Picture and Art Framing FAQs Los Angeles FrameStore

Art Framing FAQs

When you purchase a piece of art, you’re purchasing more than a painting or serigraph. You are making an investment.

Whether you are investing in original fine art, collecting limited edition prints of a favored artist, or just liked the art for its esthetics, you are framing something that expresses your style and personality.
Your art deserves the same high-quality design and care that a museum gives its pieces.
Learn how FrameStore goes the extra mile to protect your art and investment with only the highest quality materials and craftsmanship available.

Read below to see some of the commonly asked questions about how to custom frame art.

If you don’t see the answers you’re searching for, consider visiting one of our many art framing stores throughout Southern California.

Art Conservation

Q: What is involved in Art Conservation?

A: Art Conservation refers to a collection of methods and best practices that protect and preserve your artwork from damage. Museum-quality conservation materials are used to prevent fading of the inks and acid-damage to the paper.

Q: What is meant by Conservation Materials?

A: This refers to a class of materials designed to preserve your artwork and prevent irreversible structural damage. Ultraviolet light protection is imperative for preventing fading of the inks, and matting, backing boards and mounting tapes must be free of wood-pulp which contains acids that will yellow and ‘burn’ the paper.

Q: What is UV Glass? What is the difference between UV Glass and Regular Glass?

A: UV glass is a special type of conservation glazing for art framing that is designed with a special coating that blocks 99% of harmful ultraviolet light. UV damage is what causes the inks used in print, photographs, lithographs and serigraphs to fade over time. The more UV light the art is exposed to the faster it fades, losing its true colours and vibrancy. Since UV damage can happen very quickly and is irreversible once done, it is very important to protect any custom art with the highest UV protection possible from day one.

Q: Why Do I need Acid-Free Materials?

A: Papers used in printing and art can be made from many types of materials. The most common type is wood-pulp paper. Unfortunately in order to help break down the hard fibrous nature of cellulose in wood, acids are used in the process of making these wood-based papers. Over time these acids will yellow and ‘burn’ the paper (and any other paper it touches) and begin to break down the very structure of the paper itself. Old, yellowed and crumbling photos and newspapers are suffering from severe acid damage. To combat this irreversible structural damage to your artwork, cotton-based ‘rag’ mats and backing boards that are acid-free must be used in the framing of fine art. Cotton rag mats are free of the acids used in wood-pulp papers and will not harm your photos, prints, and original art the way non-archival materials will. Any art that you wish to last must always be framed with acid-free materials.

Understanding Art Framing Design

Q: How does framing custom art work?

A: The process of framing your fine art begins with an appointment with a design consultant at one of our 9 locations. All of our designers are artists with years of hands on art and design experience and are experts in helping you craft just the right look to enhance and show off your artwork while preserving it correctly with only the best museum quality materials.
During the design consultation phase, we explain and employ the various elements of art theory to tailor the framing solution for your piece to the specific piece of artwork. Drawing on the largest selection of materials available in Southern California, the design possibilities are endless. But don’t worry; our experts effortlessly take you through each step of the design to help craft your unique custom-framing look.
The key word to remember in custom-framing is ‘custom’. Each and every piece that FrameStore does is designed uniquely for you and your artwork and expertly hand built by our Master Framer. With over 35 years of experience, we don’t reach for the standards of design, we set the standards of design.

Q: What is Art Theory? How is it used in my fine art frame design?

A: All artist draws on certain elements, consciously or unconsciously to create their works. Colour theory, perspective, line, shape, and texture all are used in some form or other as tools by the artist. It is important that in framing the artwork you continue what the artist started by using those same elements of art, or art theory, in the design of your custom-framing. This allows the framing to extend and continue the look, and feel that the artist wanted to present without detracting from it. The design experts at FrameStore help you to understand these elements and show you how to use them to create a custom design for your fine art framing that truly shows your artwork at its best.

Q: What is Museum Quality Design?

A: As with all products and services in all areas, there are varied levels of quality and craftsmanship offered on the market today. FrameStore is committed to giving only the highest level of service, using only the finest museum-quality materials available anywhere and creating only the most amazing fine art frames available. With poor quality metal, plastic, and resin frames now flooding the market it is becoming more and more difficult to find a custom-framer that handles only traditional, quality, solid wood mouldings. FrameStore is that framer. All our materials are guaranteed to be the best available. Top tier conservation materials, high-end fabrics, acid-free rag mats and actual Tru Vue Museum Glass and UV glass (no knock-offs, imitations or seconds) are used in our custom art frames. FrameStore has over 40 years designing for actual museums, with the quality museums expect. Your artwork deserves no less.

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