A Step by Step Guide to the Picture Framing Process
Have you ever wondered what goes into custom picture framing that makes it so different? Or wondered what goes on after you hand over your precious items to our team? We want to take the mystery out of the process, explaining how we work with you, and as a team, to create the perfect frame for you and your artwork every single time.
Step 1: Consultation
The consultation process is hands down the most important part of what we do. When you come in store, treasure in hand, we go through a very specific step by step process to ensure we cover all the bases. We want you to rest assured knowing exactly how we are going to proceed, and have had all the options presented to you, so it comes back to both visually and functionally perfect for you and your home. If you have any questions for us, please ask at any point during this time. We love to talk about what we do, so we’re more than happy to explain exactly what will go into putting the whole thing together behind the scenes with specific explanations for you piece.
Step 2: Preparation
After you leave the shop, the first thing we do is put your piece somewhere safe, either in a folder, a box, or a tube, all with a layer of tissue paper to protect it. We then spend some time writing down notes on our worksheet to ensure everything we discussed goes with the job through the different departments in the building. Every possible thing that the team need to do needs to be specified, in great detail, so we don’t forget a thing and everyone is on the same page.
We will then check on the stock to see whether we have to order in what we chose, or whether we have it on hand already. Ordering stock can take up to a week to arrive from the suppliers.
It will then go into a set of steel print drawers, or our storeroom if it’s too big, to await heading into Set-Up.
Step 3: Set-Up
Set-Up is the beginning of the process of actually getting your work into its frame. This is where we mount it to a mat board, stitch it in place, stick it down or measure it precisely if we are just framing it to the edge (every millimetre counts in our world).
If you have framed something before, you know how many different options there are when it comes to setting up the artwork with such visual variation, and that there are many subtle differences from piece to piece to account for. If you want to learn more, we wrote an article about the main mounting methods that you can check out HERE which will go into more detail for prints, paintings and photographs.
After the work has been set up, it goes back into a folder and is placed in a different rack, this time out the back of the building, to await its frame. The worksheet gets updated with the exact final outside measurement, mat included, and goes to the joining team to have its frame made.
Step 4: Joining the frame
The joining team take the worksheet they have been given, go through the rack of stock allocated to customers and then cut and join the frame. They thoroughly check the lengths to ensure they are in perfect condition (sometimes they come to us from the supplier with uneven paint, dents or scratches as some finishes are more delicate than others) and cut the lengths to fit the final dimensions of the piece.
Once all the lengths are cut, they are joined using a device called an underpinner, which fires pins into the back with specific placement for each moulding type to ensure it is as strong as possible. This is combined with a tiny bit of glue just to help keep the pieces nice and snug. Unlike the traditional method of firing pins through the side to join them, this hides all the joining.
Once joined, the frame goes to hang on a specially designed rack in the finishing space. It will sit here for at least a few hours, but ideally a day or so, to ensure the glue sets properly. They are now ready to be put together!
Step 5: Putting it all together
The final and sometimes hardest stage is putting your artwork into its new home
We start by taking the worksheet that has followed your work through the whole process to check the details for the final stage. Things like glass type, variations on the standard hanging system, and whether any spacers are required are all important to know before going in.
We then cut a perfectly sized sheet of the correct type of glass, and prep with spacers if needed to separate the work from the glass. We then place the artwork in the frame, ensuring there is no dust whatsoever in there, a sometimes lengthy process. Once we are sure there are no offending bits of dust in there, we put in the pins to keep it all in place, tape up the back so no dust gets back in, and add the hanging system to the back.
We then add stickers to the back - one with our logo on it and the year the piece was framed, so you know how long it’s been, and one to indicate the type of glass used. Anything other than standard clear glass, or traditional non reflective glass requires a sticker on the back. This is important to 1. Note whether you have UV filtering glass, so you can rest easy your artwork is protected, or 2. Note whether it is a clarity glass (Museum Glass or UV70) or acrylic, as they have strict cleaning and maintenance instructions.
The piece then gets wrapped up and added to the collection racks, and we get in touch to let you know it’s ready to be collected.
Step 6: Collection
When you come to collect your work, we will always show you your new frame. It’s our favourite part!
We want to make sure you’re happy, as well as slightly selfishly see it finished for ourselves. As you can imagine with all the different departments and team members, the consultation team don’t always see how it looks until we open it up to show you!
But best of all, seeing our customers faces light up when they see the vision come to life makes our day.
We will always offer you quality brass hooks, giving you the perfect combination for the size and weight of your frame, so you can race home and immediately get it on the wall.
Send us a picture when you do! We love seeing them in your home more than we do seeing them completed. They truly come to life once they are on the wall. You can tag us on Instagram (@elframonz) or email us directly.
So that is the step by step process your artwork goes through to come back to you in its new frame! It truly is a team effort, and we are very lucky to have so many talented people who help make sure you’re as happy as we are with the final result.
Want to know more about the process or have any other questions for us?
CLICK HERE to fill out the contact form and we’ll get back to you!