Allan Jeffries Custom Framing




	How much will it cost?
	We have a huge selection and can work with almost any budget. We will make your art beautiful within whatever range you are comfortable.

	What does a mat do?
	A mat serves two functions. First, it is a decorative element that provides a visual space between the art and the frame. This can be especially helpful when you have a carved frame that might look too busy if it were placed immediately next to the art. A mat also helps to keep the finished piece from feeling crowded. Second, the mat creates air space between the art and glass. In most cases you don’t ever want glass directly against your art because it can condense moisture and damage your art. (Using plexiglass can get around this difficulty.)

	What is floating? When should I use it?
	Floating a piece means to place the piece of art on top of a solid board without cutting a window (opening) for it. This is a great effect if your piece has a deckled or torn edge that you want to show off or if important bits of the image are right at the edge of the paper. Pieces done this way often include a spacer or shadowboxing to create air space between the art and glass. We can also raise the art off the backing to create a little extra shadow. This is called a pedestal. A glass float is when two pieces of glass (plexi recommended) are cut larger than the art and the glass is used like a mat. Keep in mind that the color of your wall will now directly affect the way the art looks.

	How wide should the mat be?
	That depends on the size of the frame relative to the size of the art. There is not a single answer or formula for this but there are a few guidelines. In most cases you don’t want the mat and the frame to be the same width. In a finished piece this can cause a striping effect that draws the eye away from the picture. Also, it is often the case that a narrow frame will look better with a wide mat and a wide frame will look better with a narrow mat. But none of this is set in stone and each piece presents different considerations and different possible solutions. Please note that the guidelines for mat width do not apply to the spacing for floated pieces.

	Are your materials archival/acid free?
	Yes. Less expensive options are available but in situations where you want the art to look great for a long time we recommend archival materials.

	Should all of my frames match?
	Unless you have a designer house and all of your art fits the same mold I would probably recommend some variety in your framing. Some people do all black frames but the style may vary depending on the art. The problem with this might come when you have a piece that doesn’t look good in a black frame. Keep in mind that you can have consistency without having an exact match.

	I’m creating a wall of family pictures. Can you help me with that?
	Of course. Here is where a little planning can go a long way. To keep a wall from looking too frantic it’s a good idea to choose two compatible tones to put all of the pictures in. Some good combinations are black/silver, mahogany/gold, black/gold or walnut/gold. Within these combinations you might determine whether you want to stay with a modern or traditional feel. This can also translate into older pictures having vintage frames and more recent pictures having modern frames.

	Should the frame be simple or ornate?
	That depends a great deal on your taste and the style of the art. The best thing to do when you come in is to keep an open mind. The goal is to do what’s best for the art and we will show you a lot of options to help accomplish that.

	Do I have to use glass?
	If your artwork is on paper, then yes, you need glass or plexi to keep bugs and other damaging elements away from it. Art on canvas or wood are usually framed with nothing over them.

	What’s the difference between glass and plexi? What about UV protection?
	Glass is familiar, cheaper and can be cleaned with almost anything. It also has a slight olive tint and if it breaks you usually end up with damaged art. Plexiglass has almost no color tint, is lighter, has about 85% uv protection and is very difficult to break. It needs to be cleaned with a soft cloth and non-ammonia cleaner and should not be used on pastel or charcoal drawings without significant spacing. Both glass and plexi are available with 98% uv protection. This version of both adds a slight yellowish tint.

	Is this worth framing?
	If you like it, it’s worth framing.

	Can you give me a quote?
	Yes, but try to give us as much information as possible. Glass or plexi? Wood or metal frame? Matted or not? Precious and archival or cheap and easy? Size? Budget? etc. You get the idea.