How To Properly Hang Your Artwork
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Properly hung artwork combines concern for the safety of the artwork with the aesthetic concerns of lighting and visual balance within the room.
Protection
Care should be taken to hang artwork in an area where it will not become damaged by the heat, ultraviolet (UV) light rays or humidity. Hang your artwork out of the line if direct sunlight. We recommend that you always ask your framer to see Conservation Quality Glass which will filter out most of the harmful UV rays. Never hang your valuable artwork over a heat source or in an area that will be high in humidity (such as a bathroom). Heat and humidity can cause serious damage to your art.
If it’s worth framing…Frame it to last!
Lighting
There are two basic lighting techniques available for your home: ambient “room” lighting or “spot” lighting. Domestic lighting is often preferable for the home, because it allows the work of art to blend in with the rest of the room. Spotlights, on the other hand, make a piece “pop”- a nice touch for really special pieces. Spot lighting can be dramatic (using can lighting or light strips that affix right to the wall or the frame itself) or subtle (using room lamps strategically placed to give ample direct light to the piece). When using spotlighting, be careful not to create shadows by using strong lights on a deep frame. Remember to keep your wiring as “invisible” as possible.
The Secret To Attractive Artwork Display… Location, Location, Location
Hang your artwork at the eye-level of the “average” person in he room. If you are hanging the artwork in a room where more time is spent seated than standing, “eye-level” should be lower.
Hang smaller, more detailed pieces in small spaces such as hallways and corridors, where impact is less important than content, and the art can be enjoyed up close and personal. Larger, “atmospheric” pieces require more room for the viewer to stand back and enjoy- hang these pieces opposite the entrance to a room or a the end of a corridor.
Groupings
Unless you are striving for an eccentric “antique shop” look, groupings should look as though they belong together. Select frame styles that are compatible, and matting styles that are compatible, and matting styles that will work well together and create a balanced, unified look to the group as a whole.
Spacing is an important element in a grouping. Each picture should be placed not to far from, nor too close to its neighbor.
The most commonly recommended way to create balance in a group is to place he entire layout on the floor. This will allow you to get a sense of how the grouping will look on the wall, allow for adjustments and accurate measurements.
Another tip is to align the tops or the bottoms of the various pictures in the group.
Take care to use the proper hanging hardware for your type of will and that will bear the weight of the framed piece. Plaster walls and drywall require different types of hardware. (Artwork that falls off of the wall is not only a danger to itself, but to everyone that visits your home.)
If you are uncertain what type of hanging hardware you should be using, ask your framer for advice. Tell him or her what type of walls you will be hanging the piece on – most framers have an array of products designed for nearly any type of hanging situation.
Use two hooks to hang anything larger than 8”x10”. When determining where to put the hooks, use a carpenter’s level to ensure that the picture will hang strait. This will help distribute the picture’s weight more evenly, and your picture will hang strait without constant vigilance.
Custom Framing
Captured memories are priceless and what better way to display them than with a custom frame that complements every one of their unique qualities. High-quality framing preserves and protects your valuable photos and artwork, allowing you to showcase them for the world to see.
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