5/4/2009 10:54 AM
Art can deteriorate in a few years if it isn't protected properly. With conservation quality framing at Art Source your art or cherished keepsake can last a lifetime! Harmful UV light rays can cause colours to fade. See below an image that has faded from exposure to UV light. This peice of art was brought to Art Source to replace the frame. The old frame had regular glass that did not protect the art from UV light. You can see the difference where the mat was blocking the UV light and the image remained unfaded.
above left: detail of art in original framing without UV protective glass.
above right: detail of art damaged by UV light.
below: art damaged by UV light.
We have a variety of UV blocking conservation quality glass options, essentially sunscreen for your art:
- Conservation clear : Blocks UV
- Conservation Reflection Control: Non-Glare, Single Sided Etch, Blocks UV
- Conservation Perfect Value : Low Reflection, High Brightness and Contrast Levels, Blocks UV
- Museum Glass: Anti-Reflection, Maximum Clarity, Non-Laminated, Ultimate UV Protection
We can also texturize prints with a UV blocking acrylic layer and eliminate the need for glass.
above: Art Framed by Art Source with UV protecting glass.
Our mats, tape and backings at Art Source are all acid-free. Older mats are typically acidic, because acid-free paper was not widely available or marketed until recent years; however, not all newer mats are acid-free. The difference is important for the protection of the piece in most cases; acidic mats can cause what is called mat burn (seen below), brown marks that creep from the outside in on the displayed piece itself. Even if the paper the art is on is acid free it can leech acid from the matting and brown over time. To determine the pH of an older mat with a white core, look to see if the core (visible where the mat has already been cut) has turned brownish or yellowed; if so, it is acidic and the matt should be replaced to protect the art. If you are unsure, bring the piece to Art Source and we can help you.
above left: art matted with regular mats. note the yellowed core seen on the inner edge of the matts and how the paper has also yellowed near ths edge.
above right: detail of mat burn on the art.
Most frames use regular acidic cardboard as backing which can cause the entire paper to yellow or brown similar to mat burn. In the image below the white mat no longer matches the colour of the paper. At art source we use foam core as a backing which is non-acidic. We assure that all materials that touch the art are acid free: the mat, the backing and the tape.
above left: art in its original frame discoloured from acid in the cardboard backing and matt. The paper is no longer white to match its white mat.
above left: detail of discoloured art
below: discoloured art.
below: Art Framed by Art Source with acid-free matting backing and tape.
Copyright ©2009 Victoria Fenninger
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