STG Studios

What is the BEST WAY to DISPLAY My Photography in an ART Gallery?

I have found a space in an Art Gallery, and would like to know what products (ie, matting, framing etc) would be best in displaying my Photography on a $$Budget$$. Thank you.

For photography, it's generally the simpler the better. I've displayed and sold my black & white photography in galleries and exhibitions, and have always found that a simple black box frame or a slightly more expensive Black/Jacobean stained oak frame work well. I also use a simple "Spanish white" mount, or occassionally a cream linen mount if I'm feeling wealthy!

Mounts:
- If you're using mounts be concious of using acid-free mounts and backing. Most cheap mounts and all brown backing cards are not acid-free, so it's worth spending a few pennies/cents more as they'll colour and ruin the artwork over time.
- Don't use sticky tape or masking tape to mount the photos into the mount/matt. Acid free tape isn't too expensive and is worth avoiding the marks and damaging glue of standard tape.

Glass
- Don't mount the photo right up against the glass, as any moisture getting into the frame can stick it to the glass.
- Consider using UV glass, which can be marginally more expensive than normal glass. You should avoid hanging photos in direct sunlight anyway, but it does make a difference over time to use UV glass.
- All basic UV and normal glass have a slight green tinge to them, which you won't really notice once it's framed. There are various brands of crystal clear and crystal clear UV glass, which don't have this, but they're very expensive.
- Acrylic, or perspex, should be considered for particularly large pieces as it doesn't shatter and is much lighter than glass ... although it is more expensive. You can get UV acrylic if you want it.

Frames
- As above, simpler mouldings tend to show off the photos better.
- Personally I think metal frames are a little cheap looking, particularly given the abundance of cheap Ikea frames around, but Nielsen do make some cooler gallery style metal frames now.
- I prefer simple wooden frames, with finer grains, like oak. I then either stain them dark and wax, or lime wax them.
- Custom frames are always going to be more expensive, but if you talk with your frame shop many will make them with the flexi fitting at the back so you can put it together yourself and avoid the labour costs.
- If you're up for it, you can also get plain frames made and stain and wax them yourself. It can be a little messy, and you need space to stain and let them dry, but it saves lots of money.
- Acrylic frames can look wonderfully modern, but they let in dust and can scratch easily ... plus they're much more expensive!

If all this sounds too expensive, it's worth doing a short framing course - as it's very difficult to make them properly without the knowledge, particularly with the corner joins and in cutting the mount bevels properly. You'll waste time and money with mistakes unless you've had a little training. Then you can try buying supplies (acid free!) from reputable art supply stores, and some framers will sell you basic materials directly.

Good luck, as it's a fantastic thing to do and there's a real sense of achievement once you've put everything together.

Photo Gallery and Thumbnails: Flash Tutorial!

Mummy - Photo Frame. Ideal for Mothers Day £13.27 Overall Size of frame 500mm x 202mm (depth 15mm). Add your own photo's...

Wooden 21st Birthday Photo Frame £13.27 Overall Size of frame 500mm x 202mm (depth 15mm) Available in wood finish....

Genuine Trends Art Print Landscapes Design - nr 0021 20' x 40' Modern Canvas. Unique 51x 101.6cm Artwork in 40mm Deep Gallery Frame Ready to Hang On Wall. £25.95 ...

Morton Victoria - Plus And Minus £7.20 ...

DVD 'The Hoerengracht': Kienholz at the National Gallery £7.99 ...

DVD Painting History: Delaroche and Lady Jane Grey (National Gallery Company) £10.10 ...

Canon REALiS WUX10 Mark II 3200 Lumens WUXGA Projector 3200 Lumens WUXGA (1920 x 1200) Native Resolution 720p 1035i, 1080i, 1080 High Definition LCoS Technology with AISYS NTSC, PAL, SECAM Universal 100 - 240 V AC Power Supply Canon REALiS WUX10 Mark II is one of the company's top of the line projectors £4,999.00 With 3200 lumens at a contrast ratio of 1000:1 the Canon REALiS WUX10 Mark II is one of the company's top of the line projectors. It improves on the already highly acclaimed LCoS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) imaging technology with the company's own proprietary AISYS (Aspectual Illumination System). AISYS increases both brightness and contrast together. It never sacrifices one for the other. And on...

Photo Jigsaw Puzzle of St. Martin in the Fields, seen from the National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, from Robert Harding £17.99 Photo Jigsaw, St. Martin in the Fields, seen from the National Gallery, Trafalgar Square,. St. Martin in the Fields, seen from the National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe. Chosen by Robert Harding. Bespoke 300 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle 17x12 (43x30cm). The jigsaw is delivered bagged and on a back board making a superb gift. Also supplied are a re-sealable bag, a photo...

Photo Jigsaw Puzzle of Raven Gallery in Old Elysian Grove Market, Barrio Historico District, Tucson, from Robert Harding £17.99 Photo Jigsaw, Raven Gallery in Old Elysian Grove Market, Barrio Historico District, Tucson,. Raven Gallery in Old Elysian Grove Market, Barrio Historico District, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America, North America. Chosen by Robert Harding. Bespoke 300 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle 17x12 (43x30cm). The jigsaw is delivered bagged and on a back board making a superb gift. Also supplied are a re-sealable...

Photo Jigsaw Puzzle of Long Gallery on the Aquitania (1914) from National Maritime Museum £18.97 Photo Jigsaw, Long Gallery on the Aquitania (1914). Interior of the passenger liner Aquitania (1914) showing the Long Gallery, between the First Class Lounge and First Class Smoking Room on the port side of the Promenade Deck (A Deck). Chosen by National Maritime Museum. Bespoke 300 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle 17x12 (43x30cm). The jigsaw is delivered bagged and on a back board making a superb gift. Also s...

Tags:   images · photo · photography · photography galleries · photography galleries in orange county · photography galleries los angeles · photography galleries nyc · photography galleries online · photos · stockNo Comments