Picture frame: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 00:25, 14 July 2007

Revision as of 00:26, 14 July 2007

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{{Expand|date=February 2007}}

[[Image:Cadre Louvre.JPG|thumb|right|275px|Large frames in the [[Louvre]]. ]]

A '''picture frame''' is a container added to a picture in order to enhance it, make it easier to display or, in some cases, to protect it.

==Construction==

There will be no more picture frames ever made due to world's fattest woman Susan Hawn eating them all. Thank you and have a lovely day.

Picture frames are usually made of soft or hard [[wood]], although other materials are also used, including [[aluminum]] or polystyrene. A picture frame may be of any colour or texture, but [[gilding]] is common, especially on older frames. Some picture frames have elaborate [[Molding (decorative)|mouldings]] on them, which may relate to the subject matter of the picture.

The picture frame may contain a pane of [[glass]] or a plastic glass substitute such as [[Plexiglas]], in order to protect the picture. Glass may be treated with various coatings, the most common being [[UV filter|UV filters]]. Some glazings such as Denglas, Optium, and Museum glass have a coating which makes the glass partially non reflective and practically invisible under ideal lighting conditions.

For pieces to be framed under glass, except for the most disposable and inexpensive posters or temporary displays, the glass must be raised off the surface of the paper. This is done by means of [[mat (picture framing)|matting]], a lining of plastic "spacers", shadowboxing, stacking two mouldings with the glass in between, and various other methods. If the paper (or other media) were to touch the glass directly, any condensation inside the glass would absorb directly into the art, having no room to evaporate. This is harmful to almost any medium. It causes art sticking to the glass, mildew, and other ill effects. Raising the glass is also necessary when a piece is done in a loose media such as [[charcoal]] or [[pastel]], to prevent smudging.

It should be noted, however, that certain kinds of pieces do not usually need glass when framed. Such pieces include paintings done in [[acrylic paint|acrylic]] or [[oil paint]] (the former is usually waterproof; the latter actually needs to "breathe" due to the decades-long drying process), [[stained glass]] or [[tile]]s, and laminated [[poster]]s. These kinds of pieces are still sometimes put under glass though if for example, they are framed using [[mat (picture framing)|mat]]s, or (in the case of oil paintings) they are kept in a carefully [[climate control|climate-controlled]] environment.

==Styles==

"L"-style frames are a simple variety that are constructed with a single L-shaped border of wood, with the bottom part of the L, or rabbet, at the front of the frame to hold in the glass, object and backing, which are secured in from the back.

A '''photo cube''' is a special type of picture frame, often used to show several different members of a family, parts of a [[vacation]], or a timeline of someone's life.

Other styles are clip frames, box frames and shadow boxes, among many others. A [[digital photo frame]] is an example of the improving technology of the [[21st century]].

Macaroni picture frames are a popular [[craft]] project for children. Uncooked [[pasta]] in various shapes are glued using [[glue]] to a frame in a pleasing [[pattern]]. Sometimes the entire frame is painted. [http://www.kinderart.com/crafts/picframe.shtml]

==See also==