Designing the Custom Framing Package

Now that you understand all the parts of custom framing, it's time to actually design your framing package.

Choosing your Matting

The first step any custom framer will suggest is choosing your matting. Matting can drastically affect the way your piece looks.

The most important part in choosing the matting is quality. A paper mat may look wonderful with your piece, but can be harmful to the piece. Acid free, lignin free mats are the absolute minimum quality you should consider for your piece. They are not available in as wide a color variety as the paper mats. However, they will last longer and be safer than paper mats.

After checking on the quality of the mats, you need to decide on color. Color in custom framing is used to bring out details in the piece that may otherwise be ignored. Try to look past the main colors in the piece when choosing matting. Pay attention to the accent colors. For example, in a watercolor painting of a house surrounded by trees, it would be best to pay attention to the color of the door rather than the house or trees. Matting, when used correctly, will enhance the look of your piece.

The next consideration is how many mats to use in the design. Many custom framers will automatically set up triple mats - three stacked mats - when you bring in a piece. Sometimes that is a great choice, but it needs to look right to you. Multiple mats help add importance to a custom framing piece and allow for more details to be brought out. Multiple mats could be used to help match a unique piece to your home decor. The right mats could make a modern abstract painting fit in well with a Victorian styled bedroom.

When designing multiple mats, make sure the colors flow together without being too similar. A cream mat may look great up against a light yellow mat on the counter, but the two colors will be indistinguishable from a few feet away. Try to vary color choices and shades to avoid this problem in custom framing.

The final matting consideration is the width of the matting. A wide mat will make a piece seem more important. Many equal sized mats will end up looking like stripes on a larger mat. Vary the width of each mat to make sure it stands out and balances the piece. Matting doesn't have to be the same size all the way around. Consider showing more matting on the bottom to balance the custom framing job.

Choosing your Molding

There is no shortage of molding choices in custom framing. Everything from glossy colored metal to distressed whitewashed wood is a possibility. When you have a matting combination you think works, experiment with molding choices.

The custom framer you work with will probably have a good idea of what matches the piece and matting. Don't be afraid to ask for suggestions if you get lost trying to find just the right molding. The molding wall can be overwhelming and a good custom framer will know exactly what is available in the shop. If you do know exactly what you want, don't be afraid to say it. In the end, you have to live with the framed piece, not the custom framing employee.

Try to balance the size of the piece with the width and thickness of the frame. A large piece requires a larger frame. A thin one inch metal border can look foolish on a large map. Conversely, a four inch thick, three inch deep ornate gold frame can completely overwhelm a small family photo.

The final consideration with molding is the option of stacking frames. Any frame shop should be able to layer molding for a truly custom, one of a kind frame job. As long as the frame has enough space under the inside edge, it can grab onto another frame.

Choosing your Glazing

The last thing to consider is the type of glazing you will use. For oversize pieces, it's probably a good idea to consider acrylic. The same applies to custom framing for a children's room or high traffic area. A colorful, bold piece going in a well-lit area can handle a non-glare glass without losing too much detail. Likewise, any piece not going in direct sunlight can use clear glass, but there still will be glare from overhead lights. The optimum choice for most jobs is museum or masterpiece glass. It is very clear and has non-glare properties. Most frame shops will have samples set up to demonstrate the different glazing materials they stock. Use this tool to your advantage to see how a piece looks with the various types of glazing.

Conclusion

The designing portion of custom framing can be the most time consuming. In the end, it is worth it to truly do justice to your piece. By requesting high quality materials, you can work with the frame shop employee to pick just the right parts for your custom framing package. Matting, molding, and glazing are just the most basic choices. There is a wide variety of specialized services that can add even more dimension to your piece.