Custom picture frames are more in trend these days and many people have questions as to what are the components of frames and this article throws some light on that topic

1. 5 components of picture framing
“The beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder” is a famous quote by Plato, who says through this quote
that the surrounding beauty lies in how we see them. But art is a beauty in itself and these beauty is
made more beautiful with the help of framing. Framing history dates back to thousand years old, since
the age of kings and queens of Egypt.
If you are a first time buyer of frame and doesn't know anything about them. But with the basic
knowledge and understanding and doing some homework about them you can properly select the right
frame for yourself. There are 5 main components of frames 1) The actual frame. 2) Glazing. 3) matting
board. 4) mounting boards. 5) The protective sheet.
Lets take a detailed look inside all these components:
1. The actual frames
The actual frame is the component which holds on to the picture or artwork, they hold on to the artwork
and are the visible part of the frame. Frames are made mainly from two materials wood and Metal. But
a recent addition of plastic moldings is also done. Wood frames give a classic, traditional look and is
available in more shapes and styles. Metal frames on the other hand provide modern sharp and bold
look. Plastic is the cheapest, lowest quality of the framing materials. Frames are available in a large
variety of colors, designs and styles.
2) Glazing
The first layer after the frame is the glaze, mainly two components are used in glazing: glass and
acrylic. Main purpose is to protect the art from dust and damage during handling. Glaze also protects
the art from humidity and condensation
Museum grade glasses are different than the regular glass we have in windows. It is much more thinner
and much more transparent than the regular glass which stops the image from distorting.
Acrylic or more commonly known as the Plexiglass is more like the glass but with some added
functionality of greater durability and lightness. It is almost impossible to break plexiglass but it has a
disadvantage of less scratch resistance.
3. Matting board
Matting or mat board is a paper type product that is placed between the glazing and the artwork. It has
two purposes, it separates the artwork from the glass and it can also be used to highlight the artwork.
Mats are available in many variations depending on various factors including the personal choice.
4) Mounting boards
The mounting board is behind the artwork which is used to protect the art from the behind. Its not
visible but it serves an important purpose. The mounting board is the material to which the artwork is
attached.
There are 3 main categories of mounting board.
1. Regular mildly treated board.
2. An acid free board.
3. A self-adhesive board.

2. 5) The protective sheet
This is an optional component which is placed behind the backing board to protect against any dust
particles from the behind. It is a lint free paper and is also used to protect against the sudden humidity
changes which will have an adverse effect on any organic material such as paper, paint or graphite.
These are the basic five components of the frames and which make the frame look good and changes
can be made in the choice of the components to produce favorable results.