ARCHIVAL PICTURE FRAMING EXPLAINED
Archival framing, also called conservation or museum framing, protects artwork and documents from yellowing, fading and chemical damage. It uses acid-free materials, UV glass, and tape and backing that won’t harm the work. Décor framing uses standard materials and suits posters, prints and everyday artwork.
The Frame & Art Factory in Woodstock, Cape Town frames for galleries, artists and private collectors across South Africa.
Archival Framing vs Décor Framing
Archival framing aims to preserve artworks, documents and anything with sentimental or collector value. It suits galleries, artists, private collectors and anyone protecting originals, limited editions, photographs, signed items, certificates and heirlooms.
Décor framing uses standard matboards and usually pastes the image to a substrate. It suits décor items, children’s art, posters and prints, and forms the bulk of our framing workflow.
| Archival framing | Décor framing | |
|---|---|---|
| Mat board | Acid-free conservation mat boards | Standard matboards |
| Mounting | Acid-free tape imported from Japan | Image pasted to a substrate |
| Glass | UV glass, AR 70 Art Glass or Museum AR 90 glass | Clear float glass, 3mm |
| Best for | Originals, limited editions, photographs, signed items, certificates, heirlooms | Posters, prints, children’s art, décor items |
Archival work is backed with acid-free foam board and sealed with acid-free kraft sealing tape.
Picture Frame Mouldings
Picture Frame Mouldings come in all shapes and sizes. We have 2 distinct types, namely wooden and synthetic.
Wooden Picture Frame mouldings are made from sustainably harvested timber. All our timber mouldings are kiln dried and stained or finished to the various colour profiles we offer. The natural grain and texture of our wooden frames are perfect when balancing delicate works of art.
We also stock hardwood picture framing mouldings such as Kiaat, American Ash and Maple Wood frame profiles which offer deep rich natural colour profiles. Especially when oiled with our in-house developed wood oil, bringing out the natural colours and depth of the timber.
Synthetic Wooden Picture Frame mouldings are made from recycled PS, which is a great sustainable product. It’s available in a wide variety of finishes and designs. This offers a greater amount of decorative design options and colour profiles, making it best suited for a wide variety of framing applications.
It’s also more cost-effective, making it a great option for bulk and general framing
Matboards
The Purpose of matboards is two-fold. One to protect the image from touching the glass and secondly to visually enhance the picture by bringing elements of complementary colour and design harmony within the artwork.
Our extensive variety of colour mount-boards empowers us to bring the imagination to life by balancing both the picture and frame.
Clear Glass VS Non-Reflective Art Glass
We use three glazing options for archival framing:
- UV glass filters the light that causes fading.
- AR 70 Art Glass is 70% non-reflective. It suits rooms with a lot of natural or artificial light and shows the true colours and texture of the art, with no green tint or optical distortion.
- Museum AR 90 glass is 90% non-reflective.
Regular clear float glass (3mm) is the standard glazing for décor framing. UV filtering slows fading but does not stop it, so keep artwork out of direct sun.
Archival Framing: Questions and Answers
What is archival framing?
Archival framing, also called conservation or museum framing, uses acid-free materials, UV glass and safe mounting so nothing in the frame damages the artwork. It protects work from yellowing, fading and chemical damage.
Do I need archival framing?
Choose archival framing for originals, limited editions, photographs, signed items, certificates and heirlooms. Posters and mass-produced prints are well served by décor framing, which uses standard materials and forms the bulk of our framing work.
What materials do you use for archival framing?
We use acid-free conservation mat boards, acid-free foam board backing sealed with acid-free kraft sealing tape, and acid-free tape imported from Japan for mounting.
Which glass should I choose?
We offer UV glass, AR 70 Art Glass (70% non-reflective) and Museum AR 90 glass (90% non-reflective). UV glass filters the light that causes fading, and the anti-reflective options suit rooms with strong light. UV filtering slows fading but does not stop it, so keep artwork out of direct sun.
Why does acid-free matter?
Wood-pulp board contains lignin, which breaks down into acids over time and causes yellowing and mat burn. Acid-free boards and tape avoid this, so the materials touching your artwork do not damage it.
Do you frame for galleries, artists and private collectors?
Yes. We frame for galleries, artists and private collectors across South Africa. Request a quote at sales@frameandart.co.za, call 021 447 1620, or visit our showroom in Woodstock, Cape Town.
How long does archival framing take?
Archival framing takes 7–10 working days.
Where are you and when are you open?
The Frame & Art Factory is at 297 Albert Road, Woodstock, Cape Town 7915. We are open Monday to Thursday 09:00–16:45 and Friday and Saturday 09:00–13:00, and closed on public holidays. Phone 021 447 1620.
