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Overview.
Essentially you can frame a picture any way you want. Though there are two basic rules that apply. They are, to match the environment, & to match the picture. Therefore your end result is very dependant on what type of picture you have & where you will be putting it.
We have included a few hints & guidelines pages on the left hand side of the website, that can offer useful insights into what you may want to consider when choosing your frame. They are not essential reading , though can help clarify a few issues that some people may be unaware of.
Many of the subjects covered on these "client" pages, are doubled up upon in parts of the " Kit frame instructions" area. It may be beneficial to read these segments anyway, as they are being approached from different angles & may offer alternative perspective on an issue.
1.1 Match the artwork.
One of the most fundamental rules of picture framing is to match the style & colour of the frame, in some part to the picture. This is not a direct relationship, in that a simple green picture needs a simple green frame. It is more like a loose arrangement so that the artwork & frame are in some kind of agreement.
For instance a black & white photo could look great in a white, black, silver, charcoal or timber frame. Most of these colours are in the picture apart from the timber tone which works well with anything, in a generic sense much like gold or black.
If you were to put the picture in a purple or pink frame, you would probably find the colours clashing & distracting from the artwork. This can work if you are seeking such a bold statement, though usually it is to be avoided.
It is a good idea to get the opinions of trusted friends & colleagues on the way you are framing things. They may think of something you haven't, or help persuade you in one direction or another. Be mindful however, that you are the one getting the framing done, & your opinion is the most important.
1.2 Match the environment.
Working with the arena that the frames will find themselves in, is another key consideration when choosing your frame. Think about , safety, space & wall colour.
For instance, in terms of safety, are the pictures going to be in a narrow hallway or around kids? In terms of space, are the frames going to be lost, overwhelming or even fit in the place where they are going to be hung? And in terms of wall colour & general surroundings, are they going to clash or compliment the colours of one another?
Other things to consider in your choices are, lighting, Wall strength/condition, wall shape, whether the pictures will be hung inside or out, Hanging systems & visual accessibility.
Also if you are re selling your pictures, you should think of where your customers may be eventually putting the frame.
1.3 Frame feasibility.
Feasibility essentially means the structural strength of any frame, along with applicable conservation issues & deliverability.
Frame strength is usually dictated by the width of the timber or mounting, against the size & weight of the overall object.
For instance an A4 certificate put in a thick, hardwood profile would be very strong. This is because the mass of every component would be proportionally low when compared to the physical strength of the frame.
If you had a large work on paper, say 1000 x 1000mm, in a thin softwood profile, the result would change. Because of the increased weight & decrease in timber mass, the corners of the frame would not reasonably be able to cope with the stresses. In this instance it is not advisable that such a project be completed. This is however your choice. Though we would like to state that if you have something done of this nature , it is soulley your responsibility to manage once it has left our premises, & solely your responsibility if its integrity fails.
You will also need to choose framing that will not harm your art work. Conservational issues such as glass contact, sticking strength, acidic materials & UV light, will determine the longevity of your picture.
When glass touches a picture it can cause wet looking marks & eventually stick both surfaces together. To get around this in flat works, you can use a mat or small spacer. To get around this in undulating works, use a deep spacer or don't use glass. If you don't use glass however, be aware that the picture may get dirty or damaged.
MDF, Masonite & older framing materials carry a lot of acid. This acid can eat into your picture, leaving it yellow or bleached. Kit frame only uses acid free materials, unless your frame exceeds the size at which they are easily available. When choosing your frame, keep this 2440 x 1220mm restriction in mind.
1.4 Cost.
Now you may think that cost should have been at the top of the page, but that isn't necessarily so. While it is very important to choose frames in a manner that has price in mind, it is more important to concentrate on the success of the finished product.
It is generally better to choose something exactly the way you want it & then compromise, instead of the other way round. In other words find out what you want & what you need. Then find out if you can afford it & what needs to be changed if you can't.
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Quick check.
Match the artwork
Match the environment
Feasibility
Cost
Your choice.
Because Kit frame has absolutely nothing to do with stylistic choices you make, the results you get can be vastly different from what you would get with a standard picture framer. Being conservative the first few times you have something done, can give you the feed back & knowledge to try something more adventurous in the future.
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