Custom Framing
What is custom picture framing?
With custom framing your item is measured, a border size, which looks best, is determined, and using these figures a frame is custom cut to the correct size. If your item requires a 9 1/4" x 12 7/8" frame, that is what is cut. Custom framing should never compromise your work of art.
What can I frame?
What does "rabbet" mean?
What are United Inches?
Glass
How should I clean plexi-glass?
Plexi-glass is plastic, not glass. Do not use glass cleaners and paper towels or the surface will become cloudy and scratched. We recommend using a soft, damp, cotton cloth and plexi-glass cleaner.
How should I clean glass?
You mean there’s more than one kind of glass?
Why should I use TruGuard UV protection glass?
Cost
Isn’t custom framing expensive?
Not when you include the benefits of personal attention, creative design, choice of moldings and other materials, technical knowledge, equipment, and long lasting quality that enhances, protects, and preserves your "suitable for framing" items. Store-bought ready-made frames are great for things that don’t matter too much. They are often made from compressed paper or synthetic materials, and sometimes even cost more than "custom" frames. Most quality custom framers also offer a selection of non-custom, standard size frames.
Mounting
Isn’t custom framing expensive?

What do you mean by "having the image mounted"?

Mounting is the process that secures the image (artwork, print, poster, photo, needle art, etc) to a more rigclass backing or support. Some techniques are permanent (that is, non-reversible), while others allow the image to be restored to its original configuration without evclassence of mounting. Professional framers typically use the following techniques, depending on the situation.

  • Dry Mounting – Uses heat sensitive thermoplastic adhesives to bond the image to a substrate.
  • Pressure Sensitive Mounting – Uses adhesive materials that become effective under pressure, and that are often "reposition able" until activated by pressure.
  • Wet Mounting – The use of either water soluble glues or spray adhesives.
  • Conservation or Museum Mounting – The use of a mounting process that absolutely allows the image to be returned to its original (unmounted) condition without damage. The mounting is reversible. Thus, it is appropriate for original and limited edition works of art.
  • Static or Friction Mounting – Certain materials can be suitably and non-invasively mounted with man-made materials that use static cling to hold the item in place. Cibochrome photographs are a common example.
Acclass-Free
What’s the big deal about acclass-free materials?

What do you mean by "having the image mounted"?

Acclasss ruin artwork. Wood contains acclasss. Paper is made from wood. Today, NO credible framer would ever use ordinary paper mats. Insist that matting and mounting materials are acclass-free (that is, pH-neutral) and lignon-free. (Lignon is what makes inexpensive paper turn yellow).

Acclass free paper mats are manufactured by adding calcium carbonate to "buffer" the acclassic characteristics. It works much the way an antacclass table calms the stomach!

The BEST material is 100% rag. That is, made from all cotton…not paper. Rag mats are completely inert, and thus the safest matting and mounting board material.

Even wooden frames can be sources of acclass that can damage the art that’s intended to be protected. True conservation framers will always line the rabbet of the frame with a sealing tape or coating so that even the frame itself cannot transfer acclass to the artwork or mats.

  • Dry Mounting – Uses heat sensitive thermoplastic adhesives to bond the image to a substrate.
  • Pressure Sensitive Mounting – Uses adhesive materials that become effective under pressure, and that are often "reposition able" until activated by pressure.
  • Wet Mounting – The use of either water soluble glues or spray adhesives
  • Conservation or Museum Mounting – The use of a mounting process that absolutely allows the image to be returned to its original (unmounted) condition without damage. The mounting is reversible. Thus, it is appropriate for original and limited edition works of art.
  • Static or Friction Mounting – Certain materials can be suitably and non-invasively mounted with man-made materials that use static cling to hold the item in place. Cibochrome photographs are a common example.
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