Custom Picture Framing Techniques

Traditional Frames

• Traditional frames hold a picture in place with acid-free tape on a beveled mat board that hangs behind a UV-blocking glass in a strong wood frame. This style became popular in the 19th century and was adopted by galleries. Back then, the frames were carved by hand and made out of a single piece of wood. Thin but strong glass allows a crystal clear view of the picture. It is preserved in a nearly airtight package, which allows for minimal stretching of the picture as humidity changes. The back is sealed and wire is added for easy hanging.

Shadow Boxes

• A shadow box is typically used by framers to showcase collectibles, trinkets, family heirlooms and memorabilia. This technique is used by framers to frame bulky or loose items. It can come with or without glass. The sides are strong and supported by a rigid back. Use this technique to have an interactive experience with the frame. In many cases, a shadow box is more decorative than a traditional frame in an eclectic and quirky way.

Floating Frames

• One of the coolest ways to frame a picture is to float the image. A picture that has important information on its reverse side, such as a date or signature, can be hard to see in a traditional frame. In the floating frame technique, the picture is taped from the reverse with transparent acid-free tape onto museum-quality glass. Glass is placed on the front of the picture. There is no mat board. Then the two panes of glass are sandwiched into a frame. The art is unhindered with the edges visible.

Frame-less

• The frame-less techniques that a framer can use to show off your picture do not use a frame at all. There are multiple ways to go about this, including photo-mounting the picture to a board that is heat-sealed with a special glue. Another technique is lamination, or a plastic-sealed mat board. The photo-mount technique is used a lot for posters, cards and puzzles.