How to get your work framed

As you know, I love seeing you supporting small local framing studios and galleries. I really enjoy co-working with craftsmen and carpenters and I think you will love it too, as it adds another lovely experience to your beloved piece of art and will provide you with a perfectly designed frame in terms of size and color. To prepare for your appointment let me write you a quick guide on what to keep in mind.

  • Do I have to prep for the appointment?

    Usually not. But you can do some research online and take screenshots of framed artwork you like. This will be helpful to show what you would like the finished piece to look like. Bring the original artwork with you. High quality originals are always transported flat, never rolled. To avoid wrinkles or water damage, add a thin wooden board, the same size as your artwork and a water resistant plastic foil.

  • How does frame design work?

    The frame and / or passe-partout should have the correct size for your artwork. Usually there is a distance from 2 - 10 cm from the artwork itself to the frame. (Depending on the overall size of the artwork itself). Which provides space for the artwork to breathe and shine. Also make sure that the distance from frame to artwork is the same on all four sides of the framing. Make sure the artwork is properly centered.

  • Isn’t this sort of custom framing too expensive?

    Usually not. But you can for sure spend a lot of money on framing, as a good studio will also offer hand made frames with gold or silver work attached to it. This is an option but not mandatory. In fact I think the more impressive the artwork is, the more unobtrusive the frame should be. Best is to start the conversation with your budget, so you can be sure the service provider will not miss the boat. Be clear and straight. Good craftsmen are willing to work with small budgets too, as a happy customer is likely to return.

  • Do I have to make an appointment?

    Best is to call in advance to make sure the framing studios guys aren’t in a hurry. You want to get the most out of your appointment.

  • How long does it take to get the work framed?

    Usually the jobs are done within 14 days. But ask your gallery, they will be happy to tell you.

What should I know about framing?


There are different options for framing. Studios usually have two possibilities. The cheaper option is a pre manufactured frame, that can simply be ordered by the shop. The more expensive option is a frame handmade by your studio or gallery. Both types will be offered in different materials: wooden or metal frame. I always prefer wooden frames. But it depends on your personal taste and your home interior.

In terms of color: the best and most simple choice is always a white frame. Make sure it’s not plain white, but more like ivory or creme-white. Best option is a slightly transparent or translucent color allowing the wooden frame to shine through. It looks more elegant and has a less hard contrast to the painting itself. A good reference is always the paper tone of the artwork.

Next best choice is a wooden frame with a natural brown wood tone. This depends in the first place on your home environment. If you have lots of plain natural wooden furniture, then the plain wooden frame is the best option. Do you live in a strictly white and plain home, go for the white frame option. Most likely black frames will be too demanding. As well as frames with extreme coloring. If you have a home with tons of colors and patterns you can go for a more extravagant option. Best choice is always to bring a photo of the selected wall and the environment at home to show it to your framing studio. They are here to support and consult you.

  • Passe-Partout

    Having a paper passe-partout means basically that the edges of your artwork will be covered under another layer of high quality paper with a cutout the size of the motive of your artwork. This is usually the best choice when the artwork itself is rather small in a large format. A passe-partout helps the eye to focus on the main part or the artwork and can help elevate the overall impression.

    Right now it’s a more conservative way to get your artwork farmed. But this is like every aspect of fashion or trends. There might be a time, when passe-partout will return as the star of the show. If the artwork covers the whole piece of paper, it’s not useful to opt for a passe-partout. Another function of the passe-partout is, to make sure that the artwork does not get in direct contact with the glass surface, after farming. Which is the best option if you go for safety and ideal circumstances for conservation.

  • Glass Options

    If you get a paper artwork framed, you have to have a glass layer for protection. I know there is a very hip trend right now, to get paper artwork mounted on board and hung without any sort of protection. I would not recommend this because of two reasons. Firstly the paper will be mounted with spray or glue. And although there are new products on the market nobody really knows what the spray or glue will do to the paper over time. Paper is a natural product and will always be. It is sensitive to all sorts of chemicals. So you can never be 100% sure how materials will interact. The second reason is dust and vulnerability of the surface towards scratching, moisture or other physical damage.

    UV rays and sunlight are an issue with paper artwork. Although artwork on acid free and high quality paper is not as unstable as most people think, it’s always best to go for a safe & secure option. Ask your framing studio about glass with UV blocking quality. This is the best option. Newest option on the market is a plexiglass version with UV protecting qualities. This is an option for less risk on transport and especially for large scale work because of weight.

Any other tips for framing?

Yes, it depends on the studio, but there are craftsmen who are more like artists themselves. So it’s best to make a good collection of online research shots, to get clear about your own expectations. The guy will help you make your decision, but the clearer you are about what you really want, the better will be the end result, in meeting your expectations. 

Be aware that you don’t have to opt for the most expensive choice. Trust your guts & what you like. Usually they will have tons of farme samples there and you will be provided with a variety of solutions. Be aware that if you opt for silver and gold details, the finished frame will be expensive. 

Ask them what kind of material or tape they will use, if you opt for a passe-partout. They should be able to show you some sort of acid free and high quality tape which is commonly used by book binders. These tapes do not damage the paper surface and are easily removable, if you ever should opt for a new or different framing option. If this is not the case, leave the framing studio without any further discussion. This is not a sign of high quality & skillful work ethic. 

Make sure they do offer you a high quality glass with antireflex characteristics and UV blocking qualities. 

Make sure the place you hang the artwork at home is not opposed to direct sunlight all day or over a heater. Both will damage your beloved piece in the long term.