Glossary of terms used in picture framing
There are 104 entries in this glossary.All
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Acetate |
A transparent sheet placed over artwork where the artist writes instructions or indicates where second colour is to be placed. Also known as Overlay. We use archival Polyester film (Mylar) for our Mount & Wrapping service; ideal for exhibitions and keeping artwork clean and protected. |
| Acid |
Acid attacks cellulose fibres causing paper to discolour, become brittle and breakdown. Acid comes from the lignin in wood. It can also be contained in chemicals used in paper manufacture, lower grade picture framing materials and atmospheric pollution. We use FATG standard Conservation products designed to minimize these effects. |
| Acid Damage |
Cheaper, and particularly older, framing techniques use or used material that contained acidic chemicals. As pictures and artwork tend to remain in the same frame for years, over time, the acid can leach out and damage the artwork. This manifests itself as small dark spots that run through the picture. If the picture has been framed for a very long time, sometimes these spots become larger. Today, there are techniques available to remove the marks and good quality framers use acid-free framing material to prevent acid damage. |
| Acid-free |
Any paper based products cannot be 'acid free' due to the presence of Lignin. We use cotton based products for jobs which require a true 'acid free' environment. Conservation board is often referred to as 'acid free' based on the fact that the board is buffered with calcium carbonate to neutralize the acid content. |
| Acrylic |
A type of glass substitute which is a resin perceived as a high quality clear plastic. It may be used instead of glass in a pictureframe but more commonly is used for frameless display either for sandwiching artwork in between two sheets or to mount artwork to the back of it. |
| Acrylic Paint |
A type of oil-paint substitute with a similar viscosity that uses water as a solvent which makes it relatively quick drying. |
| Aquatint |
A print produced by the same technique as an etching, except that the areas between the etched lines are covered with a powdered resin that protects the surface from the biting process of the acid bath. The granular appearance that results in the print aims at approximating the effects and gray tonalities of a watercolour drawing. |
| Artist's Proof |
An Artist's Proof is one outside the regular edition, but printed at the same time or after the regular edition from the same plates without changes. By custom, the artist retains the A/Ps for his personal use or sale. Typically, 10% of the edition total is designated as A/P, or in the case of a small edition, five graphics are usually so designated. |
| Artwork |
A generic term used to describe a piece of visual art which may be of many different types: drawing, etching, painting, collage, graph, photograph, lithograph, print, watercolour or cartoon. |
| Avant-Garde |
A group active in the invention and application of new ideas and techniques in an original or experimental way. A group of practitioners and/or advocates of a new art form may also be called avant-garde. Some avant-garde works are intended to shock those who are accustomed to traditional, established styles. |
