Conservation framing utilizes mat, glass and frame materials that retain their color and won’t cause damage to your artwork. Protecting irreplaceable and valuable art with a conservation style ensures that it retains its beauty for generations. Protection For conservation framing, an expert in custom framing envelopes art pieces in an acid-free environment using specialized framing techniques, high-quality mats, and mounting boards. These steps prevent harmful UV light from damaging your artwork and protect it from acid degradation that can lead to alterations in color, quality, and integrity.

With conservation style framing, if you ever want to remove your work from the custom framing to place it in a new frame, sell it or store it, you will find that it’s in the same condition it was prior to framing. This style of framing uses proven techniques and adheres to high standards so your work has one of the best forms of protection against damage.

Shielding against UV light

One of the greatest threats to artwork and causes of damage is exposure to ultraviolet light. Regular glass can’t properly protect artwork from the damaging effect of UV light, but the types of glass with protective coatings used in the conservation process can help block UV rays. UV reflective glaze used during this process offers high protection from UV rays and by hanging your work out of direct sunlight, you create additional protection.

Best results from conservation framing

To ensure the best results from quality conservation style framing of your artwork, you need to follow a few guidelines that further protect it from UV, moisture, and heat damage.

These guidelines include:

Hanging artwork out of intense light sources such as direct sunlight
Covering framed artwork with opaque cloth when viewing isn’t necessary
Keeping artwork away from heat sources such as radiators, fireplaces or space heaters
Hanging artwork out of direct line of vents and cold air returns
Hanging artwork on interior walls instead of exterior walls that experience extremes in moisture and temperature
Keeping artwork out of basements, crawl spaces, garages, sheds or basements that could suffer leaks and environmental changes
Ensuring artwork is always up off the floor

Combining the above practices with conservation framing ensures that the energy spent creating your artwork is never wasted.