The Encyclopedia of Picture Framing Techniques: A Comprehensive Visual Guide to Traditional and Contemporary Techniques

A proper frame is of a great importance for a painting. It can either make it shine in all its beauty or simply spoil it. In spite of wide availability of framing materials nowadays, it is surprisingly difficult to find exact hues required for the balanced color harmony that suits a particular piece of art. If you are yourself a painter and would like to give your work a final boost, I recommend you read this book carefully and try your framing skills. For most artists who have been through all kinds of painting techniques it will be an easy and welcome new activity. Frame may well become a work of art in its own. The book gives all necessary instructions for framing. Starting with the mechanics of cutting and gluing pre-decorated picture frame mouldings together, it goes on to more enjoyable and artistic topics of actually painting and decorating the mouldings yourself. Chapters like Decorative Mounts, Wood Finishes, Paint Finishes and Gilding as well as the Restoration and Repair are very interesting and really useful. At the end the book gives a nice selection of finished frames. I recommend you start with this last chapter. It is so rich with ideas! --This text refers to anoher edition of his book

Chapter 1 Materials and Equipment The book begins from the assumption that you own little to know tools and then goes on to cover the basic tools need for framing. This includes sharp, modern, color photographs with detailed descriptions of each item and how it is used. The author also does a nice job at providing more than one tool example to accomplish the same job, such as the different type of mat cutters. He explains the differences between the simple inexpensive models to the costly advanced versions and how you would need to implement them. This chapter also covers the five basic parts of a frame (backing board, picture, mat, glass, and frame) and the primary categories of moldings. One glaring omission: there is only one brief mention of power miter saws.Chapter 2 Making a Simple FrameThe chapter begins with cutting the mat, which after reading through the book, you'll discover is one of the most challenging tasks in framing a picture. The author covers several different methods in cutting a frame from a standard knife to an expensive professional cutting system. Next is cutting and joining the frame, and looking at this book from a woodworker's point of view, this was both inspiring and frustrating. It was an inspiration in that the displayed techniques sent my creative thought process into motion and gave me direction as to what type of frame I would like to design and make. It was frustrating seeing how the cutting and joining process was oversimplified. The uninitiated in the skill of cutting and joining small pieces, especially mitered pieces, will be very disappointed at how the process has a higher than normal learning curve. And God help you if you skimp out on any of tools presented and opt for the wooden miter box to produce a tight fitting 45° angle. I can just see the weekend hobbyist throwing this book and the miter box across the garage! This chapter has another flaw due to the author being too general: how to determine the depth of cut for the rabbit to hold the glass, picture, mat, and backing is never mentioned. As for joining a mitered corner there are far better ways to do so than the methods described in the book. Although they will all certainly work, I can come up with four methods that use better materials and will produce a higher quality joint with no more experience or tools needed than the methods described in this chapter. The following sections cover cutting glass and assembling the pieces. It is well written, and easy to follow.Chapter 3 Advanced CarpentryHere we go, now I was ready to learn something! The opening topic on homemade profiles was excellent; the advice was right on and useful for beginners through advanced alike. The author mentions using preformed moldings like those readily available at your local home store and more advanced ideas like making mirrored inlaid banding from inlay veneer. I was very upset over the light mention of how to use a router to make profiles. It was very ov

Demonstrates in full color, step-by-step photographs all stages of making and decorating frames and mounts. This useful and well designed book is an encyclodedic introduction to picture framing crafts. It offers comprehensive descriptions of equipment for both beginning and advanced techniques and explains a wide range of decorative effects, from wood and paint finishes to gilding. It gives advice on how to restore and repair frames and includes an inspiring creative gallery of finished frames by professional artists.