WELCOME TO ART-BROKER FRAMING

If you would like information on native Hawaiian Koa wood please visit Koa wood and Wilkinson Koa wood.

If you would like pricing and information on art framing please email service@art-broker.com.

We have all used tape and thumb tacks to display artwork, however; if the piece is valuable or sentimentally important to you, you should consider having it professionally framed. Framing will enhance its appearance and make it last longer. Any number of framing combinations will work for your artwork, but some choices are better than others.

This section is provided to you for informational purposes. We do not frame your artwork at art -broker, we have professionals frame your artwork, whose sole business is quality custom framing. We rely on their expertise, so if this section does not answer any questions you may have with the information contained below, feel free to contact us at service@art-broker.com for further assistance.

The purpose of a frame is to support, protect and showcase your artwork while helping to integrate it into its surroundings. The frame should continue to carry the message of the artwork. It is comprised of many components - mats, fillets, moldings, etc. And as long as proportions are controlled, you can almost never have a frame too big for your artwork. It comes down to which frame style you think looks best on your artwork.

What is conservation framing?
A trained professional applies their knowledge of the materials and techniques necessary to preserve valuable artwork. Framing in such a way that the artwork in not permanently altered in any way, ensuring that when removed from the frame at a later date, will not show any evidence of having been framed, thus preserving its long-term value. However, complete conservation treatment of artwork is fairly expensive and not always desirable. Therefore, there are various degrees of appropriate conservation to be applied in any situation. Conservation framing requires Mats, Glass, Mounting, Frame and the Backing.

Mats  (click on title to see color samples)
Use lots of them! They are colorful and decorative. They can be flat or scooped. Paper or fabric wrapped. Besides the variety of mats and ability to enliven your artwork, their practical function is to keep the glass off the artwork and allow it to breathe. If the glass comes into contact with the artwork, there is a risk of mold and/or adhesion of the two. Mats can form an area around the image upon which decorations can be added, like signatures, drawings, plaques, etc. And they can be utilized to enlarge a small piece to cover a larger wall area. Sometimes no visible mat at all is appropriate (hiding the mat in the frame space), and sometimes six mats work. The effect of matting is to enhance while protect the artwork, not overwhelm it.

Glass and Acrylic
Choose what is appropriate for the space you are displaying the artwork. Both have several choices to offer: clear, non-glare, reduced reflection and Ultraviolet protective:

Clear glass and acrylic are the most commonly used. Glass is durable and more scratch-resistant, but it can be shattered and damage your artwork. Glass filters less than 50% of Ultraviolet Rays. Acrylic is light weight, shatterproof, and filters more than 60% of Ultraviolet Rays, but is susceptible to scratching.

Non-glare glass and acrylic cost more than the clear, and affords the same levels of UV protection. In locations where reflections from strong lighting might be a problem, non-glare may improve your ability to view the artwork. However, its ability to diffuse light also has the affect of making the image less distinct or blurred, and sometimes is not desirable. It also prohibits far distance between the artwork and the non-glare material.

Reduced reflection glass is a high-tech special type of non-glare glass. It gives the same diffusion of light without blurring the image. Reduced reflection glass is almost invisible. It requires more care to clean it, affords the same levels of UV protection, is breakable, and the second most expensive glass on the market.

Ultraviolet protection is an additive to clear and non-glare glass and acrylic. It is a special coating which filters out more than 97% of harmful ultraviolet radiation. And can significantly reduce the fading damage your artwork experiences as a consequence of being exposed to virtually any source of light. These are the most expensive products on the market. Learn more about art care in "more information" section of this website.

Mounting
Your artwork has to be secured within the frame. What type of artwork it is and what it means to you will determine the best way to have it mounted…permanent mounting or conservation mounting.

Permanent mounting is irreversible. It is usually done to improve the appearance of your artwork by permanently holding it flat and in position regardless of heat, humidity or physical mistreatment. While the appearance of your artwork is improved, permanent mounting is not recommended in cases where the potential value may be jeopardized by permanent alteration. And permanent mounting can be ‘drymount’ or ‘wetmount’. There are pros and cons to both, and the processes of each are too extensive to mention here.

Conservation mounting is reversible. Techniques used hold your artwork in place without subjecting it to irreversible mounting processes. The objective is to make it possible to remove your artwork from the frame at a later date without evidence of it having been framed.

Frame
Wood or metal, ornate or plain? This is all up to you. Today, wood is still the preferred choice for frame material. And for conservation purposes, wood is superior because it offers a smooth back side surface on which to attach Framing Tape, the frame’s dust cover which protects the artwork from dust and insects.

Metal frames are a modern and durable alternative to wood frames. They will withstand a lot of abuse. But are not as desirable as woods for conservation purposes, because an effective dust cover can not be applied to the back of a metal frame.

Backing
The sealing of the back of your frame is a functional one, not decorative. The purpose is to seal out insects, dust and dirt, which all love to get inside a frame without proper backing. This is done with materials like foam-core and framing tape.