Museum Glass: It doesn't get better than this

This stuff is amazing. Really. You'll want to poke it to make sure it's really there.

So, what is it?? Museum Glass is the highest quality anti-reflective picture framing glass available in the industry. Tru Vue® has a proprietary manufacturing process, called Magnetron Sputtering, which produces an ultra protective, nearly invisible finish. It protects against 99% of harmful indoor and outdoor UV light rays and has the highest light transmission along with the lowest reflection rating of any other glass product.

Museum Glass review:

-Reduces reflection by over 85% (to less than 1% of total light), the lowest possible reflection rating available with UV protection
-Provides the highest brightness and contrast levels available
-Optimal clarity for true color transmission
-Greatest color neutrality
-Protect works of art against 99% of harmful indoor and outdoor UV light rays

-Excellent for any artwork that would benefit from reflection-free viewing with UV protection
-Especially useful with shadow boxes, multiple mat, or deep framing projects

Museum Glass mayhem! Check this out. We might be strange...but we like to have fun! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-E2Y-OKD44 

Consider yourself warned: once you've had the real thing...you'll never go back.

What are Japanese Hinges?

Japanese Hinges are our go-to mounting choice. Why? During the year I spent studying for my CPF exam, I learned a great deal about the properties of paper, and found this method to be far superior to others for many reasons.

Hinge Mounting has the function of securing the artwork either to the backing board or to the mat board without permanently altering the artwork. Hinges should be removable with either water or a small amount of alcohol. A hinge should be made of a stable material with sufficient strength to hold the artwork in place, yet it should tear free if the picture is dropped. The reasoning behind this is that it is better for the hinge to tear than for the artwork to tear. The most common materials used for hinges are Japanese rice papers, archival pressure-sensitive tapes, and linen tape.

 Japanese papers made from the traditional fibers have been known for their pH neutrality, strength, lightness in weight, and excellent aging characteristics. Today, however, most Japanese papers are no longer made from only the bast fiber of kozo, mitsumata, or mulberry. Sulfite pulp is commonly used as a filler in many of the traditional papers and, in some instances, the paper is all sulfite pulp. It is therefore important to establish the content of the Japanese paper when selecting it to use as a hinge for fine artwork. At The Village Framer, we use only mulberry paper.

 

Japanese paper swatches

 

Preview

One reason the Japanese papers are selected for making hinges is that when they are hand torn they give a frayed edge. When attached to the back of art-work, this kind of edge tends to show less on the front side. The adhesion of the artwork to the hinge is accomplished with the use of a water-based adhesive. We cook our own wheat starch paste. Careful control of the amount of paste is important or the moisture may deform the paper, which will show up as little bumps on the front side of the artwork.

For questions about Japanese Hinges or other mounting options, please contact us any time.

See you at the shop!

 -Melissa

Welcome to our blog!

 Hello and welcome to our new blog! We'll be posting regular shop updates, plus lots of interesting information about our industry. In the meantime, here are a few images from the showroom to get us started.

See you at the shop~

Melissa, Liz, Kate & Virginia

Roma Bellina Frame

Oval Mirror with Organza Ribbon

Pre-cut mats

More Roma Moulding

Copper-leafed light bulbs

Christening Gown and Baby Shoes

Antique Typewriter & Lg Clock

Silk wrapped frame, antique ornaments

Roma Frame

Scrabble Magnets

Vase & Large Clock