Why Is Picture Framing So Expensive and What Can You Do About It

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When most consumers wish to have something framed they turn immediately to a big box store or a traditional storefront frame shop. All too often they are offered away appalled at the price. Why is this happening? Isn't there any way to have something custom framed in a reasonable price?
First, recognize that most storefront frame shops (and big box stores too) practice conservation and archival framing on the exclusion of any other kind. Conservation and archival framing maintains the presentability with the art in the long run and may (or might not exactly) maintain its lasting value. Not coincidentally, conservation and archival framing is more costly than regular framing. Note that gold leaf gilding said that conservation framing may or might not keep up with the artwork's long lasting value. It's important to make the distinction between preservation and presentation. Just because something is presentable doesn't mean its valued will be retained. Museums realize that for artwork to retain its full value it ought to be retrievable in its original condition. If the artwork is altered, the worth is threatened. Few things will alter artwork more dramatically than coating it with adhesive, yet this really is commonly carried out in frame shops whenever they coat the back with the artwork with adhesive before mounting it, for example after they utilize a dry mount press, that's common for most frame shops. What's more, they still refer to it as conservation framing! Why?
Because conservation framing is basically just the promise that nothing potentially acidic will contact the artwork. If the adhesive found in coating the artwork is acid free, it may be called conservation framing. The long-term value with the artwork could be severely compromised, but for the reason that adhesive is acid free the presentability will probably be maintained. This is conservation framing as performed by most storefront frame shops. It must be pointed out that most storefront frame shops will not coat artwork with adhesive should they determine the artwork has potential long-term value. They reserve that treatment for things like posters or digital prints where demand can easily be met with supply because duplicates could be readily made. Limited edition prints and original art are handled differently, by utilizing proper mounting tapes or by trapping the artwork up against the backing with mounting corners or mounting strips. Yet you need to recognize that even traditional storefront frame shops offering conservation framing exclusively usually do not ensure that the long-term value of every one of the artwork they frame, so if you're paying extra correctly? You probably are actually unless you realize there are other options.
Home-based picture framers really are a growing trend in picture framing. These framers typically concentrate on the low end with the picture framing market, all those items whose value is under the price of framing them in the traditional storefront frame shop. This is potentially a huge market, one much bigger compared to the market for top quality, expensive art that's preferred by most storefront frame shops. But to take advantage of the forex market home-based framers must keep their prices low, in order that they often eschew conservation methods whenever it is reasonable for this. Of course, that does not mean they will probably be conducting a poor job of framing, nor does it mean that the art they frame won't be properly presentable. Remember that conservation framing as performed by most storefront frame shops is only the promise that nothing potentially acidic will contact the artwork. But acidity is often a relative thing. Some things will be more acidic than these. Acid is often a byproduct from the breakdown of lignin. Lignin, it needs to be understood, will be the binding polymer that holds wood together. Therefore, http://zimmermannfraz.kazeo.com/custom-picture-framing-supplies-can-make-a-difference-a197113352 made from wood has lignin in it and is potentially acidic. Regular mat board made from wood pulp (the most common kind) has lignin in it. Foam board (the most frequent type of mounting board in picture framing) is potentially acidic. The frame itself is usually made from wood and it is potentially acidic.
It appears that the artwork is under threat from every quarter. Look, if you need to start to see the damage brought on by acid just dig around in your attic and find something that was framed over thirty years ago. That brown hazy stain for the artwork within the mat is acid burn a result of the migration of acid out of the lignin bearing material and in the artwork. This is what conservation framing is safeguarding against.
But before we overreact and start driving up the cost of framing by embracing the push to higher priced conservation grade materials and techniques, let's recognize that the type of material used in framing have changed previously thirty years. Back then, proper mounting tapes didn't yet exist. Many framers used household tapes like masking tape, which is highly acidic. Today, the most rudimentary framers use tapes made for the intention of mounting artwork that are almost categorically acid and lignin free.
Back then, foam board didn't yet exist. Corrugated cardboard was the backing of choice for many framed pieces and corrugated cardboard is especially acidic. Today's framers use foam board instead which, while it really is potentially acidic, is nowhere close to as acidic as corrugated cardboard.
thirty years ago mat board wasn't necessarily treated, which meant that since the lignin broke down it became acidic in a very little as 10 or 20 years, threatening the artwork. Today, all potentially acidic mat board is treated. It's afflicted by a bath of calcium carbonate which adds alkalines and creates a buffer against acid migration. Time research has suggested that in the proper environmental conditions mat board treated this way can safeguard artwork from acid burn for approximately 100 years.
And the frame is just not a concern for the reason that frame doesn't encounter the artwork for most frame jobs. Bottom line: regular framing, using regular materials like regular mat board, foam board and mounting tapes, provides a decent level of protection for framed art. So why do storefront frame shops decline to use regular materials, insisting instead on more pricey materials like Rag mat board, acid-free foam board, UV protective glass and acid free adhesives, regardless if the techniques they employ usually do not attempt to offer the long lasting value from the artwork? That's easy.
Storefront frame shops must have enough money remaining once they pay their overhead costs to get profit. Conservation and archival framing helps them to accomplish this goal while with the same time insuring long-term presentability - more than a hundred years - for your top quality, expensive artwork that is certainly their most typical stock in trade. gold leaf gilding makes perfect sense, given their objectives, for storefront frame shops to practice conservation and archival framing. What's more, customers who're happy to spend more for picture framing will often opt for a well established storefront frame shop as opposed to a home-based picture framer. But how about this conscious consumer? What about the person who wants to frame poster prints, photography or any other easily reproducible art and does not wish to pay for pricey conservation framing?
Home-based picture framers do not have the hefty tariff of overhead staring them within the face. They can afford to entice customers on the basis of price. In most cases, price could be the single most compelling reason customers look for home-based framers, which is why most home-based framers make an effort to maintain your price low. In the best of all worlds, every time a customer wants a cheaper price ., whether or not the artwork is of high potential value, she or he should be quoted the job both ways - with regular materials along with conservation grade materials - and provided an explanation from the different degrees of protection before being offered the selection. Unfortunately, which is unlikely to take place in a storefront frame shop. But if you find a home-based framer or opt to frame your personal work you may discover that cost-effective picture framing isn't an impossible dream.