# Art Photo framing for dummies: tell me like I'm 4 **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 2, 2008, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/art-photo-framing-for-dummies-tell-me-like-im-4/455092 "2008-07-02T20:13:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2008, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/art-photo-framing-for-dummies-tell-me-like-im-4/455092/1 "2008-07-02T20:13:16Z")
I just paid, what is to me anyway, a good bit of money for a b/w photo of an old dilapidated house- can’t explain why, I just love this pic. Because I spent a good deal of money for it, I’d like to frame it effectively (protection plus display) but also as inexpensively as possible for quality framing (preferably in such a way that I can display it for now but when I get more money have it professionally mounted but without it being damaged in the meantime). So, I know a few of the basics- get a mat (not just to frame the picture but to keep it out of contact with the glass) and some hinges. Is there any advice from Dopers who have framed art prints before that I should be aware of before giving it a go? (The pic is 11 x 14 and I’m probably going to go with a 16 x 20 mat frame.) How much of the photo should I count on “losing” [i.e. not being visible] due to the hinges and matting? Thanks for any advice, J PS- I also bought a much less expensive color photo, but one I’d still like to frame. Are there any different rules for color v b/w framing? ---
**Author:** ![ticker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2008, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/art-photo-framing-for-dummies-tell-me-like-im-4/455092/2 "2008-07-02T21:07:05Z")
Make sure that the mat and any backing & hinges you get are conservation or even museum grade. This means that it will be free from acid and other nasties which would, over time, cause deterioration in the image. This will be a little more expensive but for a one off really not that bad. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2008, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/art-photo-framing-for-dummies-tell-me-like-im-4/455092/3 "2008-07-02T21:13:20Z")
Paging \*\*Audrey Levins \*\* . . . ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2008, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/art-photo-framing-for-dummies-tell-me-like-im-4/455092/4 "2008-07-02T21:41:32Z")
[QUOTE=Sampiro] …So, I know a few of the basics- get a mat (not just to frame the picture but to keep it out of contact with the glass) and some hinges. Is there any advice from Dopers who have framed art prints before that I should be aware of before giving it a go? (The pic is 11 x 14 and I’m probably going to go with a 16 x 20 mat frame.) How much of the photo should I count on “losing” [i.e. not being visible] due to the hinges and matting? Thanks for any advice, J PS- I also bought a much less expensive color photo, but one I’d still like to frame. Are there any different rules for color v b/w framing? [/QUOTE] I am a former picture framer. As **ticker** said, get archival matting and backing. Don’t accept “buffered,” this is not good enough. Spring for a professionally-cut mat made of Alpharag by Nielsen Bainbridge or use one of their Artcare frames. They look pretty slick and are fully archival. Is the picture printed to the edge of the photo paper? If it is, count on losing 1/8" to 1/4" from the edges. If you get a pre-dut mat with an inside dimension of 11x14 to fit into a 16x20 frame, the actual opening will usually be 10 3/4" x 13 3/4" (sometimes 5/8"). Generally people stick to monochromatic schemes for B&W photos. With color photos you can select a double mat color combo that brings out the tones in the picture that you like. A good picture framer can help with this. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/art-photo-framing-for-dummies-tell-me-like-im-4/455092/5 "2008-07-03T01:45:45Z")
[QUOTE=garygnu] I am a former picture framer. As **ticker** said, get archival matting and backing. Don’t accept “buffered,” this is not good enough. Spring for a professionally-cut mat made of Alpharag by Nielsen Bainbridge or use one of their Artcare frames. They look pretty slick and are fully archival. [/QUOTE] Thanks. Are these brands/terms that a chain framing shop (e.g. Michaels, Hobby Lobby) usually stock or that their staff would likely be familiar with? ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/art-photo-framing-for-dummies-tell-me-like-im-4/455092/6 "2008-07-03T02:27:12Z")
Not sure what you mean by hinges, but whatever you use as adhesive should also be acid-free. There’s a specific cloth tape that can be used for this. A whole box of it is like $12, but Hobby Lobby might sell you a couple of inches’ worth. They _ought_ to have museum rag mattboard (you can tell on sight, the edges are white all the way through) but probably doesn’t stock a lot of it. But you live in a college, town, right? A framer will probably cut a mat for you and tape it, for just a few bucks. You can buy the frame separately, if you like something off the rack. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/art-photo-framing-for-dummies-tell-me-like-im-4/455092/7 "2008-07-03T16:30:11Z")
[QUOTE=Sampiro] Thanks. Are these brands/terms that a chain framing shop (e.g. Michaels, Hobby Lobby) usually stock or that their staff would likely be familiar with? [/QUOTE] I’m not sure. Nielsen Bainbridge is a rather well-know company, but I can’t tell from their website if Michael’s carries that line of frames, and Nielsen’s distributor search isn’t up yet. ([This line](http://nielsen-bainbridge.com/Readymades/metal_photo.html) is what I’m suggesting.) You may have to go low tech and call around.