Behold, an incomplete cheatsheet for Art and Picture Framing terms you’ll find on my website and in my videos.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
Abstract.
Acid Burn. One of the ways artwork can be damaged by time and exposure is acid burn. the discoloring resulting from exposure to acid
Acid Free.
Adhesive. Available in many forms, adhesive is what holds it all together. Tape, whether pressure sensitive or heat activated, spray or in sheets are a precious tool for picture framers to defy gravity and hold artwork flat and in place.
Allowances. Proportional and intentional additional measurements that provide wiggle room in mats, frames and such are called allowances.
Archival.
Area. A mathematic principle we all thought would never come into play after Geometry class. But here it is. The area of a rectangle is calculated by multiplying width by height, W x H. The formula is all you need to get the size of your artwork and picture frame; frame shops multiple it out to arrive at pricing.
Art.
Art History. Woven into the tapestry of the advancements of this world’s societies, art history shows us how peace and conflict shape our remembrance of events that… Styles and periods are categorized into art movements such as Renaissance, Impressionism and Cubism.
Artist.
Artist’s Proof. An artist’s proof is the first print pulled during a printmaking process. This opportunity gives the artist a chance to insure ink colors or impressions are as envisioned. In numbered series of prints, the artist’s proof is marked with “AP”.
Artwork. Graphic. artwork = anything you deem frame worthy
Aspect Ratio. The relationship between height and width that allows two-dimensional rectangles to be scaled without distortion is aspect ratio. Written largest measurement first, aspect ratio of a landscape oriented image is given as Height:Width.
Awl.
B
Backing. A flat, rigid material, preferably acid-free, backing is fundamental in supporting elements such as glass and artwork in a picture frame. Illustrated above.
Backing Paper or Dust Cover. Used to cover, seal and protect the back of framed artwork, backing paper is typically kraft paper. Although paper is effective in keeping dust and insects from invading your artwork from the back, it is also prone to holes produced by fingers or hanging hardware. Backing paper does not need to be acid-free, unless archival framing is desired.
Balance. As a design principle, balance refers the visual weight of the piece. Does on side or the other feel heavy due to color or composition? In picture framing, balance quite literally deals with the struggles of gravity and can often be addressed with hardware adjustments.
Bas Relief. The raised embellishments on front of frames borrows the sculpture term bas relief to describe it.
Batting. Cotton or synthetic fiber used to create soft padding under textiles and stitchery when framing is called batting.
Beading.
Bevel.
Black Frame. Akin to the little black dress, many say a black frame is the ultimate go-to for framing most everything.
Bleed.
Box Frame. Build up frame from back to look like a gallery wrap canvas.
Budget. Measured in time or money, setting your budget expectations for framing is important.
Bump Ons.
Burnisher.
C
Canvas. Canvasboard.
Cardboard. – NOT ACID FREE and generally a terrible choice to use when framing, cardboard can ruin your artwork with off-gassing.
China Marker.
Clips.
Cold-Press. See Tooth.
Collage.
Color. Color Wheel. Complementary Colors. Contrasting Colors. Monochromatic. Neutral Colors.
Composition.
Contrast.
Convex Glass or Bubble Glass. The curved glass often seen on antique portraits in oval frames from the 1800s is called convex glass. It is expensive to replace.
Copyright.
Craft.
Custom Framing. Utilizing your choice of mat board, moulding and glazing to produce a one-of-a-kind (to many of a kind) presentation for your artwork is considered custom framing. You can create a custom frame job on your own or hire professionals, perhaps at a frame shop, to bring your artwork’s best display option to life.
D
D-Ring.
Deckled Edge. The wispy, uneven edge on paper is a deckled edge. The deckle is a byproduct of the hand-crafted paper making process when the wet fibers are pressed flat. It matters in framing because showing the deckled edge can add a beautiful dimension to artwork.
Decorative.
Design.
Diagonal Wire Cutters or Dykes.
Digital Design.
Dimension.
Diptych.
Display.
Document.
DIY or Do It Yourself.
Double Sided Tape.
Draft.
Drawing.
Drymount.
E
Easel.
Engraved Plate.
Ephemera. Printed keepsakes like brochures and menu are called ephemera.
Eye Screw.
F
Fabric Mat.
Fading.
Filler.
Fillet. Pronounced “fill – it”, the fillet is a narrow piece of moulding that can be attached to the lip of the frame or in the window of a mat to add elegance.
Fixative.
Float Frame.
Float Mount.
Foam Core.
Focal Point.
Frame.
Frame Shop. That marvelous place that provides solutions for your framing dilemmas is called a frame shop. Staffed by professionals dedicated to elevating your artwork, a frame shop is the perfect place to get advice on the simplest to most complicated display issues.
Framing Basics. Download a FREE printable, hi-res PDF of this graphic by signing up for my email list at the top of the left column. Go ahead, do it for you because you deserve it!
French Mat.
Functional Design. Not all design is for the sake of art and beauty. Practical displays, like documents or signs, are often necessary and are referred to as functional design.
G
Gallery.
Gallery Wrap Canvas.
Gesso.
Giclée.
Glare.
Glassine.
Glazing. The clear barrier, like glass or acrylic, placed on the front of artwork to provide protection against grim and UV light is glazing. Advances in technology has provided consumers a grand array of glazing choices. Shown above in Framing Basics graphic.
| TYPES OF GLAZING All available in Glass and Acrylic, like Plexiglas | Anti-Reflective | UV Protection* |
| Plain Clear Glazing | 45% | |
| Traditional Non-Glare Glazing (visible matte coating) | ✔️ | 45% |
| Clear Anti-Reflective (AR) Glazing | ✔️ | 78% |
| Ultraviolet Light (UV) Blocking Glazing | 99% | |
| UV + Non-Glare Glazing (matte coating) | ✔️ | 99% |
| UV + Anti-Reflective Glazing (clear) | ✔️ | 78% |
| Museum Quality Glazing (AR & UV coatings) | ✔️ | 99% |
Glitter. A framer’s worst nightmare.
Gold Leafing.
Grouping. When you hang similarly themed or styled pictures together it known as a grouping.
H
Hanger.
Hardware.
Hinge.
Hue.
Hook – J shaped
Hot-Press. See Tooth.
I
Illustration.
Ink Jet.
Inspiration.
J
Juxtaposition.
K
Kiln.
L
Lamination.
Laser Print.
Limited Edition.
Linen Liners.
Linen Matboard.
Lip. When viewed from a frame’s front, the lip is the innermost edge of the frame that lines the opening.
M
Mat(te) or Matboard.
Mat Cutter.
Medium and Media. Product? Material? , such as paint or pastels, used to create art is medium. Media is the plural form of medium.
| ART MEDIUM / MEDIA | Examples |
| Ceramics. | Clay & Glaze, Mosaic Tile |
| Drawing. | Charcoal, Colored Pencil, Pen & Ink, Pencil |
| Handicrafts. | Embroidery, Counted-Cross |
| Multimedia. | |
| Painting. | Acrylic, Gouache, Oil, Tempera, Watercolor |
| Paper. | Book Binding, Collage, Cut-Paper, Papermaking, Puzzle |
| Pastels. | Chalk, Oil |
| Photography. | Digital, Giclée, |
| Printmaking. | Silkscreen, Etching, Lithography, Letterpress, Woodcut |
| Stained Glass. | |
Metal Frame.
Mirror.
Miter.
Mood.
Moulding.
Mount.
Multimedia.
Multiple Mats.
Museum.
N
Nail.
Numbered Prints.
O
Offset Clips.
Off-Gassing.
Off Square. Parallelogram
Open Edition Print.
Opening.
Orientation. Landscape or Portrait?
Ornate.
P
Painting.
Palette.
Paper.
Pastels.
Pattern.
Perspective.
Photography.
Photo Corners.
Photo Restoration. Photoshop.
Picture.
Picture Frame.
Pigment.
Plastic Coated Wire.
Plate. Engraved, printed
Plein Air Painting.
Point of Interest.
Points.
Point Driver.
Poster.
Poster Frame.
Pre-Cut Mat.
Printmaking.
Profile. View from one end – height width contour rabbet
Q
R
Rabbet.
Rabbet Depth.
Ready Made Frame.
Religious Art.
Renaissance Art.
Restoration.
Retouch.
Reveal.
Reverse Bevel.
S
Sawtooth Hanger.
Sectional Frame.
Score.
Shadowbox.
Simple.
Single Mat.
Sketch.
Social Media. A fabulous
Spacers.
Spring Clips.
Stacked Frames.
Standard Size.
Stitch Down.
Stitchery.
Straight Edge.
Straight Pins.
Strap Hanger.
Stretched Canvas.
Stretcher Bars.
Square. As in not wonky.
Substrate. In art, the surface to which paint or other medium is applied is called the substrate. A substrate can be canvas, paper, wood, metal, ceramics, any vehicle suitable to be embellished with awesome creative energy.
T
T-Hinge.
T-Square and Triangles.
Tape. Type of adhesive, tape comes in rolls or flat segments, that picture framers use to stick mats together, to repair artwork or attach it to other framing components like backing.
Tape Measure.
Tapestry.
Textile.
Texture.
Three-Dimensional.
Tooth. The texture of the surface of paper is referred to as tooth. Some are visible to the eye such as what you see in watercolor paper, also known as cold-press; some tooth appears smooth, however the tooth is apparent to the touch, which is called hot-press.
Top Mount.
Touch Up.
Trim.
Triptych.
Turn Buttons.
Two-Dimensional.
TYVEK. Synthetic paper – good for backing or storage
U
UpCycled or Recycled Framing Supplies. A recycled picture frame is previously used glass, mat and/or moulding that you give a second (or third) opportunity to display artwork. UpCycled framing supplies take recycling a step further by altering the size or finish of the framing components.
V
V-Groove.
V-Nail.
Vellum. Smooth texture mat board or drawing
Vinyl.
W
Wall Mount.
Watercolor Paper.
Watermark.
Waxpaper.
Weighted Bottom Mat.
Wet Mount. Spray adhesive or glue
Window. The opening of a mat board that is cut to show artwork is called the window. Generally, the window is cut slightly smaller than artwork as to cover the edges.
Wire.
Wire Cutters.
X
X-Acto Knife.
Y
Yellowing. The discoloration of paper or glazing due to sunlight exposure is called yellowing.
Z
Please let me know if I left off any relevant terms or if you’d like to sponsor one of the terms I’ve already defined.