Why do you frame your photographs?

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Good professional framing is in fact a form of art and when done correctly greatly enhances the visual appeal of the photographic print being framed. The frame is after all a place for the pint to live. It becomes the artwork’s home to keep it safe and display it at its best in the environment where the art is displayed.

Safe display of the art.
Display the art in the best looking way possible.
Archival framing.

1. Safe display of the art

a. Keep the work protected from dust, moisture, insects, extreme temperature changes and direct light, especially any light high in UV radiation.

b. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is high from fluorescent light and direct sunlight. Ultraviolet means “beyond violet” (from Latin ultra, “beyond”), violet being the color of the shortest wavelengths of visible light. UV light has a shorter wavelength than that of violet light. Over time it changes the color and can fade the pigments and dyes used in all photographic print process by absorption.

c. Generally best not to hang any artwork on an outside wall because of the greater temperature changes. If you do, rotate the work often with other artwork so as to reduce the time exposed to the greater temperature changes.

d. Two more major enemies of any work on paper are high humidity and high temperatures.

2. Display the art in the best way possible both to enhance the artwork and for the environment where the art is displayed.

Neutral-colored walls generally work best for the display of more different print types. Neutral meaning white, off white, beige, gray, you get the idea, any color that does not compete with the work of art. It is possible to display artwork on bright color backgrounds but it does limit the colors that make up the photographic print and frame.

If you understand that framing any artwork is an involved process you are correct. That is why you may want the help of a good professional framer. Look in your local phone book and talk to and visit several shops to see the style of frames and mattes that each have to offer. This will help you start understanding what you like and what the artwork needs to look its best where you are going to display it.

Another great resource is to go to museums and look at how they display the work in their collection. Also check out galleries in your location and when you travel. After a while you will see many different ways of displaying artwork that you do not like which will lead you in the direction of the types and styles that you do like and would like to see your work displayed in a similar fashion.

3. If you want your work to last the maximum time but still be able to enjoy looking at it each day then you will need to frame in a special way which is called archival framing.

When you archival frame works on paper such as photographs generally you use special matt boards and mounting that are acid free or have a low pH value. It is important to keep the work a safe space from the glass and sides of the frame. Generally it is best to keep the print so it can be changed to a different matt or frame in the future. Try to make all framing so it is not permanent but it can be undone with out damage to the print. You never know if you or someone in the future will want to change the matt or frame because of a new owner or location to display the artwork.

A great resource to download as a free pdf: