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How to: Store Framed Photographs

Framing and displaying a work of art, be it a painting or a particularly striking photograph, provides an undeniable aesthetic benefit when used to decorate nearly any room within a home. That said, it can sometimes be necessary to store such a work for various reasons. These could include renovation efforts that require bare walls, an upcoming move, rearranging one's interior decor and plenty of other purposes.

Going about this task isn't as simple as taking the framed work down from its hooks on the wall and tossing it haphazardly in any available closet or other space. It's essential to execute this seemingly basic move with care and delicacy - and more than a little help from the most appropriate archival methods and archival products for the situation.

Pick your storage area
In the interest of proper preservation, any place in a home or residence that has any exposure to moisture, humidity, excessive sunlight or heat is an absolute no-go when storing any framed work of art. This means no basements, attics or rooms receiving any significant amount of natural light. In the same vein, make sure that the temperature is consistently below 70 degrees Fahrenheit (and no lower than 50), with a relative humidity of 50 to 55 percent.

Protect the frames
The glass of most frames is, by its nature, somewhat fragile. While the specific fragility will vary on a case-by-case basis, protecting it is vital. Reinforce the glass with a dependable masking tape, such as blue painter's tape, as the adhesive is easy to remove when the time comes and won't do any damage. Similarly, protective corners made of corrugated board will provide an additional safeguard, and can be used on frames up to a full inch in thickness.

When storing multiple frames, they shouldn't be stacked directly on top of or next to one another. Using pieces of corrugated or foam board between every three frames will provide a suitable buffer - unless any or all of the frames have screw eyes on them, in which case a piece of board should be placed between every single item. For larger frames, it is best to store them upright rather than flat on top of one another.

For all but the largest frames, archival-quality polyethylene bags can provide another, final layer of protection, helping to keep out dust, moisture and other detrimental elements.

Brafton written article for www.archivalmethods.com 07/18/12

Frame Storage Essentials

Acid Free Foamboard is perfect for structural backing in picture framing. Surface papers are acid- and lignin-free with a 3% buffering agent to maintain an alkaline pH.

Polyethylene Bags Affords protection from the damaging effects of handling, dust, pollution and moisture. Formats are available for a variety of ephermera, including: cards, comic books, sheet music, record jackets. Also sizes for matted prints in digital or conventional photographic media.

Corrugated frame corners will fit metal or wood frames up to one inch thick. Protect frame corners during transporting or stacking in storage.

Discover a Tip:
Understanding Aspect Ratios…

The aspect ratio of an image describes the proportional relationship between its width and its height. For example, a traditional 35mm film frame is approximately 36mm wide and 24mm high. This has an aspect ratio 3:2*. The most common aspect ratios for still cameras are 4:3 and 3:2. Recently, the 16:9 has been gaining popularity since it is found in consumer cameras with video format options for high-definition television.

Other aspect ratios, such as 5:3, 5:4, and 1:1 (square format) are used universally in photography as well, particularly in medium and large format cameras.

Examples of image sizes printed with different aspect ratios showing the full frame as composed in the camera are below.

Term Definition:
Preservation vs. Restoration

Preserving cultural property (Objects, collections, specimens, structures, or sites identified as having artistic, historic, scientific, religious, or social significance) by minimizing chemical and physical deterioration, damage and maintaining the current condition of the piece defines the term preservation. The primary goal is to prolong the existence of cultural property. Restoration refers to the treatment procedures used to return the cultural property to a known or assumed state, often through the addition of non-original material.

Questions & Answers:

Q: Do you carry any acid-free pens?

A: Yes, we do carry an acid-free TechLiner Drawing Marker. It is a free-flowing ink perfect for use on paper surfaces. The ink is formulated with a permanent, waterproof pigment. The drying time will vary depending on the paper surface. Be sure to test first when using it on glossy paper surfaces. The set includes 3 widths (.1, .3, and .5). In addition, we carry the Lumocolor Permanent Marker (available in black, red, blue and green). These are permanent as well. They are a neutral-smelling ink, waterproof, smudge-proof and safe to use CDs & DVDs. They write on polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene plastics sand gloss coated paper. Their Dry Safe feature allows for several days of cap-off time without drying up. Again, be sure to test surface first to determine drying time.

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