How to care for your artwork

Frames are used to enhance a work of art aesthetically, as well as to protect it from dirt, dust and handling, whilst maintaining a controlled setting essential for the life of the piece.

In terms of aesthetics, you should choose what pleases you. The framed artwork will become part of your everyday environment, so be sure to choose frames and mounts that you will enjoy. If you don't know what you want, ask for guidance, your framer has probably seen many different types of art, and knows what works well, and what doesn't. But don't let a framer pressure you into choices that are not appealing to you.

One piece of advice: Don't frame the art to match a room in your house. Choose frames and mounts that will enhance the work of art itself, so that if you move, redecorate, or decide to hang the piece in another location, it will always look appropriate. Avoid framing that overwhelms the artwork. Remember: the artwork is the star..........the mount/mat and framing are supporting players.

The whole array of art works on paper--drawings, watercolours, gouaches, pastels, etchings, engravings, woodblocks, lithographs, silk screens and photographs --are almost always put behind a glazed surface for preservation. This leads us to another issue: glass or acrylic? Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Glass is cheaper, easier to clean, and more resistant to scratches. However, it is heavier, more breakable, sensitive to variations in temperature, and highly reflective so it often creates a glare.

Acrylic surfaces, known as Plexiglas, are often suitable for framing because they are better thermal insulators, as well as shatterproof, and can be treated with an ultraviolet filter to protect the work of art. Large pieces of art should usually be placed behind Plexiglas because it is a lighter substance than glass, and therefore there is less chance of the piece falling off the wall.

Works on paper are some of the most vulnerable art objects, and need the protection of mounts/mats and frames. The mount/mat provides a rigid support for the work of art, to prevent bending and folding and other damages that might occur to paper when being handled and touched. It separates the work of art from the glazed surface, creating a "breathing space." In addition, mounts/mats are used for their aesthetic properties, often strengthening features already present in the piece of art.

One of the greatest risks is excessive lighting. This may occur with the use of inappropriate indoor lighting or direct outdoor light, which can cause colors to fade. Inappropriate indoor lighting can cause excessive heat, which in turn will damage a piece. We suggest you use track lighting with a dimmer control and consult a professional to determine the proper distance and lighting requirement. As a suggestion, the center of the artwork should be displayed at eye level, approximately 5'4" - 5'6" in height. Appropriate lighting should be mounted at a 45 degree angle when possible. One spotlight per piece should be sufficient. Taking advantage of the artworks focus of light will enhance the visual presentation.

If you need to clean a painting or frame, avoid harsh chemicals. You shouldn't use glass cleaners on Plexiglas or lacquer frames. Use a damp lint free cloth instead. Dust originals lightly with an unused paintbrush.

Taking care of that print.

To protect your investment, the following suggestions should be followed to increase the life of your art print. They are only guidelines and it is still your choice of how and where you hang your pieces of art work.

Probably the most important concern for your artwork, even after having it properly framed, is where you decide to hang and display it. AVOID HANGING ANY PIECE OF ART WHERE IS WILL BE EXPOSED TO DIRECT SUNLIGHT. This is probably the single most important bit of advice that can be given. Exposure to direct sunlight has most likely damaged more art than any other element of concern. Please make every effort to avoid hanging your art in a location which will have it faceing long periods of exposure to excess light.

The primary cause of image fading on most photographic materials is "visible light". All two dimensional art should be framed and displayed under glass to protect the image surface from the environment. Glass adds another layer of protection against ultraviolet light.

When cleaning the glass, do not spray the cleaner directly on the glass -- the cleaner could inadvertently run under the edge of the frame, contaminating the mounting material or art; spray your cloth first, and then, wipe the glass clean.

The best method for displaying your print is to hang it in an area that is never hit with direct sunlight. It is recommended that prints be displayed in tungsten lighting, ideally with 75-watt or 150-watt internal reflector flood lamps. Installing a dimmer switch on the display light lets you adjust the intensity for greatest effect and print longevity. Quartz halogen and fluorescent lamps are NOT recommended unless a UV filter, such as Plexiglas UF-3, is placed over the fixtures.

To extend the life of a print on display, keep the room as dark as possible when not in use. As far as temperature and humidity is concerned, don't hang your print in areas that experience wide temperature variations, high heat (attics), or high humidity (damp basements). Wide temperature variations can cause the framing materials to warp. High temperature and humidity shortens the life of your print. The use of air conditioners, especially humidity-control units, are recommended.

For maximum enjoyment of your fine art print, display your framed piece in an area that allows for people to stand back and take in the entire image.

These guidelines will hopefully help extend the life of your print. Just remember that they are only guidelines and no extra guarantees for extended life of the prints are applied here if you chose to use these guidelines. I hope that you and your viewing audience have many years enjoyment from these fine art prints.

How important is it to frame your prints behind glass?

The following is a comparison of two inkjet prints: Both prints were made with an Epson 740 using Epson standard "graphic" ink. Both prints were hung on a wall about 15 feet from a large east facing window, covered by sheer-white curtains. The print on the left was in a glass enclosed frame, and the print on the right was in a frame without glass. Both prints hung on the wall for about 9 months:

The glass used was a standard glass, with no special UV (ultraviolet) filtration or coating. This demonstration shows the dramatic benefits of framing a print behind glass. (in fact, a newly made print from the original digital file showed almost no change from the print displayed behind glass.)

Even standard glass will block up to 45% of the UV rays from direct, diffused or reflected sunlight (the highest source of UV). Regular acrylic (or Plexiglass) is light weight, shatterproof, and filters up to 60% of the ultraviolet rays, even without a UV protective coating. Special UV coated glass or acrylic can be bought that will filter out between 90% and 99% of the UV wavelength. (Fluorescent and metal halogen lamps also emit high amounts of UV radiation. Ordinary household bulbs. i.e. incandescent or tungsten lights, contain negligible UV rays.)

Eliminating UV radiation is no "magic bullet" because the visible spectrum of light will also cause damage too -- just not as quickly as the UV component. However, scientists at the United States National Bureau of Standards (NBS) found that the UV wavelengths were about 3 times more damaging than the visible spectrum. In other words, 3 years under normal solar exposure could take about 10 years to fade to the same point if the ultraviolet radiation is eliminated. The NBS found the relationship between the wavelength of the radiation and the relative damage to be as indicated in this graph:

This relationship helps to explain why even standard glass (blocking only about 45% of the UV rays) was so effective in slowing down the fading. But another big factor was probably also due to atmospheric containment: Framing a print behind glass also helps to greatly reduce the exchange of oxygen and ozone -- a major factor in dye fading. Although UV protective sprays help to screen out harmful ultraviolet rays, and they offer less protection than framing behind glass when it comes to slowing down atmospheric exchange.