What is Conservation Framing?

Conservation framing is very important in preserving your keepsakes. Custom framing will protect your photos and art from physical damage, but it does little to prevent fading due to UV and fluorescent lighting as well as discolouring from acid in the paper and backing unless conservation methods are practiced. Conservation framing utilizes archival techniques to minimize the chances of fading and discolouring to your artwork so that they will last for generations.

Please note that acid-free does not denote archival; many matboards on the market have "acid-free" as a label. Mats labeled acid-free but not lignin-free are buffered wood pulp and the acid in the core will eventually come through, damaging the matted work. A tell-tale sign of these paper mats is a yellowish bevel (the inner angled cut of the mat surrounding the work.) A conservation-grade board will be not only acid-free (which is either specially treated alpha cellulose or cotton rag) but lignin-free as well.

These are the same print; the top is the original colour, the bottom was exposed to indirect sunlight. Conservation framing will slow down the fading process in normal light conditions.