Custom framing can freshen up old treasures

If you have art hanging on your walls that you purchased several years ago, you might want to look at the framing with an open mind because you may be able to give your cherished keepsakes a fresh new look without the expense of buying a new frame.

If your framed artwork is more than five years old, you should inspect it for buckling or fading and you should make sure that the mat edges are not turning brown. You may even find that older artwork will show signs of insect visitors, because the back of the frame was never sealed.

Remounting the artwork on acid-free mats in fresh new colors will bring out the beauty of the art and give the piece a new lease on life. In years past, many works of art were routinely set off with white or off-white mats. In many cases, this safe choice acts to "deaden" the effect of the art because it does not direct the viewers attention to the work.

Choosing mat colors and textures that draw attention to the image without overpowering it will create an entirely new and interesting appearance for a favorite piece of art.  The changes can be subtle or dramatic depending on the amount of change you wish to experiment with.

Going from narrow mat borders to more generous borders creates more space around the image and makes the framed image seem more important.

When an artist sells framed work in a gallery, she often chooses a small frame for reasons of economy. A customer will buy one of these works and hang it on their wall for years, not realizing what potential can be realized with larger mat borders and a different frame.

Our new Visualization software makes it easy to explore the effect of alternative choices in mat widths and colors and moulding designs. When you see how an image is enhanced through different choices, it makes it easy to decide what works for you and fits your budget.

Give your walls a new look for Spring. Freshen up any artwork that is showing signs of age. Art is timeless, but the packaging can deteriorate over time. Give your treasured keepsakes additional years of life.

If you have art hanging on your walls that you purchased several years ago, you might want to look at the framing with an open mind because you may be able to give your cherished keepsakes a fresh new look without the expense of buying a new frame.

If your framed artwork is more than five years old, you should inspect it for buckling or fading and you should make sure that the mat edges are not turning brown. You may even find that older artwork will show signs of insect visitors, because the back of the frame was never sealed.

Remounting the artwork on acid-free mats in fresh new colors will bring out the beauty of the art and give the piece a new lease on life. In years past, many works of art were routinely set off with white or off-white mats. In many cases, this safe choice acts to "deaden" the effect of the art because it does not direct the viewers attention to the work.

Choosing mat colors and textures that draw attention to the image without overpowering it will create an entirely new and interesting appearance for a favorite piece of art.  The changes can be subtle or dramatic depending on the amount of change you wish to experiment with.

Going from narrow mat borders to more generous borders creates more space around the image and makes the framed image seem more important.

When an artist sells framed work in a gallery, she often chooses a small frame for reasons of economy. A customer will buy one of these works and hang it on their wall for years, not realizing what potential can be realized with larger mat borders and a different frame.

Our new Visualization software makes it easy to explore the effect of alternative choices in mat widths and colors and moulding designs. When you see how an image is enhanced through different choices, it makes it easy to decide what works for you and fits your budget.

Give your walls a new look for Spring. Freshen up any artwork that is showing signs of age. Art is timeless, but the packaging can deteriorate over time. Give your treasured keepsakes additional years of life.