"Custom Framing Made Simple: Glass", Port Credit Village Times, V. 1 Ed. 3, August/September 2007.
Where has the summer gone? It is hard to believe that it is already mid-August and we are only a few weeks away from school starting again, and the majority of lives returning to normal! This no doubt will bring you back inside from the summer in the garden and at the bar-b-que and get you thinking about those empty walls, or pictures that need updating. This is the third article in an on-going series in which through me experiences I will be covering all aspects of custom framing and home décor for your walls. If you have missed any of the previous articles you can view them at www.albionartgallery.com/articles. This month the focus will be on glass, and the different options.
I asked a customer recently who had been to several custom frame shops earlier in the day, “has anyone explained the types of glass to you?” They were shocked, and replied “there are different types of glass?” There are different types of glass, and not any certain one is perfect for a particular piece. Essentially it comes down to personal preference and you need to consider all options.
First I want to look at what items may require glass. As a rule I suggest that everything printed or painted on paper should be framed with glass. Also, any frame design which uses matting requires glass. Fabric pieces are considered on an individual basis. In general it is always safer to use glass; however some people like to be able to feel the fabric itself. Glass provides a protective barrier from dirt, moisture and the oils that are on everyone’s hands, which collectively can be detrimental to any piece of art.
When helping a client to come up with the perfect frame design I feel it is my job to educate everyone on all of the options. Why would I assume everyone wants regular glass, if they don’t even know they have a choice? My opinion is that if a piece is worth framing it is worth conservation glass. These days we hear all too often how dangerous the sun can be for our skin, and the same is true for our art. UV rays are emitted by not only the sun but lights in our homes. This can cause significant fading and damage particularly to art on papers of all kind. We have all seen the effects of the sun on a newspaper that has been outside for a few days too long. It fades, and begins to yellow. This is what we are trying to avoid. If you have done custom framing in the past you know about the importance of acid free mats, well without the proper glass those mats will be useless.
Conservation glass is only marginally more expensive than regular glass, but in terms of long term conservation of the piece you are framing it is invaluable. I cannot stress enough how important it is to use conservation glass, as it is like putting clear sunglasses or sunscreen on your art. It effectively blocks 98% of all harmful UV rays.
Conservation glass comes in three finishes, all of which come in glass with out the UV protection as well.
First is regular conservation glass. This is used most frequently in our framing gallery. Not only is the price reasonable but it provides crystal clear protection for the art. I recommend it more frequently than the other glass available due to a combination of clarity and price.
Second is conservation non-glare glass. If you like this glass you will love it, and want it on everything. It is a glass that has a frosted finish, but when the frame package is assembled you can see the art clearly and any light reflected on the front becomes dulled. I recommend this glass for areas that receive a lot of direct light, where a reflection would become a problem. On the right piece non-glare glass looks great; however I am amongst the growing number of people who find that it takes a small amount of clarity away from the artwork due to the frosted finish. Personally, I would prefer regular glass over non-glare on most occasions, with the exception of soft photographs and watercolours.
Third, for those who feel glare will be an issue, and need the clarity of regular glass there is one other option. Museum glass, also referred to as Den glass or anti-reflective glass in the non-conservation formats. This is for sure the best glass on the market, but with a name like “museum glass” you can only assume it comes at a cost. The price is worth the look. It gives the impression that there is no-glass on the piece at all, and the little reflection seen is hard to detect. This is all done keeping the glass clear and applying an anti-reflective finish to the glass. I most often compare it to the anti-reflective coating available for eye glasses. The look is stunning and cannot be beat. For the right piece it is definitely worth the investment in the glass.
Above all, always remember there is more than one perfect frame design for each piece. Keep an open mind, and it should feel right when you see the right frame design. Also, you should feel comfortable with whoever is working with you to create the perfect design. Professional custom frame design takes patience, time, skill, creativity and vision.
For more information please contact Christopher Adair at 905.278.2117 or visit www.albionartgallery.com