Your picture, or that scene shown in it, is worth a million dollars or may even be priceless to you and your family. So, the next step is…how to show that priceless moment, one so awesome you captured it in time. You must frame it of course, but with what? Is gold good enough for the capture of your newborn; is baroque brilliant enough for the first kiss on the beach? Decisions decisions… There is a plethora of styles and costs you will need to choose from. Here are three materials that might be able to compete for the trophy of 'frame to your special moment.'
Wood
Wood is a general go-to material for frames. It is cheap and can be made to look good, but it does carry some drawbacks. Cheaper wood is known to have flexibility while flexing in other uses maybe be beneficial; a picture frame needs to be sturdy. This robustness will protect the picture or artwork from scuffing as wood bends and grows with heat and cold.
Staples are a necessity with wood, make sure on deciding for wood, that there are ample staples keeping the construction together, and also insist on glued corners for that extra strength. Also, with the natural elements of wood, you should ensure the corners meet, where one corner might meet on the outer side, and another corner meets on the inner side; this can damage what is inside the frame. And you don’t want your precious moment ruined for the sake of a few pounds.
The word ‘finished’ is something to keep an eye on, as in ‘high gloss finish’ or ‘pine finish’. This generally means it is a common wood like basswood, which is glossed to look like another type of wood. This isn’t bad of course but make sure you’re not buying a cheap wood while paying for expensive wood.
Metals
Metal frames are all about statement. Your family pictures are more likely to be surrounded by this material than any other material. It is cheap to make use of and easy to design in a way you want. Aluminium is the go-to material here; it is light and durable and can come in any style you want. Thick and bold, thin and sexy, aluminium has it all. Wood tends to be presented in its natural colour, albeit with a gloss, whereas metal can be coloured to your exact specs and style and stay that way for its lifespan.
With metal frames, you won’t have flexing or shrinkage problems, but be sure to check the quality of finish as a rough or unbevelled surface could scuff or tear your canvas or paper. It is prudent to get a light material, as a heavy metal will bear its weight down on what is framed and of course the wall or surface it's placed on, and frankly hanging a super heavy picture on the wall is a pain in the back, literally.
Frameless
Ahh, the future. It is not uncommon to see frameless pictures these days, and this style can only get more popular as we enter the age of the minimal. Frameless frames use their nonexistence to help draw the eye straight to the picture. It gives off a floating feeling. There is not much to say about something that isn't there, so just ensure the backing is thick and durable and if the glass is clipped to the back then ensure good quality clips that are measured to fit. The invisible frame is certainly a striking effect that will give your picture the headline it deserves.
In Conclusion
It’s your picture; it’s your moment, so be sure to choose the right material for YOU. A mahogany layered frame will look good for your bridal shot, a bright pink aluminium wavy patterned frame might suit your daughter’s first bike ride, but a picture of your boy's first goal scored might just need four small stainless clips to ensconce it in protective glass.