Here are some common mistakes consumers and stagers often make when choosing the framing treatment for works of art. All too often the framer will not warn when poor choices are being selected. They fear they will lose a client or get a bad referral if they object to what is being chosen. This is a disservice to the customer but it is, alas, commonplace.
1) Mat colors are too strong. - If you choose mat colors that are too bright or too bold or to dark, your mats will upstage the work of art. The attention will go to what's AROUND the art piece instead of to the image, where it belongs. So it's always much better to select mat colors that are softer and more subdued and that appear in the image (probably as a background color).
2) Mat sizes that are too narrow. - The larger the image, the larger the mat size. If you do not properly "frame" the image, it will feel squashed into the frame and will not feel nestled properly. If the art is an original or a limited edition or mono-print, you'll want to make it look and feel as luxuriously as possible. So be prepared to put extra large mats around the artwork.
3) The mat width should be larger than the frame width. - Unequal width sizes are more pleasing to the eye than equal widths. So if your frame (molding) is 3" wide, make your mat 5" wide and so forth.
4) Extra mat treatments cut down on the width of the mat. - V-grooves and French cuts and other fancy cuts into the top mat that are cut on all four sides will reduce the visual size of the mat. So when choosing these finishing touches, make sure that the outer width of the mat remains wider than the frame.
5) When selecting molding profiles, choose according to style of the art. - If you're framing a traditional image, look for traditionally styled moldings; if a contemporary image, look for a contemporary molding. To make a work of art appear more prestigious, choose a wider profile regardless of style. Wood moldings will transcend style changes better than other types of moldings.
6) When framing an original work of art, choose "museum framing". - Museum framing means that any and all mats or foam core will be acid free. Mats come in plain and acid free material. Acid free material will not cause the work of art to yellow or turn brownish over time.
7) Never hang original art where it will get strong sunlight. - It should go without saying that art will fade over time, even with the finest paint. Refrain from hanging collectible art where it will get too much light, even if the subject, color and size are perfect for the location.
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