Tay River Gallery - Conservation Framing

What is conservation framing?

Conservation framing is framing using the highest quality material designed to protect paper art.

If the item you are framing represents an investment and has resale value, it should most certainly be conservation framed.

Conservation framing is generally used for paper artwork and documents, but it should be used anytime a high degree of protection and preservation is desired for a framed piece, such as family photos, historic documents or photographs and important mementos.

Special techniques and procedures are used to protect the work, and no process that is not reversible is used to leave the artwork in its original state. General components of conservation framing consist of the frame, the glazing, the mat (if used) or spacer, the backing and the hinging. Mats, backing, hinging and glazing consist of 100% acid free material of conservation quality. Hinging of acid free materials with a water based activated adhesive. Pressure sensitive adhesives should never be used on paper as these change character over time and may migrate into the paper. To retain the original state of the artwork, it should not be cut, folded or mounted or glued to backing boards.

How can I be sure I am Getting Conservation Quality?

1. Specify Conservation Series Glass.

Ultra-violet light is one of the most dangerous elements that your artwork can encounter. It will not only cause your colors to fade to a mere shadow of their former glory, but will cause the materials themselves to begin to break down right in the frame. Conservation quality picture framing glass is specially formulated to protect framed works of art from the damaging effects of ultra-violet light. Tru Vue Conservation Series® glass, insures that over 97% of these most damaging light rays are filtered out before ever coming into contact with your valuables.

2. Specify Conservation Quality Matboard.

Ordinary pulp-based Matboard contains acids and lignins which, over a period of time, damage the artwork they come in contact with. When going over your artboard options with your framer, ask him or her to show you only conservation quality artboard. Conservation quality artboard is free of all acids, lignins and other impurities found in ordinary "pulp" board. The result is an inert or pH neutral board which will cause no damage to the artwork it encases as time goes by.

3. Request a careful adherence to proper conservation techniques for mounting the artwork (sometimes called "hinging") and sealing your artwork.

Conservation mounting allows one to reverse the process without any change to the original state of the artwork, should you choose to remove the artwork from the framing at a later date.