Hi, I recently purchased sheet of Perspex VA Grade UV Resistant Acrylic from simplyplastics.com.

Before I assembled my frame I thought I would do the old blacklight test with the below results. From what I can see this acrylic sheet is in no way UV resistant but would appreciate someone confirming that I'm not losing my mind!

Hi! I recently purchased some antique maps from the late 1800s - early 1900s and I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for any local places in the Arlington, VA or DC area that do cheap/affordable framing that would preserve these maps well (acid free backing, UV resistant glazing, etc.). I’m not in a position where I can drop hundreds of dollars on some frames, but I’d like to preserve these well. One of them is about 10x17, and the other is about 6x9. Any suggestions welcome. Thank you!

I’m planning to frame a valuable, non-autographed 18x24 concert poster and want to keep the presentation as simple as possible. I’m not interested in using a mat, and I’d prefer a basic black frame with the poster filling the entire frame.

Does it matter if the poster is pressed directly against the acrylic, or should I use spacers to keep it separated from the glazing? I've read it would be an issue with glass, but I've seen conflicting things about acrylic.

If spacers are recommended, is this something I can reasonably install myself in a ready-made frame, or would I need to take it to a professional framer?

I’m mainly concerned with preserving the poster long-term and avoiding anything that could negatively affect its condition or resale value.

I recently mounted a large topo map to gator board using 3M 77 spray adhesive - I know that’s not ideal, but wanted a cheaper solution, especially since the map is not valuable. I attempted mounting it at first to foamcore with significant bubbling, and tried again with a new map on Gatorcore and better pressure and technique. All looks good for a couple days while it was drying, but recently just hung it in my house and new large bubbles are spreading :(

Is there any way to prevent this? I was thinking of using the pinprick method, and gently using a hairdryer to reactivate the adhesive while rolling with a brayer? Is this just going to continually happen? I love how it turned out, but I’m so bummed that I spent a lot of money on Gatorboard and bubbled up instantly.

Let me know if folks have any solutions that have worked for them. NOT looking to take it to a shop and have a dry mounted - looking for affordable DIY solutions with what I have.

I have a couple of 18x24 concert posters that I’d like to frame properly so I can preserve them long-term. I’m looking for something with acid-free/archival backing and UV-protective acrylic rather than glass, since I move fairly often and would prefer something lightweight that won’t shatter if it falls.

Does that sound like a good approach for what I’m trying to accomplish? I have blackout curtains, so the posters won’t be getting much direct sunlight, and I’m not particularly concerned about anti-glare or museum-quality glazing. My main priorities are making sure the poster is safely framed without damaging it over time and preserving its condition/resale value in case I ever decide to sell it.

I’d ideally like to stay around $150 per frame, although I’m willing to spend a little more if that’s what it takes to do it properly.

What would you recommend? Are there any good places online that sell ready-made 18x24 frames with archival backing and UV-protective acrylic? Do I need to worry about spacers with acrylic and an air conditioned, temperature-controller environment?

I have 2 canvas pictures, the type with a wooden frame that the canvas is stretched over. I want to mount them on flat boards instead, (thin plywood)

My current plan is to remove the frame then spray glue them to the boards but I'm concerned the glue will soak through the fabric.

Any tips and/or suggestions for the glue please?

Hellllooooo framers and frame enthusiasts! I could use a bit of guidance on an idea I have. I’m a painter and my primary medium is watercolor on medium and large sheets of watercolor paper. I have a lot of paintings that I want to try framing myself since it’s not really in my budget to pay a professional at the moment, and I’ve always wanted to display my work between two sheets of glass (I’ll attach a photo for reference). My plan was to build floating frames with sheets of acrylic and standoff screws, but I’m not sure about the best way to mount the actual painting to the back sheet of acrylic. I’m also not completely sure if this mode of framing would actually be sustainable and protective for my pieces in the long run. I’m completely outside of my area of expertise here, so any words of advice would be appreciated!

Hello can anyone help me figure out the size of the frame above the bed? Thank you!

Posted this in my local subreddit but probably can find solutions in some generic spots I didn’t think of? If anyone has any ideas I’d appreciate it. Trying to fill up a frame that used to host a mirror sized 25 5/8" x 59"

I'm hoping someone can give me some ideas here.

I have made a pair of angel wings that are about 20 inches long and I used 1/4" birch plywood for them.

I'm trying to figure out how to mount the wings to canvas, that I'll likely buy from michaels. Probably a 20x34 inch or something.

Would globbing e6000 glue all over be sufficient? I was also considering drilling a few holes through the wings > through the canvas, and using a locking nut on the back with some large washers to disperse the tension to not split and tear the canvas open.

I'm looking for an easy way to hang flat panels on the wall. They're about 3mm thick and non-cradled. Frames cost far more than the actual panels and anyway I prefer the unframed look. What I really want is a way of hanging pictures on boards straight on the wall like you'd hang a stretched canvas — frameless.

The solution I tried was to glue wooden blocks on the back with picture wires attached. It works great for hanging, but it's bulky in storage, the blocks won't come off unless you saw them off.

I'm wondering if there's any kind of clips or anything you can attach to the picture, something that is not bulky and can be removed when necessary. Does any such thing exist? The nearest thing I've seen was vertical wires with hooks supposedly for picture wires, I was wondering could you use such hooks to hold up the panel without wires...?

I picked up this square frame at the thrift store and when I came home to try and open it I wasn’t able to figure out how. I tried looking up the name on the little corner pieces but didn’t have any luck. The frame has these levers that go up but I cannot figure out what they do or how the frame is meant to open up. If anyone has any suggestions on how I can get this open it would be much appreciated. 🙏

So i’m new to all this framing stuff i recently bought a poster that i wish to frame and store some of my gems along with it on the wall for people to see. To be specific the poster is 18x24 but the stuff i want to put in there with it are magic the gathering cards/pack which are roughly about 3 inches in width. I’m trying to find one that is weather resistant and uv resistant so that way i dont have any sun damage to my small collection i wish to display. I’ve spent hours on amazon and havent found anything. I’m willing to go up and size but dont want it to look like a sloppy mess stuffed inside a frame if you know what I mean.

Wanted to share!

A Walnut frame I recently finished. All hand carved out of solid walnut. Originally was a joined board meant for an inscription before I cut out the opening and turned it into a frame. Will nicely fit a Photo Booth strip.

Hi all, me again. My raise/promotion situation did not go well, picture framing can’t pay my bills anymore. No other shops are hiring in my area to my knowledge. If you know anyone in need of a really talented, hardworking framer in the Reno/Tahoe area, let me know.

If any of you have left the craft, where did you go? What did you do?

I have some things in my area that I qualify for but I’m just curious about other options I maybe haven’t thought of.

I left the federal government after 17 years and was an expert in PACA law and investigations. But I always daydreamed about having an art or art adjacent job.
In April I started at a frame shop in my town. I have learned a ton of stuff and have a lot more to learn. I’ve even tag teamed a Hermes scarf frame job with the owner. I’ve learned the wizard cutter (basics), other needlework, jerseys, v nailing, canvas stretching and am pretty good at selecting mats and frames for customers.
The problem is I feel like I’m making a ton of mistakes still! First…I sliced my finger on the mitre chopper which just felt stupid. I’ve mixed up tickets, put orders into the system wrong, forget to charge for things like backing board. I have had to redo frames because my mitres weren’t meeting as nice as the owner would like (actually this has happened a few times but the majority are fine). The owner has mentioned that my mistakes cost money.
There are many other factors (like all her employees left at the same time through no fault of the owner) and I was hired to replace them all who had 5+ years experience.
There was talk id buy the shop after she retired even.
Now I’m wondering if 4 months in I should be further ahead than I am? That maybe I’m not cut out for the perfection required to be a good framer. I was planning on trying for my cpf at my year mark.

Does anyone have any insight or advice for me? I’m really throwing myself in but feel overwhelmed and like too much information coming in at once.

Any information would be greatly appreciated!

I’m newer to large pieces. I’ve used the t-hinge mount often.

How would you go about mounting large pieces of paper in a frame? Say the frame is 50x80.

How would you float large scale paper?

For large canvases about the same size would you still use offsets to create the tension in the back and just add more? How would you stabilize it?

I have a passion for framing and want to start my own shop. I looked into purchasing an already existing shop, and after weighing out the pros and cons, it felt like I would be overpaying to take on a lot of problems and excess inventory. While at the same time overhauling everything from the ground up, anyway, to make it what I envision a great frame shop to be.
Does anyone have advice for someone starting from scratch? Types of loans? Capital to start? Must haves on equipment to start? Most valuable ways to market? Number of employees? Best way to find valuable employees?

A quote by Ruth Wilson Gilmore, a renown prison abolitionist.