The Framing Depot

The art of custom framing has been around for centuries, and throughout the years, innovation in great lengths have taken place.  From acid free mats and mounting boards, to the double miter saw and automatic v-nailer for cutting and joining frames with great precision and efficiency, the industry is constantly evolving.

With no discredit to the leaps and bounds this industry has seen throughout the years, one recent innovation that stands out in my opinion is the creation and introduction of museum glass.

Ooohhh… Museum glass sounds fancy… sounds expensive.  Well – it is. No words can or are needed to sell it.  After all the framing decisions have been made, my final question to the client is: What type of glass would you like?  More often than not, their answer is “glass type”?  What do you mean?  We have an option?  That’s when I say nothing and point at a framed sample hanging on the wall, with three panes of glass practically seamless, covering the front of the artwork: regular on the left, non-glare on the right and museum in the centre.  30 seconds later, the question is asked: What am I looking for?  Then I tap on the centre pane of glass.  The look on the client’s face is priceless.  I thought there was no glass there, they say.  Exactly, I respond.  Although I have never been a fan of upselling, I have had clients disappointed when I did not give them the option.  So now I offer specialty glass to all clients framing original art, fabric, photographs or anything else of value, monetary or sentimental.

Museum glass not only looks practically invisible, it also filters out 99% of UV light, hence the name Museum.  This brings us to its rebel cousin, AR Glass, my personal favourite.  Optically, it is identical to museum glass, with 2 differences.  It filters 78% of UV light and is approximately 40% less expensive.  Why is it my favourite you ask?  Well, UV filtering glass only slows the process of deterioration in the art work down.  It does not eliminate it.  The best way to protect it from UV is not to expose it, and that is not very enjoyable, is it?  So hang it, look at it, love it, and let others enjoy it.

Museum and AR glass comes in sizes as large as 40 x 60, as well as 48 x 96 in acrylic.  Museum glass retails for $65 for a 16 x 20 piece ( ¼ sheet), and AR is $45 for the same size.

Other glass options are available, such as

Next time you visit your framer (preferably us!), ask for museum or AR glass.  Remember AR is almost invisible and is not non-glare (the fuzzy one).  For more extensive product information, visit the manufacturer’s web site directly at truview.com.

Steve Morkotinis