We frame photographs and artworks, needlework, jerseys, canvases, and all sorts of memorabilia.

• Photos are mounted and matted using acid free materials
• Needlework is attached using the lacing method - no glues or staples used!
• Canvases are mounted over appropriate stretcher bars.
• Memorabilia such as football jumpers, artifacts, flags and medals, record albums or anything that is 3D will require special treatment, depending on its size, shape, weight, durability, and layout. They will need deep frames to accommodate the height.

We can offer a choice of acid-free standard, or conservation grade materials and a choice in glass types and acrylics.

Visit our FRAMING EXAMPLES to see just a few, and follow us on FACEBOOK to keep up to date with newer items.

There are no framing design rules, however there are styles and trends that will improve the presentation.

While it is useful to take into account the colours and style of your room and furniture, and your individual taste, the most important factor is that the framing suit the artwork.

This is where your framer can be of great help. We are more than happy to offer assistance and advice, and show you a variety of options.

Occurs when artwork is framed with paper materials that are not acid-free. Matting and backing board that is made from wood pulp fibers have naturally occurring acids and lignins. If these materials are not chemically treated, the acid will 'leak' onto the artwork causing a permanent yellow or brown stain and cause brittleness of the paper.

A term that describes paper materials with a pH of around 7.0. These materials are considered acid-free and are less likely to harm artwork. Paper materials with a pH below 6.5 or above 8.5 are not considered acid-free for the purposes of picture framing. Standard acid-free mats and backing materials are "buffered" (calcium carbonate is applied to the raw product during manufacture) to slow down the effects of change in.pH over time.

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Has a neutral pH factor of 6.5 to 7.5 at the time of manufacture. No matter how acid-free a paper may be immediately after manufacture, over time chemicals from the processing or pollutants from the air may lead to the formation of acid in the paper. The presence of an alkaline buffer will reduce or eliminate damaging effects of these acids for the duration of the buffer's effectiveness. The most common buffering additive is calcium carbonate.

Is commonly used as a replacement for glass. Acrylic is a hard synthetic polymer material made from derivatives of acrylic acid. There are many variations but the most common ones are best known under the trade names Plexiglas®, Perspex® and Crystallite®. It is flexible, and lighter than glass, so very useful for large framing jobs, and also for when frames are to be transported.

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is the form of cellulose which has the longest, and therefore the most stable chemical chain, in turn creating the longest and strongest paper-making fibers.

the stack of components that make up the framing package, eg. The mat board or boards, the backing board and the glazing.

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A framing standard is to cut the inside edge of a mat board at a 45° angle, or bevel. The bevel cut allows us to see the white core of the matboard. In some cases, when this white bevel is not desired, we can cut the opening with a reverse bevel so this edge is not visible.

A process where calcium carbonate or magnesium carbonate is added to mat board to make it more alkaline and therefore more likely to absorb acids and other environmental pollutants.

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a chemical, (CaCO3) Calcium carbonate is used as a filler in alkaline paper-making, and as a buffering agent. The presence of an alkaline buffer will reduce or eliminate damaging effects of acids for the duration of the buffer's effectiveness.

Artist canvas is made of either cotton, linen, or a synthetic fiber. It is stretched onto wooden frames and used for paintings. Artist canvas is available in several thicknesses. Generally, the heavier the fabric, the better the quality. However, it is also important to pay attention to coatings. Many canvases are coated with several layers of gesso which will help the paint to adhere to the surface.

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A type of framing that keeps the artwork as unaltered as possible while using materials which minimize the artwork?s deterioration by environmental factors. It is used for the most valuable items, such as original artworks, limited edition prints, historical documents or items, as well as those of sentimental value.

Materials such as mat board, mount board, glass and acrylic that are designed to minimize the artwork?s deterioration by environmental factors. Conservation framing uses alpha-cellulose or rag mat, acid-free and lignen-free foam core backing or barrier papers and UV filtering glass or acrylic. It also uses reversible attachment methods. While archival quality materials may look the same as lesser materials, the true difference becomes readily apparent in later years.

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Consists of two (2) mat boards over the art. The bottom mat is cut with a smaller window, so it shows as an inner edge of colour underneath the top mat. This is called the reveal, and is usually 5-10mm wide.

Are thin, decorative pieces of picture frame moulding. Fillets are often placed inside a larger frame or in between mat boards..

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A mounting technique where the art is mounted on top of the mat and the edges (especially attractive deckle edges) of the artwork are left uncovered. With this application the artwork appears to be floating within the frame or mat board window.

First introduced to the marketplace in the late 1990's. This frame allows the entire front surface of the canvas to be visible. The canvas on its stretcher frame is placed from the front and attached from the back. A small gap, perhaps 1/8" or 1/4" of an inch is left between the canvas and the frame lip. The floater frame derives its name from the fact that the canvas appears to be floating inside of the frame.

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The material onto which artwork is mounted for framing. It is a light but stiff material that is 3mm or 5mm thick. Acid-free varieties are available for conservation framing.

A modern style of canvas stretching where the painted image wraps right around the sides of the wooden stretcher frame and is secured at the back. This is different to the Museum Wrap where all of the image is shown on the front, and the plain edges of canvas are on the sides.

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Is a heavy-duty, foam board bonded between two layers of wood-fibre veneer. Also known as Gatorboard, It is a light but stiff material that is 3mm or 5mm thick. Acid-free varieties are available for conservation framing. Foamcore and Gatorfoam have the same filler. It's just the outer covering that is different. Gatorboard has a much tougher covering, and is less likely to bow or bend, and is much more expensive than foamcore.

Is a relatively new term for art printed on quality photographic papers, fine art papers, heavy water-colour paper, or canvas. Due to improvements in technologies, extremely fine droplets of ink can be controlled by the computer so that the resolution of the printed image is much finer than conventional printing. Good quality giclees have a predicted life of 85 to 90 years indoors without any noticeable fading.

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The purpose of glazing is to protect the contents from dust and sudden shifts in temperature and humidity. The standard glass used is 2mm clear float glass. If you are hanging your picture where there will be light from nearby windows, interior lights etc. then you should consider using anti-reflective glass. This inhibits the reflections on the surface, but offers no protection from fading. Exposure to ultra violet light is the most common cause of colour fading. Using UV glass, or acrylic will cut most of these damaging rays. Acrylic looks similar to glass, but is more flexible, and less likely to crack or break. It is also much lighter than glass, so is well suited to large artworks.

The process of attaching artwork to the back of the mounting board. While many prints, and posters may be stuck down, original artworks or limited editioned prints are hinged so that they can be removed from the frame and returned to their original state. Acid-free tape is attached to the top of the artwork. We recommend hinging only from the top. This way gravity will allow the artwork to hang down and it will be less likely to crinkle as it would if taped on other sides, as paper will expand and contract with temperature changes.

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A double sided adhesive film with release papers on either side. Used to adhere prints and papers to backing boards.

A high quality paper made from fibers of the mulberry tree. Japanese paper makes great hinges because is strong without being bulky and does not discolor or weaken with age.

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A high quality paper made from fibers of the mulberry tree. Japanese paper makes great hinges because is strong without being bulky and does not discolor or weaken with age.

An organic substance found in all vascular plants. Papers containing lignin give off acids as they deteriorate.

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A paper material that provides an aesthetically pleasing border to the art, and protects the artwork from coming into contact with the glass. Mat board is available in acid-free and conservation quality, and comes in a wide variety of colours.

The material (either wood or metal) of the picture frame. Moulding can be very ornate and decorative, or it can be very simple. The majority of our woods are stained plantation woods. Some have a veneer or composite coating to produce smooth and glossy surfaces. Mouldings are purchased as 2-3metre lengths.

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the board on which artwork is mounted. Commonly this is foamcore or gatorboard. We use adhesive foamcore to stick down a photograph or poster or other prints. If it is to be adhered to gatorboard because a more substantial backing is needed, we will use jac paper with the gatorboard. Original artworks or limited edition prints, or anything of value will not be stuck to the mount board, but will be hinged using conservation materials and techniques.

the method of attaching artwork to the mat board, mount board or backing. There are several methods and materials used for mounting, such as using adhesive foamcore, jac paper and rollers, or adhesive spray and a vacuum press. These are permanent and should not be used for original works, limited editions, or works of any value, as it will diminish their re-sale value. The preferred alternative in these cases is to hinge the artwork at the top, using an acid-free, reversible hinging material. The artwork then "hangs" within the framing package and can change with varying temperature and humidity.

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A mat board with more than one window opening. Multi-opening mat boards are often used for photo collage projects.

Glass or acrylic with a matte finish etched on one side to reduce glare from lighting. It is optically pure (no tint), and may cause a slight loss in sharpness.

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Glass or acrylic with a matte finish etched on one side to reduce glare from lighting. It is optically pure (no tint), but may cause a slight loss in sharpness, and also in vibrancy of colour. The further away it sits from the art, the more noticeable this will be, so it is best to only have a single mat when using this glass.

The release of gases from a material. Commonly from inks printed on photographic papers. Over time, and particularly in high temperatures, these gases will form on the inside of the glass, creating a whitish film, often giving the shape of the art. Photographs should be left to air for up to a week before being framed.

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Thin metal tabs used to hold the mat, mount board and/or glazing inside the frames. Some points are stiff while others are flexible to allow access into the frame.

The inner lip or groove of the picture frame, which holds the frame?s components, including the glazing, mat(s), artwork and backing. The higher the rabbet, the more room for a 3D item, such as a medal.

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The inner lip or groove of the picture frame, which holds the frame?s components, including the glazing, mat(s), artwork and backing. The higher the rabbet, the more room for a 3D item, such as a medal.

This is a framing technique in which three dimensional objects are framed, when something more than a single high rabbet frame is needed.

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A spacer is a small (usually plastic) strip which is placed between the artwork and the glass and hidden under the frame's lip. This holds the glass up high, and away from the surface of the art. Spacers are used when a top mat is not required, or when framing something that is 3D and needs the extra height.

A type of heavy wooden frame with sloping profile, designed for a canvas to be stretched over and wrapped and secured around it.

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The four (4) pieces of specific shaped wood material that make up a stretcher bar frame.

A method for attaching artwork to the mount board. The top of the artwork is attached while the bottom hangs free.

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An invisible portion of the light spectrum. Ultraviolet energy fades artwork and causes paper to become yellow and/or brittle. Using ultraviolet-filtering glazing helps minimize potential UV damage to artwork.

A v-shaped incision in the surface of a mat board that reveals the white core and acts as a decorative border.

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Small, felt-covered adhesive-backed disks that provide a cushion between the frame and the wall. Bumpers also help the frame hang flat against the wall.

A opening cut in a mat board through which the image can be viewed. The window is commonly in the center of the mat, but can be positioned higher or lower to achieve specific looks.

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