Custom Framing
New Custom Framing
The West Lake Art Conservation Center offers a wide array of new custom frames and matting boards to fit your preference. All materials used are safe to use from a preservation standpoint and will not cause harm to the object over time.
Preservation Housing
Our staff has extensive experience in preservation housing and framing and works to meet the expectations of each client and specific needs of each object. These sealed preservation packages protect the objects from ultraviolet radiation, water damage (but not full immersion), airborne dust, pollutants and some gases. The housing modulates changes that occur in the outside environment, protecting the object.
Presentation
- Materials – We use archival materials that have passed the Photographic Activity Test and are sourced from archival specialty suppliers. The West Lake Art Conservation Center can provide a wide range of frames and various types of glazing. Mats, frames and glazing are all custom made for each object.
- Object attachment – whenever possible, we avoid applying adhesive directly onto an object, opting for paper or mylar corners or z-hinges. Thicker objects can often be sink-mounted where by a cutout of the same thickness and dimensions as the original is made onto a mat-board that will cradle the object, and a window-mat and glazing will securely apply pressure along edges and hold it in place with no need for adhesive. For larger sizes this can be modified to add strengthening elements such as polyethylene strips.
- Presentation – Presentation is decided with clients, and can include a choice of window-mat, the object can be float mounted if all edges are to be visible, and objects can be double-mounted so as to be observed from both sides.
Types of Glazing
The types of glazing used all filter ultraviolet radiation that is damaging to materials. We provide a choice between glass and acrylic glazing.
- Glass – The West Lake Art Conservation Center carries two types of glass glazing: Museum Glass® and Conservation Clear® from Tru Vue.
- Glass pros: rigid (doesn’t warp); impermeable (appropriate for microclimates); low electrostatic charge makes it suitable for friable materials; lower cost
- Glass cons: breaks easily and can damage objects inside; heavy (twice the weight of acrylic of comparable thickness)
- Acrylic – The West Lake Art Conservation Center carries Optium® from Tru Vue.
- Optium Acrylic pros: lighter weight than glass; doesn’t shatter; Optium® coating prevents it having electrostatic charge and from easily scratching (unlike regular acrylic).
- Optium Acrylic cons: more permeable than glass; expands and contracts depending on temperature; can warp and deflect; more expensive than glass.
Backing
- Coroplast – coroplast is placed on the back of the mat to provide protection from water damage and some physical protection to the back as it is rigid and provides padding.
- Marvel Seal – this is an aluminum core polyethylene material that is attached to the outside of the coroplast layer and helps filter out gaseous pollutants and moisture vapor.
Sealing
Preservation packages are sealed to protect objects from dust and airborne pollutants, and help modulate changes on the outside environment.
- Aluminum framers tape – Preservation packages are sealed with aluminum cored paper framers tape that prevents gaseous pollutants to enter the package.
- JLar tape – this tape is applied over the aluminum tape to protect it from tear and abrasion and to make it waterproof, since the aluminum tape’s outer layer is paper.
In-package modulator (if appropriate)
- ArtSorb – this material helps maintain the relative humidity inside a sealed package by absorbing or releasing moisture to a preset percentage as needed inside the package.
In-package indicator (if appropriate)
- Humidity indicator – humidity indicators may be placed inside the package, with a cutout window to the backing, if there is concern and a specific need to monitor that parameter inside a package.
