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Today the skilled art installers on our team are going to talk to you a little bit about the different framing techniques that art lovers can choose from when framing their prized pieces.

Our Art Installers Explain Different Art Framing Techniques

When it comes to art installation, there is no doubt that a good framing job can mean the difference between shabby and chic. That’s why today our installers are going to share some of the framing options that are available to you.

The Gallery Frame

We get more clients asking about the gallery frame than anything else, so, what is a gallery frame, and what is it best used for?

The gallery frame is the type of picture frame that you often find displayed in art galleries or museums (most frequently on photographic pieces.) Gallery framing uses a professional matte around an art piece and within the frame to create more dimension in the final art piece so that it has a frame within a frame appearance. One of the best things about this style of framing is that it can be used for single pieces of focus as well as for groupings of art.

The Floating Frame

The floating frame is a framing method that makes it look as though art pieces are floating on the wall. These frames are clear and they trap the art piece between the two clear sheets of what is usually acrylic or sometimes glass. While these frames are available with and without UV protection, we always advise purchasing a frame with UV protection to keep your art pieces in the best condition.

We don’t advise using many floating frames in one display, we recommend using this framing option for that special single focal piece.

The Modern Frame

The modern picture frame is a frame that is thinner in profile and that has a more minimalistic appearance. This frame option usually has a single clean matte. This is a good framing option for art displays with multiple pieces particularly because you can mix and match colors of frames for a unique appearance.

While you can purchase modern frames that are pre-matted if your art pieces are a common size – this is a good way to save money when you have many pieces to frame for one display. That said, if you can afford it, a custom frame is almost always going to be the best option for special or unique art pieces.

Canvas Prints

Canvas prints offer an affordable way to display art and can be hung as is or they can be framed to prevent UV exposure or dust gathering. If you do have a canvas piece, we always recommend having it framed to prevent degradation of the art piece. Framed canvas prints are best when used for a single framed piece or for evenly spaced, similarly-sized canvas pieces.

Deep Set Frames

Deep-set frames are exactly what they sound like – deep picture frames that give more dimension to art pieces. These frames include mattes and often include multiple mattes or single deep mattes as opposed to shallow mattes. One of our favorite ways to use these types of frames is to mix and match them with shallow matted frames to create various dimensions to your display area.

Tabletop Frames

Tabletop frames are a frame type that almost everyone is familiar with. These frames can be shallow or deep and have a matte (single or multiple) along with an easel type stand attached to the back of the frame. These frames are usually limited to use for small pictures, but they do come in a great variety of styles and colors so if you’re looking for a more eclectic look, this is a great way to achieve it. One of the things that we do dislike about these frames, however, is that they have a tendency to fall over if you have a rather active household – for example, if you have young children or pets or if you live in an earthquake zone.

Keep in mind that here at Gulf Coast Installations we do not offer professional framing services, our job is to take your professionally frame pieces and to help you to display them in the best way possible.

Are You Looking For Both Professional and Experienced Art Installers?

If you live in Southwestern Florida and are looking for someone to help with your art installation, just call our team here at Gulf Coast Installation at 239-682-1077!