Choosing a Frame for your Fine Art Print
Norma SlackShare
The purpose of a frame is to draw the eye to your print and to protect it from dust or any potential damage if stored in packaging over time.
It is the finishing touch, there to highlight the print not to be the star of the show.
Like a piece of art, choosing a frame is a personal choice, we all have different tastes and different ideas about how we want our home to look and feel.
However, when choosing a frame it is important to be guided by the art and to choose the frame to enhance it.
A mount is part of the framing process, it helps the art stand out and protects it from touching the glass.
A wider mount can increase the size of the finished piece, which can be useful if you want to fill a larger space on your wall.
Choose a mount that is acid free (may also be described as ph neutral) so it wont yellow over time or cause damage to the print.
If you are attaching the print to a mount choose a tape that is acid free. I have included an example of one below to show you what I mean. You may be able to source a similar product from a stationary shop local to you.
Example of acid free tape:-
Think about the type of material you would like your frame to be made of, wood, acrylic or metal. They will all bring a different feel to the art.
Pay attention to the thickness of a frame and compare it to frames you already have in your home to be able to visualise its appearance/impact in the room
Make sure you know the size of the area you are going to hang it in and choose an appropriate sized frame for the space.
Consider if you would prefer going to a professional framer or buy an off the shelf frame.
A framer can let you see different options and advise on what would suit your print best. They will finish it ready for you to hang in your home.
Don’t rule out a local framer because you think they will be more expensive. This may not be the case when you consider the cost of postage etc with your ready made frame. They are experts in what they do and well worth considering as an option. I would advise you to at least call in to get a price so you can make a more informed choice.
If you are confident in your ability to frame the piece yourself and choose to go the ready made route there are lots of options. Just ensure the mount within the frame is the correct size for the print you are going to frame.
There are many suppliers online and offline and they vary from country to country. So I will give a few broad suggestions and you can also also search for suppliers local to you.
Frame supplier suggestions - I am not recommending the particular frames these links go to as I have not seen them in person. I am providing them as examples of possible frames you can choose from.
Best4Frames, online, UK mainland only.
Also try your local high street retailers.
Good luck, let me know what your final choice was and if you are happy to share a photo of it hanging in your home I would love to see it. You can email it to me at norma@normaslackart.com.
If you are not a member of my community you can join here for 15% off your first fine art prints .