Conservation Covers

Archive for the ‘Conservation Pictures’ Category

Using mount board acid free products. Mounting your artwork will have an impact not only on the appearance of the piece, but also on the unblemished longevity of the artwork held within the frame. You have many choices of frame types including photography frames and wood frames, mat board , mounting and framing supplies, and they each have distinct advantages for their use in preserving your artwork and presenting it at its full artistic potential.

An appropriate frame will set off your artwork beautifully. Your choice of frame will likely depend on the type of artwork you are framing. Wood frames, including custom wood picture frames, can be used for fine art such as a painting. The color of mat board can also be used to complement or contrast the colors used in the painting. Photographic artwork, on the other hand, is typically enhanced with thin frames made of metal, so that photography frames do not compete with the photographs they contain.

The mat board and the mount board are other crucial components that you will want to consider when you are mounting your artwork. With regards to the mount board, mount board acid free are preferred when you wish to achieve archival mounting quality for your artwork. Acids can form based on a combination of pollutants, dirt and moisture, which can then come into contact with the artwork and cause discoloring, so it is imperative to prevent that from happening. Acid free products will help alleviate the problems associated with this type of art deterioration, so that your artwork will remain as long as possible in its original, clean form. Mats and mounting boards, as well as picture corners and mounting hinges all come in acid free forms, to preserve and protect your artwork.

The mat board will also help to separate the art from the glass or acrylic used as glazing, which is a benefit. If the glass touches the art, it can cause damage to the artwork. The air space helps prevent moisture buildup inside the frame due to temperature changes and changes in humidity levels. In addition, the mat helps add the room within the frame necessary for expansion and contraction of the art when it reacts to fluctuations in temperature and humidity.

Mounting your artwork effectively and safely is best accomplished through using framing products appropriate to your specific piece of art and archival benefits.

Nowadays, majority of the population have transitioned from the film or analog camera to the digital camera. Their main difference is the fact that the digital cameras capture and save the photographs on electronic data storage devices, or memory cards, like Secure Digital (SD) cards and Compact Flash (CF) cards. These digital cameras and memory cards could be connected to the computer to transfer the photographs. Most pictures are uploaded to the Internet, but for those who prefer to have tangible copies of their snapshots, digital photo printers are commercially available and easily purchased for home or office use.

A lot of models of digital photo printers also work without the need to be connected to a PC. With these models, you have to check whether your camera’s memory card is compatible with the media slot built into the printer. You can also look at your digital camera’s propriety cable, typically bundled with your camera, and see if it is connectable to the digital photo printer.

Digital photo printers use two main types of printing technology: dye sublimation and inkjet. Printers using dye sublimation use heat to vaporize and set the dye onto the photo paper’s glossy side; this dye penetrates the surface to produce the photograph. Inkjet printers, on the other hand, use tiny drops of ink to dot the sheet. The inkjet kind of printers is more popular because they are usually multifunctional, with the ability to scan, copy and print not only photographs but also text documents. For more specific photo printing needs, however, it is recommended to use dye sublimation printers because they are optimized for printing photographs with vivid and realistic colors.

Another thing to look for when you are on the hunt for the perfect digital photo printers is the ability to print in higher resolutions. Dye sublimation printers can print 300 dpi (dots per inch) resolution, and inkjet printers can print 1200 to 9600 dpi. Now, you would think that inkjet printers would print better pictures, but remember that the two types are different– a print using dye sublimation in 300 dpi would be the same quality as a 4800 dpi print using inkjet.

Aside from printing technology, you also may want to review other features available between choosing digital photo printers. If you want to be able to bring your printer to parties and reunions to share your photographs on the spot, portability is a very good feature; some printers could be battery-powered. A liquid crystal display (LCD) screen could also be useful for those who would like to edit photos without a camera– you could add timestamps or captions, crop images, remove red-eye, and other adjustments. The printer’s ability to print in multiple sizes is always a good feature; if you need a 6″ x 4″ or a wallet-sized photo, your printer can handle it for you. Since inkjet printers are more popular, the price of its inks and photo paper are usually less expensive. They also are more speedy in printing, if you need to print a large amount of photographs. All in all, there are a lot of choices for the discerning buyer of digital photo printers. Take time to review and assess what you need.

If you have lots of photos displayed in your house, chances are good that you don’t know how to properly care for your picture frames. Find out what you need to do to safeguard your pictures and keep your favorite framed photos looking great for years.

Creating Duplicates of Your Important Photos

One of the best things you can do to care for your pictures, is to make sure you have a way to create a high quality duplicate.With digital cameras, it’s easy to take and print photos whenever you want.But what about your old photos displayed on your walls or table tops?Do you know where you keep all of your negatives, slides or CDs stored in case you need to replicate them?

Those special one-of-a-kind photographs require high quality replication to help make sure that you never lose your photo memories. There are several ways to make copies of your old photos, but it is best to seek the help of a professional who will correctly replicate your photographs and ensure they are properly done.

Clean Your Picture Frames Often

Just like any other item in your home or office, picture frames get dirty and need to be dusted regularly.  The best way to do that is to place a thick towel on a flat surface and lay the picture frame face down on the towel. This will help to protect the frame and the glass from getting scratched.  Next, remove the backing and carefully take out the picture.

Once you have opened the back portion of the frame and removed the photo, simply lift the glass from the frame. Go ahead and clean the glass with a glass cleaner.  Remember, though, if it is acrylic, just use soap and water.  Paper towels can scratch the surface of acrylic, so it is better to use cloth towels.If you’re wanting to use conservation techniques and protect your photos , you should only clean the glass with a cloth as paper towels leave an acid residue behind on the glass.

The care of your frame largely depends upon the finish and material used to make the frame.  To clean a wood picture frame with a smooth lacquer finish use a dust cleaner or a water dampened cloth.  To prevent damage to your frame be sure before using any type of cleaner that your wood frame has a lacquered finish similar to a piece of furniture.And don’t forget to remove your photo from the frame before cleaning with a spray cleaner.

For unfinished frames with a raw or unprotected wood surface, be extra careful with these frames as they can be damaged by improper cleaning.  Unlike finished or lacquered wood frames with a protective finish, unfinished wood picture frames should only be dusted with a soft dry toothbrush or possibly a small vacuum.This method cleans your frame off without leaving pieces of paper towel or cloth stuck to your unfinished wood frame.Avoid using wood or dust cleaners on unfinished wood frames as they can discolor or stain the bare wood frame.

How to Care for Your Metal Picture Frames

Metal picture frames can be cleaned in several ways.  Use a slightly dampened towel moistened with water to clean aluminum or gold or silver colored frames.Wipe the frame carefully and then dry with a soft dry cloth to avoid leaving water spots.

If you have a precious metal frame, like a solid pewter photo frame, silver plated frame or sterling silver frame, you need to determine if it has a lacquered finish.  In most cases, if you’ve had the frame for a while and it hasn’t tarnished you can be pretty sure it’s a lacquered frame. A lacquer finished frame should only be cleaned with a water dampened cloth and gently dried with a dry, soft cloth towel.

If you have an old silver frame that’s tarnished, then you can be pretty sure that it doesn’t have any lacquer coating and should be cleaned with a quality silver cleaner.  Be sure to carefully read the cleaner instructions before applying. And, remember to always take out your picture before cleaning your frame so you don’t ruin your picture.

Anytime you use any cleaner, always test a small section of the bottom or back of the frame to make sure the cleaner works well with your metal frame.Once you’re done with cleaning your metal frame, wash you hands so you don’t transfer any cleaning residue onto your photo.Before putting back your picture, make sure the frame and glass are completely dry.If there is any moisture left on the glass, you run the risk of having your photo stick to the glass and be damaged.

As you can see, it’s easy to take care of your picture frames properly by following these simple steps. By consistently taking care of your photos and frames, your framed memories will always look their best.