Acid Free Acid free framing materials are pH neutral and will not emit harmful chemicals that may damage your artwork over time.

Acrylic Often referred to as plexi-glass.   It is a clear, acid-free and unbreakable (hard to break) alternative to glass when used as glazing.  There are four grades acrylic available, Standard, UV, Non-Glare and UV-Non-Glare.

Backing Board This usually a foam core board, cardboard or another type of ridged sheet goods that creates the a solid back to the frame stack holding it in place.

Bevel Cut A 45-degree angle cut at the inside edge of a mat board window.

Conservation Framing This framing practice uses only completely acid-free and UV materials, creating a safe environment for art to last over time.

Custom Framing is defined as a complete framing project (turn-key).  Using your input and design ideas, the project will be completed according to your instructions and returned ready to hang.    

Dust Cover Kraft paper (heavy brown paper) backing which is adhered (using double sided tape) to the back of a frame protecting artwork from dust and small mites over time.

Float Matting and Framing  Frames design gives the viewer a visual sense of the art floating inside the frame or over the mat board.  

Frame Bottom Width The measurement at the bottom of a frame from the rabbet to the outside edge of the frame

Frame Rabbet The inner channel of the frame (see example in the framing section) which holds the art and all additional materials including acrylic glazing, spacer, mat board and backing board.

Frame Stack The frame stack is a combination of all the individual items planned to be used to support the artwork being framed.  It usually consists of glazing, spacers (see spacers), artwork, mat board and backing board.  The rabbet (see rabbet) must be deep enough to include the thickness of all these items combined.

Frame Top Width The measurement from the front of the rabbet directly across the width of the frame to the outer most edge (see figure 3 in the Frame diagram above).

Frame Total Height The distance from the top of the frame, including any elevation in the design to the bottom of the frame measured through the frame’s center line (figure 2 in the Frame diagram above)

Framed Content The object(s) to be framed

Glazing  An Industry term to describe the clear cover over artwork such as glass or acrylic (sometimes called plexi-glass) used to protect the art.  See Acrylic.

Joinery The work done by a person attaching (joining) various structural pieces together  

Joint an area at which two ends, surfaces, or edges are attached

Mat Board  A multi-ply heavy paper product which serves as a border or design element to visually transition the eye from the frame to the art. Mat boards also functionally separate the glazing from the art to allow air to circulate within the frame.

Overlap The measurement by which a mat board overlaps the art or a frame overlaps the glazing to keep the frame stack in place and stable. 

Profile A cross-section illustration of a design (frame) that gives you a visual understanding of the frames shape.

Spacer  A spacer is a neutral pH strip usually fit directly under the glazing designed to create an air-pocket or space between glazing and artwork.  It also functions to visually add depth between the glazing and artwork

Stretched Canvas Floater Frame a frame that attaches to the back of the canvas stretcher and makes the canvas appear to “float” within the frame

Transfer Tape   Acid free double-sided professional quality framer’s tape

Wall Ready: The art is ready for presentation

Window A bevel cut opening in the mat board that overlays the art with approximately a 1/8-inch overlap around the entire artwork.  Windows traditionally are centered in the frame but they can be positioned anyplace within  the frame to offer different visual presentations. 

Email: boforehand@roadrunner.com

Phone: 704-661-5744