Difference between custom picture frames and readymade picture frames

You have taken your best picture, and are now wondering which type of frame will bets suit and enhance your precious picture. In broad sense there are two types of frames; Readymade and Custom Made frames, and knowing the difference between these two is the most common question that customers have to tackle when they decide to go for framing. Given below is the difference between custom picture frames and readymade frames.

Readymade Frame

First thing we need to understand about readymade frame is that they are mass produced and come in ready to use standard sizes (e.g. 4 x 6, 8 x 10, or 16 x 20). There is almost no flexibility in changing any aspect of the frame and you get what you buy from the store. Best thing about readymade frame is that they are easily available at your nearby store and are made in various materials, such as plastic, acrylic including wood and metal. Readymade frames are also inexpensive as they are created in bulk and often come with low glazing and backing option. With readymade frames all you to do is take a picture and hang it over a wall and requires minimal labor and material cost.

Custom Picture Frames

In custom frame each and every component of the frame is handpicked to suit each aspect of your artwork. The creation of custom frame starts with choosing the frame molding, this can be wood or metal and extends to choosing matting, glazing, backing and other hardware. Glazing are of various type with non-glare and ultra-violet protection properties. Backing material are available in standard, acid free material. Mats are of various colors and come in various fabrics as well to suit your artwork.
So as you see custom frame provides flexibility to choose in every aspect of frames and help provide truly distinctive look to your artwork. It is best to take advice of professional framers when going for custom frames.

So which frame is best for you?

There is no right or wrong answer to this question. The frame that you choose completely depends on the artwork to be framed in question and your budget.  For some, readymade project will be just fine while in other cases more expensive custom made frame will be suitable.

As a rule of thumb ready-made frame should be used when the photograph can be cut to standard size and is not too precious. Such examples are digital photograph or posters. They might have high sentimental value but they can be reprinted at click of mouse.

Custom picture frame are best to preserve family heirloom and irreplaceable artwork and has the flexibility to choose high quality such as acid free materials that can preserve the artwork for decades .
Ultimately the frame you choose should be based on your budget, pictures value (monetarily and emotional both) with proper consideration being given to the place where you are going to hang it.

Important components of a picture frame - Glass

A picture frame is a great way to preserve your art for long. Often when we go for custom made frames, there are many components that are needed to be chosen judicially. One of the main components that often gets neglected but is equally important, to create a visually appealing picture frame is Glass.

Picture frame glass helps to prevent your art from damaging UV rays. They also help in preventing the art from dirt and sudden temperature changes. A good glass glazing should have the property to prevent the art from these external damages and help preserve the art for long.

Framing glass is the most traditional way to frame your picture or artwork. Although there has been many advancement in glazing options and new product are there in the market which can replace glass; but glasses still reign supreme in framing market. Glass despite of its weight and fragile property is still widely used, as it is non – expensive, provides luster and sheen to the frame. Glass when compared to today’s modern method of glazing product, does not bow and is less prone to scratches. Glass also does not build up static charge like an acrylic glazing which attracts dust to the frame.

Glasses for picture frame come in many variants and provide flexibility of choice.

• Anti-Glare glasses- Reduces glare from bulbs or ambient light

• Glazing with ultra violet reduction- This stops UV light entering the glass and preserved your artwork

Given below are few properties of picture frame glass which makes them an important component to consider, when shopping for that perfect frame:

• Standard Glass is the most common glazing used and is inexpensive and readily available

• Painting with pastels or charcoals should use glass for framing as it does not hold static electric charge, which causes dust particles to stick to the surface and compromise clarity of image.

• Standard glass is the best option for reproduction prints, posters and artwork

• Standard glass can be best used for frame smaller than 32x40 inch.
  

Everything you need to know about custom framing services

Picture frame is a piece of object in your house or office that should be built in such a way that it looks good and is pleasing to see day in day out. To attain this level of quality and perfection custom frame is the way to go.

Custom made frames are best used to preserve family heirloom or irreplaceable artwork and provides the flexibility to choose high quality acid free materials that can preserve the artwork for decades. 

Custom picture framing normally comes in two materials, following consideration needs to be taken when going for custom frames.

Frame material: Frames are generally made of glass or plastic screens with composite material as their base. But the best quality frames are made of metal or of wood. Both metal and wood are popular option and it really boils down to personal preference. Given below are brief on wood frame and metal frame material which are most common material used:

Variety of frames

• Custom Wood Frames: Wooden frame can be designed and cut in various design and they have the option of built to buyers’ specification easily. Wooden frames can bring old age feeling and sophistication to your photograph
• Custom Metal Frames: Benefit that metal frames enjoy over wooden frame is that they are more durable and will not warp with time. Metal frame are easy to make when compared to wood and are also less costly than wooden frames.

Mounting Board: This holds the picture against the mat. This is often the first step in framing process. Normally cardboards are used as mounting board material but framers normally advice against using them. Cardboards are acidic in nature, and this may be detrimental for the artwork over the years. Mounting board with polystyrene core are generally good as they are acid free, have smooth surface , warps less and can be cut smoothly.

Matting: This is probably the most complicated part of buying a frame. Mats can be made of cardboard or other materials and serves as a frame within a frame. Mat separates Picture from direct contact with the glass and creates a small air space between photographs. Glass also prevents moisture build up. A mat can be decorated as per photograph’s specification- coloured, decorated or pure white.

Selecting the Grade of Mat: This refers to the material of the mat and how well it can preserve the artwork. The more acidic the mat material quicker the artwork is bound to deteriorate. Normally mats made of cotton are great for preserving art work.

Number of Mats: Normally a single mat works just as fine but framers may prefer more than one mat to layer their project to create a substantial visual border.

Backing: This is made of stiff cardboard and is placed at the back of mounting board

Glazing: Glazing is equipment in frame that protects everything in a frame. This again is optional but is highly recommended if artwork is exposed to varied temperature and humidity changes. There are basically two types of glazing available in market

• Anti-Glare- Reduces glare from bulbs or ambient light.
• Glazing with ultra violet reduction- This stops UV light entering the glass and preserved your artwork.

Glazing Glass

Thus custom frames gives the option to choose your material and since every part of custom made frame need to be built from scratch the time and cost required to make a custom frame is more . However the finish and quality you get with custom frames are unbeatable. After following the above steps you can be ensured to build a beautiful long lasting frame that will preserve your picture for days to come.

Custom Mirror Frame Reflects Your Style

Custom framed mirror can be used as decorative mirror, floor mirror, full length dressing mirror, bathroom mirror which reflects your style. With the help of custom mirror frame to enhance the look of any room or wall. Wherever placed mirror reflect and bounce light around the space and deceive the eye into thinking a room is larger than it actually is.

Custom Mirror Frame

Particularly, mirror are inexpensive home accessories to decorating a home, office and other places that can use to make a small area look larger. Explore wide range of shapes like rectangle mirror, square mirror, round mirror, oval mirror and more with variety of size and color. whether you are looking for a wood, glass or metal mirror frames to dress up your wall. We can custom frame a mirror according to your specification.

Here some stylish custom mirror frames to decorate your room:

www.houzz.com

In the living room, Mounting a huge mirror with stylish frames on the wall to decor and create a cohesive look in this room. For the security purpose, place a sofa in front of the mirror. Also mirror reflect and bounce light around the room. The position of mirror is closer to window, allowing the mirror to reflect sunlight from it.

www.houzz.com

The bathroom is the places at your home that need a big mirror. Select a mirror that inflate the style of the room. In this design, the wall mirror has placed in such kind that can make a small area look larger. The position of the mirror is front of light allowing the mirror to reflect lights.

You get a quick and easy custom frame mirror at affordable price from paintboxnolita.com. Even offering free shipping in neighborhood and Installing your custom frame mirror in 3 easy steps: measure, assemble and mount with easy installation.

Image Source: www.houzz.com

4 Type of Picture Framing to Enhance Your Artwork

A frame is what is common between all art. Which means that the frame is something that holds an important meaning to the picture or the photograph. The frame can be of wood, metal or plastic it is a perimeter that defines where the art ends and the rest of the world meets. Framing can sometimes decide the value of art. The appearance of a photo frame is obviously important and that is what the frame provides. In addition to the locks the frame also provides protection to the picture. Frames are supposed to sustain damage that can be inflicted upon the paintings and we can avoid great amount of damage that can happen to the paintings.

For enhancing your artwork, general there are four types of frames available at all framing stores. They can be:

1. Wooden Picture Frames

Wooden frames are hard and are good for making craftwork on it, it gives more accenting, it will enhance your artwork or paintings. Wooden frames have a wide range, they come's in various styles, colors and finished. If you want to have custom frame, then it is best for giving you a unique look.

2. Metal Picture Frames

Metal Picture frames are available in a variety of colors, which give it a more attractive look at the colors become more vibrant and sharp by applying for it. It gives a modern look to your frame and resist warping over times.

3. Glass Picture Frames

This is the most attractive type of framing available nowadays, as it gives an extra glow to the whole frame. The glass used for framing are museum quality glass, it differs from the common glass found in house windows in two ways. First, it is much thinner, available in 2mm and 3mm thicknesses (house glass is more in the 8mm range). Second, museum glass is made with supercilious transparency qualities than home glass, and ensuring that the artwork is not distorted by the glass.

4. Acrylic Picture Frames

Acrylic glass is a well known these days in framing world, its traditional name Plexiglas, is a relative newcomer to the farming world. There are many traditional farmers who will not consider this material getting anywhere close to their frame. However, Plexiglas has one major advantage is that it does not break.

In short, all the types of framing has uniqueness in them which will help to make your artwork more beautiful. The best way to protect your artwork is using high quality acid-free materials while framing it. Select framers who offers you with museum quality framing service for framing your valuable artwork.

Paintbox Soho has a knowledgeable, friendly and dedicated staff of craftsmen who stick to strict standards for museum quality custom picture framing services for art galleries in NYC. 

Amazing tips that can help you when framing a painting

Picture framing is like a science, custom picture framing takes some really good skills and a lots and lots of patience. Picture framing is also very vital to the art collector and to the artist in maintaining the value of art. According to a research, it is said that mostly everyone has had something framed once: a piece of art, a degree, a football jersey, you name it and you can get that framed.

Custom photo framing can be the best comrade or the worst foe of the art.  Imagine your best artwork not framed properly, and the damage it can do. Here are some tips for professional framers so they can avoid some very serious mistakes.

• Use Good quality materials:

This is one of the most important aspect of framing. If you are using low quality materials then beware, they will affect the art in more than one ways in addition they will also reduce the value of your art. When using mat boards or papers in framing then care should be taken that acid free materials are used.

• Select the glass:

Use UV protected glass always and suggest your customers to go for UV glasses. Ultra violet rays harm your art work, even if you have used UV glass then also try to avoid exposing the painting to direct sunlight. There are also options available in glass like the museum quality glass which is heavy.

There are also alternatives for the glass like the Plexiglass(Acrylic) which has got some good benefits over regular glass and picture framers are suggesting the use of plexiglass as it is safe and light weight.

• Selecting the proper mats:

Selection of proper matting should be done, you should match the mat with the frame or according to the picture type and texture. Make it look good not weird. Matt are supposed to keep the distance between the art and the glass. There needs to be some space between the art and the glass so that the art does not stick on the glass.

• Don't use tapes:

Using a tape is a big no. Don’t use the regular brown tape that you use around the house to fix things on the painting or the photograph they might damage the painting after a long run. When you will try to remove the tape from the painting then you can see the large amount of damage that has been done by the tape on the artwork.

Museum quality custom framing shops should avoid using tapes and if you want to then go for the framing specialty tapes. Don't damage some precious museum quality art.

These tips can be kept in mind to avoid turning your artwork into a disaster. The custom framers keep these things in mind and always try to make your artwork more beautiful, But as we can say that precaution is better than cure.

Searching for picture framing shops in SOHO?

“Art is not what you see but what you make others see”
People these days are fond of artwork and artwork can be made more glorious by adding elegant frames. But its not only the art that attracts a viewers attention but the frame used to cover the art is also an important factor, so people are more and more driving towards Picture framing shops. Paintbox SOHO offers museum quality picture frame at. Serving a large number of clients in the SOHO region this picture Framing services have been successfully helping preserve art and satisfying customers since 2013. Paintbox SOHO has a Friendly and knowledgeable staff who follow the strict standards of picture framing and maintain the best quality standards, they suggest you with the frames you should choose so that the customers who leave always have two things with them: Satisfaction and a good picture frame.

Paintbox SOHO offers a large selection ranging from American hardwood frames, hand-finished frames, imported Italian moldings and anodized metal frames.
American hardwood frames: These picture frames are simple yet alluring and made from 100% authentic American hardwood including walnut, maple, ash and cherry.
Hand finished frames: Hand finished frames are made unique every time and the size and color can  be as per the need of the customers.
Italian Moldings: Hand made by the masters of Italy these Italian moldings can give a roman touch to the artwork.
Anodized metal frames: these frames made from aluminum mostly are anodized to provide durability
And beauty. These frames can last a long time.


Paintbox SOHO uses high quality acid free materials to maintain the ideal condition of artwork for a long stretch of time. With reference to the high quality services they provide the pricing is made as minimal as possible to be pocket friendly with the customers.

Not only Framing services but works from artists like Jane Waterhouse, ed heck, Michelle magill are at display in the art gallery of paintbox SOHO. Visit the art gallery and framing shop at 105 Thompson St (Between Prince and Spring) New York, New York 10012. or visit our online website http://www.paintboxsoho.com/ for more information or give us a call at tel. 212 226 1300