I'm often asked by busy customers how to look after their prints once they've bought them.
Prints are a great way to enjoy art for not a lot of money, and cared for properly a print will look just as good decades down the line as it does today.
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| See these border collie prints here |
This doesn't mean that you can mistreat your print any more than you could before, but it does mean that given good conditions it will last longer.
There are four main enemies out there, dust and rogue particles, light, moisture and bad chemicals, and of course the aim is to avoid these.
Care should involve:
- Protecting behind glass.
- Avoiding direct sunlight.
- Not keeping your print in the kitchen or bathroom or any other steamy atmosphere.
- Ensuring the surfaces that are in direct contact with your print are acid free. Most modern framing materials will be. Check recycled frames. Old hardboard can be a problem.
Mary Kemp.
Ginger and White Cat with Lilac
There are many off the shelf frames out there in all different sizes and styles and I for one often use them. They are cheap and you can usually find something to suit your requirements. Ikea, DIY stores, Wilco, John Lewis all have great ranges
It's a good idea to have a mount round your print. This serves to keep it from directly resting on the glass. Attach the print to the top back surface of the mount so the print hangs behind the mount, anchoring only the top edge. This way the print won't crinkle as it accommodates changes in moisture and temperature in the atmosphere.
The tape you use is important. Don't use sellotape. Framer's tape or even masking tape are better.
Next put the mount in the frame, cleaning the glass well, and seal the back of the frame, with tape so nothing can get in. You'd be surprised how dust and tiny thunder flies can penetrate.
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| Escape from the Crowds Available here |
So it's all ready to hang.
Remember the cord on the back, strong nylon cord, tied with a proper knot.
One of the most embarrassing things that happened in our house was a picture falling off the wall in the middle of the night. It hit the burglar alarm box, setting off the alarm and waking up the whole street. We were not popular! It was a lesson painfully learned.
If the diy option is not for you visit a local picture framer. It might not be as cheap but this is the bespoke option, and you will be guided through your choices by an expert.
So diy or bespoke I hope I've given you a few tips about how to care for your prints.
The prints in this article can be found in my Etsy shops, MaryKempStudio and Mary Kemp Art .
