Do make sure to use conservation materials
Whether it's an acid free mount board or a low level art glass, it is a false economy when commissioning a frame to avoid this, in a matter of just a few years sunlight can bleach an artwork or photograph, and acidity in cheaper mounts can burn and discolour items in similar time too.
Do consider the colour palette of where your picture will be hanging before visiting your framer
To my eye it is always more fun to frame around the artwork colour and style, however in many spaces or homes it can make your choices simpler and ensure a sense of synergy between the artwork and the tones elsewhere in a space. Framers who hand finish frames can pick out exact wood stains and waxes that will match, say, the woodwork or the floor.
Do set a clear budget
If you have budgetary constraints, bring this up at the very beginning of your framing consultation. No framer is looking to price gauge you, there are various levels of prices when comes to all materials, so at very least you can prioritise which element is most important to you, and compromise on the others.
Do opt for something with a bit of character, even if it is discreet
If you want a very simple frame, such as a flat profile frame in black, the best option is an Ash moulding stained and waxed in very dark brown or black. The grain of the Ash is a simple touch that really adds aesthetic value, whereas a standard factory finish black looks like an IKEA frame.
Do keep in mind standardised material sizes
Anything above 110 x 80 centimetres becomes a ‘jumbo’ size for both glass and mount board – above this size there are fewer mount colours to choose from, and glass prices will take a jump upwards. This isn’t a problem framing canvases as wood moulding can be up to three metres long or more.
Do opt for the paper to be dry mounted when framing large photography
What this means is that the paper is kept stiff and flat, and won’t loosen or buckle in time. There are various grades to which this can be done, so consult with your framer. Don't forget that framers without in-house facilities to do this can outsource it for you too.
Do remember that all framers can make mirrors too
Keep this in mind when bringing together your interiors projects, you can get a mirror made to your precise sizing and style.
Don't ever leave your art in a storage tube
It may seem like it is being safely stored, however any artwork, poster or photograph kept in a tube for longer than three weeks is at risk. It takes less than a month for the the paper to be damaged under tension as a result of the tight diameter of the tube. Not only will the paper need to be pressed flatly for many weeks, but ink and paper will chip and scar.
Do avoid colourful mounts
They will clash with your other artworks, and quite simply you will get bored of the colour choice. I have lost count of many times clients chose to ignore my advice and then returned under three months later to change to a more classic tone. Having said this, with children’s artwork and curios colourful mounts can be fun.
Don’t ask a framer to make a frame in a style they don’t offer
Look into what styles framers offer, as many lean either traditional or contemporary, and will be a specialist in what they offer. Asking a contemporary framer like myself to fix chipped and regild an old frame is a waste of both our time, when there are established antique framers which those tasks are their bread and butter. Keep in mind a task like that may cost an eye watering amount.
Don't ask a framer to repaint an existing frame of yours
In some cases it can be done, but the issue is that most frame mouldings have a factory finish or have been hand finished with coats of wax, which will reject extra coats, so the entire process is cheaper and easier to start from scratch.
Do choose a framer based on their speciality
Mounting textiles and sports jerseys is a specialist task that not all framers have the training or expertise to do. In particular with sports jerseys, there are many firms who specialise in just this, and you can opt to just get it mounted and then framed elsewhere if there moulding choices aren’t to your taste.
Don't assume that any framing moulding will work for your art
A high number of designs aren’t deep enough to house canvases, and using a moulding which is not deep enough means it will float away from the wall and look incomplete. Framers who hand finish are able to cheat this for you by added an additional wooden backing, which can be filled and sanded, so when finished will seamlessly blend - but this is not the case for the majority of framers who use factory finished mouldings.
