Frame Your Photo

As we left off, you had the mat or planned on getting one in a neutral color or at least the dominant color of the photo...a double or single or even triple, according to taste but any mat is better than none, right?

Same reasons apply for frames as for mat...S.A.P...Supportive, Artistic, Protective.

What are the important parts of a frame? Well naturally part 1 is the molding...usually wood, plastic, ceramic, sterling silver, whatever suits your decor and wallet and is at least somewhat cohesive with the photo. For example, a simple flower in black and white probably needs a simple mat and simple wooden, metal or plastic frame, also in black , white or a combo of the two. Ahhh, unity and peace, at least on your wall. And a teddy bear frame that looks great in a baby's room might be a little curious in your 20 yr old son's room. You get the picture, err idea. Get a frame you like that wil enhance not detract from your art and it's surrounding.

Ok part 2 would be the backing, usually cardboard included in many frames...you can get acid free backing if you want to pass the photo down to your great grandkids some day.

Part 3 would be a mounting board, which is duh, a board the photo is mounted on. In my opinion, get the photo mounted when you buy it. It's a few dollars and worth it. It saves you from doing it and since it 's done by a pro, it should be wrinkle free. That actually can make or break your photo since little ripples and wavy bits can reflect light in odd ways making you wonder if you need to visit the eye doctor. The mounting board naturally gives your photo support and helps it lay flat.

Part 4 probably is not used as much as it should but it's good to have some of that brown paper they put on the back of art that acts as a dust seal. Hopefully your frame will have some kind of a protective back.

Part 5, almost done, is the glass. Plexiglass is fine as is real glass. Plexiglass is lighter but scratches easily so take that into account. You can buy reflective or glare resistant glass. The normal reflective glass is probably most widely used and will be fine unless you put your photo right where you get strong light from a window, or (if you are a Seinfield fan), live across from a Kenny Rogers Chicken shop. And a bright light is pretty much sure to fade your photo so maybe choose another spot and get regular glass. Some of the less expensive glare resistant glass can make your photo look less sharp and less vivid so could actually be a negative. ( Ouch! no photo pun intended)

Okay put the frame together in the following order...clean off 5 and let it completely dry ...completely dry....repeat after me....completely dry! Some spray cleaners and their vapors are reported to actually fade and stain photos instantly so to be on the safe side do it someplace away from the photo...fill Part 1 with part 5 and set aside. If you listened and got your photo mounted, good for you, put in the mat, next to the glass that is all clean and dry then lay your mounted photo on top . if you didn't want to spend the extra couple bucks go buy a mounting board, and ask your local art store/craft store/framer what he would recommend you use to mount it with, then kick yourself for not having it mounted when you bought it since you probably spent more than you would have and now have to hope you don't bend or wrinkle the photo when you mount it....we'll wait right here and have some coffee and cookies and chat till you are done.... ok , now everybody check and make sure the picture is not upside down , then put on the backing board, the back of the frame and a dust seal if you are using it and shwoooo...finished!

Now you have to hang it..some tips on that next.