Congratulations! Your custom framing is an investment that will last a lifetime. Here are some tricks from the framer’s toolbox to help you get the most enjoyment from your framed art.

Hardware
Your custom framing includes hanging hardware. You’ll usually find it taped to the hanging wire. Don’t worry about finding a stud—our hangers are designed to be safely mounted in ordinary drywall. We have selected the proper hardware for the size and weight of your framed artwork.

Some walls present special challenges. If your walls are concrete, brick, or wood, you may need different hardware. Depending on the weight of the piece, you might need to install a special hook with screws or drill a hole and insert a plastic anchor to hold the hanger. We can help you choose the right hardware for your wall and artwork.

Positioning Pictures on the Wall
There are two rules of thumb for hanging art. If there’s nothing between the art and the floor, position the art so that the center is at eye level. If there’s furniture under the art, position the bottom edge of the frame six to eight inches from the top of the furniture.

X Marks the Spot: Placing the Hardware
Pick up the picture by the middle of the hanging wire and measure the distance from the top of the wire to the top edge of the frame. If there are two hangers, hold it on two fingers and get a friend to measure.

Hold the picture at the desired height on the wall and measure from the top of the frame to the floor, or to the top of any furniture under the picture. Write the numbers down; you don’t want to have to start over.

Now subtract the first number (distance from top of wire to top of frame) from the second (distance from floor or furniture to top of frame). This is the distance from the floor or furniture to pound the nail. For example, if stretched wire is 4” from the top of the frame, and you want the top of the frame to be 72” from the floor, subtract 4” from 72” to get the right height for the nail—68” from the floor.

Cleaning Framed Art
Simply dusting will suffice most of the time. The glass can be cleaned with any glass cleaner. Be sure to spray the cloth, not the glass. Excess cleaner can pool and damage mats or artwork. Take special care with Plexiglas and acrylic. These materials scratch easily, even with a paper towel. Use a lint-free cloth (old t-shirts are good for this) and gently wipe clean.

Sunlight—You Can Have Too Much of a Good Thing
When hanging artwork, try to keep it out of direct sunlight. The UV rays are very harmful to art and can cause distracting glare. Certain kinds of glass, like UV or museum glass, are more effective at protecting art from UV radiation. But it’s best to hang your pictures elsewhere and save the sunny spots for plants!

Shipping Framed Art
To ship art safely, you’ll need the following materials:

•One or more flat boxes
•Tissue paper or thin fabric, like an old sheet, large enough to cover the artwork
•Bubble wrap
•Packing peanuts
•Packing tape

Your box should be large enough to leave a 3” cushion on all sides of the framed art. You might need to tape two boxes together to get enough room. You can buy flat boxes called “mirror packs” from moving and storage companies.

Wrap the artwork in paper or fabric. This keeps the bubble wrap from sticking to the glass and frame. Now wrap it snugly in bubble wrap, taking special care to protect the corners. Secure the bubble wrap with tape.

Now line the bottom and sides of the box with a  3” layer of packing peanuts. Lay the wrapped art in the center of the box and fill the box with packing peanuts. Be sure to pack it tightly so that the art doesn’t move inside the box. Now close the box,  tape the seams securely, and ship your art with confidence!