Framing & Care
Framing
I strongly recommend that you get your print professionally framed by a company like The Frame Room. They have an amazing selection of wood varieties and we are in the process of developing deep tray frames for my square prints specifically (email me to find out more). Non-reflective glass, ideally UV protected, is worth the additional investment for displaying and protecting your print. For pre-made frames I use Country Road or Orms Print Room & Framing .
Care
Fine art (giclée) prints are renowned for their extreme longevity and for delivering integrity to original artwork. Correctly cared for, fine art prints should last for generations.
Your fine art print should be cared for in the same way as an original piece of art. I recommend taking your print directly to the framer in its packaging. However, if you want to unpack your print at home, here are some general handling guidelines:
- Use clean, dry hands at all times to handle your print or even better, white cotton gloves, as skin oils can stain the paper.
- Use two hands to support your print so it will not bend as dents and creases in the print are also likely to be permanent.
- Hold your print only at the very edges of the paper to avoid finger smudges on the face of the print which will be very difficult or impossible to remove.
- Lay out your print face up on a clean, dry, flat, smooth and hard surface.
- Keep your print covered with the acid-free tissue paper in which it was packaged.
- Do not use your hands to wipe off any dust as this can also damage the surface of your print.
Flattening your artwork
With the tissue paper still covering the print surface, place a few clean, flat and heavy objects (like books, or a small flat heavy side table) on the edges and around the middle part of the print. Let your print rest overnight. If it is still not flat when you remove the heavy objects, repeat the above-mentioned process.
Your print should never be hung in direct sunlight or be in contact with moisture. Prolonged direct sunlight is likely to cause discolouration. High humidity, heat, airborne dust, solvents, adhesives, smoke and other similar contaminants can also damage your print or cause it to buckle. If buckling occurs, I recommend talking to your framer to discuss 'mounting/pasting' options.
Image mounting is when artwork is pasted, using cold glue and a vacuum press, to either triplex board, hardboard, plexiglass or Dibond (the latter being the only archival option).