“We have the craftsmanship, the creativity, the choice and the experience to guarantee a framing design that will best suit your artwork, your taste, and your budget.
At Blue Wing Gallery and Custom Framing, we provide exceptional quality custom framing using mouldings that are from the best manufacturers in the world. We use conservation framing materials— matboard, glass, backing and sealing tape. We have a vast selection of matboards and mouldings, updated throughout the year to reflect current design trends. We also have a broad range of framing options for every style and budget for those projects which need to be completed immediately.
Conservation Framing
1. Conservation framing means, first, we will do no harm and is totally reversible. A work of art must remain in its original state in order for it to retain its value (both intrinsic and monetary). In conservation framing, we never trim or fold a piece of art, nor do we use glue to adhere the piece to the substrate (backing board). Artwork is carefully mounted with hinges which are totally reversible. This hinging technique allows the artwork to hang from the top to prevent damage to the piece that might occur with changes in environment, such as humidity and heat, since artwork may expand and contract at different rates than does the backing. Even if the picture should fall off the wall (God forbid!) it would incur less damage since the hinge would tear before the artwork. There are other mounting techniques we might employ depending on the age, weight, depth and medium in which it was created.
2. Conservation framing actively protects against environmental factors which could degrade the object being framed. Materials used in conservation framing are made to withstand the test of time, and to protect the artwork they encase. We carry only conservation quality mat boards because they ensure clarity of color, won’t fade and will never harm the art they are bordering. Many frame shops tout “acid free” mat boards as protective but truly are not. In “acid-free” mat boards, the wood pulp has been neutralized with a chemical process and will eventually return and cause damage to the art with acid burn and yellowing on the beveled edge of the mat.
Only 100% cotton rag board ensures that artwork is truly protected. Alpharag Artcare technology which actually extends the life of art by slowing paper degradation, neutralizing acid by products and protecting against damaging pollutants. These museum boards are 100% cotton, fade and bleed resistant, totally acid and lignin free and buffered to maintain alkaline pH. Let us help you select mats to enhance and protect your art so it can be enjoyed for years to come.
In conservation framing, there is always at least 1/8? between the artwork and the glass. Changes in heat and humidity cause paper to expand or contract, so keeping it away from the glass prevents adhesion between the artwork and the glass. Air space inside a piece that has been conservation framed minimizes the condensation of moisture which can cause mildew to grow, a problem that can occur with regular framing.
The type of glass chosen can also provide significant protection from harmful UV rays. There are many kinds of glass, from anti-reflective glass to museum glass, from conservation reflection control to acrylic, with UV protection ratings that range from 45% to 97%.
Blue Wing Custom Framing would be happy to consult with you on the best way to protect your valuable art or irreplaceable family artifacts. Discussing where the picture will hang in terms of the light it will have reflected against it, also determines what kind of glass would be best to show it off. We have samples of all kinds of glass we can place on your artwork before you decide what you like and what makes the artwork come out the best.
In true conservation framing, the artwork is encapsulated (that means quite simply, put inside an envelope of conservation tape around the perimeter of the glass, mats, and backing board) to further ensure no bugs will get in with even greater results that with just finishing the back of the picture with kraft paper alone.