should spray a small amount of ammonia-free glass cleaner on a micro-fiber cloth or a clean lint-free cotton rag. To prevent overspray, do not spray the cleaner directly on the glass. Press the cloth against the glass and clean in a round, circular motions.

Q: How should you clean acrylic?
A: For the acrylics we offer at Vista Gallery (Conservation Clear® Acrylic, Conservation Reflection Control® Acrylic, Reflection Control® Acrylic and Premium Clear Acrylic) use an acrylic cleaner and a clean damp cleaning cloth. Apply only light pressure, rinse with clean water or a cleaner designed specifically for acrylic, and dry by blotting with a clean, damp cloth or chamois. Do not use dry or gritty cloths, as they may cause surface scratches and create a static electric charge on the surface. Do not use glass cleaning sprays, kitchen scouring compounds or solvents such as acetone, gasoline or lacquer to clean acrylic.

Q: How should you clean your frame?
A: Use a feather duster or a very soft, clean cloth to keep your frames free of dust. Avoid any cleaning products and abrasive towels that may scratch the frame.

CHOSING THE RIGHT PRODUCTS

Q: When should UV protection glass be used?
A: Since UV light rays come from indoor and outdoor light sources, all items on display are vulnerable to the damaging effects of UV light exposure. That’s why it is important to use glass with at least 97% UV protection on all of your custom framing jobs.

Conservation framing materials and techniques should always be used on sentimental, valuable, limited edition and one-of-a-kind artwork. Also use UV protection glass on all works of art your customers want to protect, especially posters and open edition prints. Posters or open edition prints are more susceptible to UV light damage since the inks, papers and other materials used to create them are more likely to deteriorate than those used in higher end reproductions.

For more information on conservation and archival materials, click here.

Q: When should I use acrylic glazing?
A: You should use acrylic for hanging and shipping heavy oversized artwork, in children’s rooms, in earthquake zones, or in high traffic areas. Acrylic should be used anywhere safety is a concern or where the frame could easily be bumped causing it to fall off the wall.
Q: When should I use a thicker acrylic product?
A: You should use 3mm acrylic when the frame’s size exceeds 36”x48”.

Q: What type of glazing should I use for pastel or charcoal based art?
A: Pastel or charcoal based art can become damaged using most glazing products due to the inherent static charge of the substrate. Tru Vue Optium® Acrylic Glazing provides long-lasting anti-static as well as anti-reflective properties to help protect art from damage and to help showcase your art the way it was intended. Tru Vue’s Optimum Acrylic products can be special ordered from Vista Gallery.

For more information on the different types of glass and acrylic glazing we offer, click here.

PREVENTING THEFT/SECURING YOUR ARTWORK

Q: What can I do to prevent my artwork from being stolen from our rental property or an office building?
A: Security Hangers are available that firmly hold all sides of the frame in place on the wall. A special key is needed to both lock and unlock it. In addition to being used in public places, security keys are also useful to anchor the frame to the wall in a child’s room.

HANGING TIPS

Q: What kind of hanging devices should I use?
A:

We recommend using either strap hangers or heavy duty steel picture hangers as seen in the picture to the left. These hangers allow the frame to hang closer to the wall and not lean out.

Sawtooth hangers are only good for small, lightweight pieces of artwork. Heavier frames can easily pull out the little nails used to secure these hangers to the frame.

Screw eye hangers tend to make the frames lean out from the wall more than necessary.

Q: How can I see what my artwork will look like on the wall without making any unnecessary holes?
A: You can cut out a piece of paper the same size as the framed piece and tape it up on the wall. You can then move the piece of paper around without making any extra holes.

Q: I have the right place picked out for my piece of art, but how do I figure out where to place the nails?
A: Stretch the wire as if it is hanging on the wall, and then measure from that point to the bottom (middle) of the frame. Place the nail that distance from the bottom middle of the paper.

If you do not have a piece of paper to place on the wall, hold the piece of artwork on the wall where you want it to hang. Put a post it at the bottom left hand corner of where you want the frame. Measure over half the width of the frame, mark that on a wall and then find the distance from the bottom of the frame to the top of the stretched wire. On the wall, measure from the horizontal center of the piece (that you marked on the wall) up the distance from the bottom of the frame to the top of the stretched wire and place the nail there.

For larger and heavier images, you will need two hanging hooks that should each be placed approximately 1/3 of the width of the piece from edge of the frame. You will still need to measure from the bottom of the artwork to the top of the stretched wire, but make sure to pull the wire up in approximately the same spots as if you were actually hanging the piece.

For more information on protecting your artwork and frames, click here for an article by Douglas E. Taylor.

Filed under Blog, Framing and tagged with framing. RSS 2.0 feed.