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 Caring for Your Artwork |
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| Protecting your Investment |
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For artwork to retain its personal and economic value, it must remain in its original state. Poor quality framing materials as well as environmental factors can damage artwork over time. Zamage adheres to strict conservation framing standards to help protect and preserve your artwork. To minimize potential damage from environmental factors, we encourage you to:
- Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight or other sources of direct lighting. Direct, harsh light, especially ultraviolet light, can fade colors and make paper brittle over time.
- Avoid heat damage by placing artwork on interior walls away from heaters, radiators, fireplaces and hot and cold ducts and pipes. Heat can cause a frame to expand and can even generate condensation behind the glass. If followed by cooling, the constant expansion and contraction of the paper, paints, ink and frame can cause rapid deterioration.
- Avoid excessive humidity and dryness. Excessive moisture can cause mats, prints, and canvas to buckle or mold over time. Excessive dryness can also adversely affect paper and canvas.
- Monitor the area for pollution, contaminants, and insects.
- Check your framed artwork regularly, front and back, for signs of damage. Artwork conservators may be able to repair damage caused by the above-mentioned factors when the damage is detected early enough.
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| Cleaning your Artwork |
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Frame: Wood and metal frames should be cleaned with a soft non-abrasive cloth dampened with lukewarm soap water. Wipe clean until dry. Chemical cleaners such as window cleaners or kitchen cleaners can harm this surface.
Canvas: Canvas artworks may be dusted very lightly with a feather duster or a soft cloth. Do not rub or use cleaning fluid on the canvas surface.
Glass: Dampen a cloth or paper towel with any glass cleaner to clean the glass on your frame. Do not spray directly on the glass, thus allowing the liquid to possibly seep into the frame. Wipe clean until dry.
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| Safety Considerations |
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| When selecting a display location, special attention should be given to the needs and safety of people who will be using the space. Accidents resulting from dislodging artwork from the wall can put both people and the artwork in danger. If you are planning to hang artwork in your children's room, we suggest that you choose canvas surfaces. |
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| Displaying a Framed Artwork |
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| Your artwork has been fitted with hanging hardware attached to the back of the vertical pieces of its frame. We have also enclosed a small packet containing a picture hook that will safely support the size and weight of your image. Very large images may require two picture hooks placed on the level, and several inches apart. |
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| Storing an Unframed Artwork |
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| Prints and other artworks on paper, when not mounted or framed, should be stored in acid free Mylar sleeves and laid flat in a horizontal position in a concealed enclosure. All storage materials that come into contact with your artwork should be archival quality. The location of your art storage needs to be away from environmental intrusions and toxic substances. |
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