Framing lithographs

[amb6883]

I suggest going to expressobeans.com for questions about framing, but a general rule when getting anything done to your print is to talk your framer and make sure that it is 100% reversible. If it is not (and even most "archival tapes" are not) do not l let them put it on your print. And for the love of god do not let them glue your print to the backing it will be fine with just the spacers and backing if you not using a mat.

[Dreamcazman]

Originally Posted by amb6883

I suggest going to expressobeans.com for questions about framing, but a general rule when getting anything done to your print is to talk your framer and make sure that it is 100% reversible. If it is not (and even most "archival tapes" are not) do not l let them put it on your print. And for the love of god do not let them glue your print to the backing it will be fine with just the spacers and backing if you not using a mat.

Thanks, I had a bit of a read on the expressobeans site and I'll be ringing my framer tomorrow to discuss different options.

I won't be using a mat because I don't think the Skyrim litho really needs it. If the print is not stuck to the backing board, won't it warp and flex between the backing board and the glass?

[amb6883]

I have framed quite a few of prints and never noticed any waves or bends on any of my prints that are printed on quality paper. The 100lb paper that Treehouse uses will be fine without dry mounting. I think that most framers do not deal with limited edition prints and are instead used to framing some kids finger paintings done on shit paper. Resale value is of little concern to them so they think dry mounting is necessary, but it makes the prints worthless.

[Dreamcazman]

So basically I can just get him to do everything else as normal just not stick the print to the board and all will be fine? He showed me the spacers that will be used, they looked like black squarish rods.

Forgive me, I'm still a bit of a noob when it comes to framing and you sound like you know what you're talking about.

[amb6883]

Originally Posted by Dreamcazman

So basically I can just get him to do everything else as normal just not stick the print to the board and all will be fine? He showed me the spacers that will be used, they looked like black squarish rods.

Forgive me, I'm still a bit of a noob when it comes to framing and you sound like you know what you're talking about.

Yes.

I buy acid free spacers from my local Michael's for around $2.50 for a three foot section. I have a few pieces I am framing w/o mats at the moment (while not video game art - mark englert's django and battle of blackwater).

[Dreamcazman]

Thanks again, just another question, instead of having the print 'float' in the frame, do you recommend using hinging tape or mounting corners or even some other way to keep the print in place?

I'm just concerned that due to it's size something might go awry.

[Dreamcazman]

I got everything sorted with the framer, he was very understanding.

I opted to get a thin mat around the image to assist in stabilisation and do away with the spacer bars and make the frame larger so very little of the actual image is covered. It won't cost me any extra and this way it can be totally reversible.

Thank you everyone for helping me with this to avoid getting my lithograph ruined.

[rasmusvn]

Originally Posted by Dreamcazman

I got everything sorted with the framer, he was very understanding.

I opted to get a thin mat around the image to assist in stabilisation and do away with the spacer bars and make the frame larger so very little of the actual image is covered. It won't cost me any extra and this way it can be totally reversible.

Thank you everyone for helping me with this to avoid getting my lithograph ruined.

Talking about ruining things...

I remember one particularly horrifying case where the framer decided to cut the white borders (incl. sig) off the lithographs.

http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/to...539/10#6996564

At any rate, I know that she cut off the signatures parts so that both images would have equal borders. It gives them a better visual representation when together, and doesn't require enormously large frames. Though, she could have asked me about my opinion before putting a knife in them.
http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/to...539/11#7080462

[Dreamcazman]

Got my lithograph back from the framer today. I'm amazed at the awesome job he did with it. Early birthday present to myself - I'm very happy.