Framing Terminology for Dummies
Backing Board (for the frame): Quite simply the board on the back of the picture frame. This is different from the board backing the picture mount which should be acid free to protect the artwork.
Bevel: If a frame is bevelled it has a grove cut into the picture mount in order to display the artwork.
Backing Board (for the mount): The mount back board will sit between the artwork and frame backing board. These should be acid free. The backing boards and mount can be combined in a specialist product call Aqua Board. This is particularly useful in a shallow space.
Conservation framing: The frame and the mount looks attractive and displays the artwork in the best possible way. It’s other function is to protect. A lot of badly mounted and framed work fail to do this. Ageing artwork can occur because of UV light and the use of acidic materials which results in ‘browning’ of the board and the work over a period of time. Conservation framing ensures that using acid free materials provides protection from the aging process through the years.
Double Mount: Whilst a single mount is common double mounting can add another dimension to the work. Often the mounts can be in contrasting colours and of different widths. It’s additional advantage is that thicker paint application – such as oils or textured acylics are further from the glazing.
Conservation framing: The frame and the mount looks attractive and displays the artwork in the best possible way. It’s other function is to protect. A lot of badly mounted and framed work fail to do this. Ageing artwork can occur because of UV light and the use of acidic materials which results in ‘browning’ of the board and the work over a period of time. Conservation framing ensures that using acid free materials provides protection from the aging process through the years.
Double mount with contrasting colour.
Bevelled frame.
Mount Board: Wood pulp or cotton based mounting boards come in different grades, thickness (1.4, 2.0, 3.5mm) and colours. There are several types of mounting board ranging from budget, which is cheaper but unlikely to be acid free and may lead to aging over time, to high end conservation cotton board used for high value artworks. They come in a range of colours, some have 'core' colour different from the surface colour giving an unusual contrast.
Grey mount with black core.
Wood frame and contrasting wooden mount.
Wood: Soft woods such as in pine are the most commonly used woods for framing. But sometimes the artwork demands more so the framer may opt for hardwoods that have strong grain patterns such as oak. We also use a thinner wood, painted, to act as a mount in specialised artworks.
Plexiglass: This is one of the many trade names for plastic (acrylic) glazing. It’s usually 1.5mm thick,but is less likely to break than glass and is far lighter, making it ideal for either frames for shipping or larger works
Glazing (glass): The main purpose of the glass is to protect the artwork from dirt and environmental factors such as temperature fluctuations. Sunlight can damage the image over time so other options include UV filtering and anti-glare.
Mount Aperture (mount window): This is something that causes some of the biggest queries. Basically the mount aperture is ‘window’ in the mount board which displays your artwork.
Dry Mounting: This process is employed to ensure large prints or photographs, often difficult to get a smooth surface with no wrinkles or bubbles, are stiff enough for framing. It is only recommended for low cost prints and posters.