Framing Focus: What You Should Know About Light And Your Artwork

The Blessing and Danger of Light-

Without light there would be not art, as light is what allows us to see and appreciate color. It is one of the great ironies that the very thing that lets us enjoy color also works to destroy it.

Have you ever seen a faded gum wrapper, lying in the sun, bleached to a mere fragment of its original color? Perhaps the paper had become brittle as well - ready to break apart at the touch of a finger. The damage you saw was caused by the sun... specifically, the sun's damaging UV, or ultraviolet light rays.

Ultraviolet light rays are the same villains that your doctor warns you about. They cause breakdown whenever they come in contact with organic materials, burning noses, bleaching gum wrappers and ruining your son's first finger-painting. The damaging effects of UV light on artwork are cumulative and irreversible.

UV Protection for Your Artwork-

All this talk about the invisible UV light rays would seem to spell certain doom for artwork, but thankfully that is not the case. A proprietary development in glass technology by various companies has resulted in coatings which effectively blocks out 97% of all harmful UV rays. The cost premium for this glass is minimal and the benefits of its use cannot be ignored.

Types of Glass Offering UV Protection-

Conservation Clear is essential for conservation framing; Ultraclear provides trueness-to-color with clarity; Reflection Control is single-sided etched for non-glare; Perfect Vue is a proprietary technology that improves transmission and clarity; Museum Glass uses anti-reflective technology with UV-blocking properties.

Proper Lighting Techniques-

- Choose subdued lighting effects that will not reflect into the glass, especially when you are not using reflection control products.

- Add a sense of atmosphere by using wall lights and sconces on either side of your framed piece.

- Add emphasis to framed pieces by adding individual picture lights. A custom frame shop can assist you with locating the appropriate size lights.

- Do not hang your valuable artwork in direct sunlight. Even with protective UV-blocking glass, prolonged exposure to the sun's heat can destroy your art.

- Use incandescent bulbs to light your work. Incandescent lights have only 4% of their rays in the damaging UV range. Flourescent lights, on the other hand, have a high concentration of UV rays and should not be used to light your work.

- Illuminate your art at the lowest light level possible for your enjoyment.

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This information is presented to help you with the different aspects of displaying and framing your artwork, historical and sports memorabilia and photographs. This information is general in nature and might not apply in each situation.

Our Kansas City-based business has been creating custom built picture frames, shadowboxes and 3-D display cases since 1977. We hope you find this and other Framing Focus Guides enjoyable and informative.

Feel free to contact me through EBay with any questions or comments you may have.

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