Whether you opt for a canvas gallery wrap, metallic print or traditional lustre paper print, your fine art photos represent both artistic expression and financial investment. Proper care and handling helps preserve their beauty for years to come.
Here’s the good news: caring for your fine art photography print is actually pretty simple. While lustre paper prints do need to be matted and framed, canvas and metal prints are good to go onto your walls right away.
Table of Contents
Consider the Environment
It’s a good idea to consider the environment your print will live in before you buy. This can affect the overall longevity of your new artwork, and the type of material it should be printed on.
Humidity & Temperature
Particularly if you live in a humid climate, or the print is for a bathroom. Metal is one medium that lives well in humid environments, and isn’t affected by moisture the way a canvas or paper print will be.
Generally, it’s best to avoid hanging prints in areas with large temperature fluctuations. These can cause warping over time.
Hanging Prints Outdoors
If you’re looking for a print to go outside, such as in your backyard, make sure it has special UV coating to protect it against sunlight.
Similarly, if the lighting in your home doesn’t allow you to hang the print outside of direct sunlight, a UV coating can be a good idea as well.
Understanding Different Print Mediums
Different print mediums have different durabilities, longevity and care needs. For example, paper prints need to be framed, as they don’t have much protection on their own.
Canvas and metal prints don’t require any framing, though you can add a decorative frame if it helps draw more attention to the print and works well with your room décor.
For a deep dive into the different print mediums, see our aticle:
Framing Considerations (Paper Prints)
In general, it’s always a good idea to frame paper prints as soon as possible. Paper isn’t meant to be displayed as is, and framing will protect it from dust, scratches and moisture.
On the other hand, canvas and metal prints are specifically designed to be more durable and resistant to the elements, so they don’t need any additional matting or framing.
The Importance of Framing Paper Prints
There are a few key reasons why it’s important to properly frame fine art paper prints:
- Protection: Framing provides a protective cover and barrier from elements that can damage the print over time like fingerprints, dust, moisture or light exposure. Matboard and glass shield the surface.
- Presentation: A frame enhances presentation and gives a polished, finished look that shows off the print. It elevates the piece from casual display to legitimate artwork.
- Preservation: Exposing prints to light, humidity changes or being rolled/bent can cause deterioration or damage fibers. Framing under glass maintains flatness and original state.
- Archival Material: Only acid-free foamcore, matboard and paper products contact the print surface to prevent discoloration or degradation from acidic materials over decades.
- UV Protection: Ultraviolet glass filters out 98% of UV rays that cause image fading. This safeguards color accuracy much longer than unframed.
- Resale Value: Professionally framed fine art prints generally maintain a higher resale or trade-in value down the line versus unframed works.
Framing creates a barrier that protects the print surface while elevating its visual appeal – both important factors in preserving the artwork and investment long-term.
Glass vs. Acrylic
One of the considerations in framing is whether you should use glass or acrylic to protect the underlying print from dust, moisture, scratches and UV rays. Here are the main differences between glass and acrylic when framing photos or prints:
Glass:
- Very durable and less prone to scratches than acrylic.
- Heavier and can be more expensive depending on thickness.
- Can crack or break if impacted, posing a hazard.
Acrylic:
- Much lighter weight material than glass. Easier to hang, ship and handle.
- Less likely to crack than glass but more prone to scratches over time.
- Generally more affordable option, though may require replacement if scratched.
- Provides a clearer view of the artwork without glare like glass.
Other considerations:
- Both glass and acrylic can have UV coatings that protect against fading.
- Anti-glare coatings can also enhance viewability of both glass and acrylic.
- Thicker, museum-grade glass provides maximum protection for valuable works.
Canvas or Metal Prints as an Alternative to Framing
It’s worth repeating that canvas and metal prints don’t need to be framed. They’re made from more durable materials in general than photographic paper, and ready to hang as soon as they arrive.
Unframed prints have a more sleek and modern appearance, and are often designed to have a 3D effect as they use either an inner wooden frame or a backing to separate them from the wall.
General Care Tips
Whether you choose a framed paper print, a stretched canvas gallery wrap, or a metal print, all three can use a wipe down from time to time using a soft, smooth cloth.
Just take care to use a cloth that has no abrasives to scratch the surface of the print, glass or acrylic. Wiping down your artwork twice monthly can prevent dust from building up on the surface and keep the display looking sharp and attractive.
Long-Term Preservation
Storing Prints when not on display
While prints are unused or during shipping, we like to protect the surface using a thin sheet of styrofoam if you have one in the right size. A piece of cardboard can work as well. This keeps the print from getting scratched when it’s moved around or bumped by other objects.
You can hold the cardboard in place using packing tape or plastic wrap. This should keep the print from getting too dusty. Again, keep in mind the humidity and temperature in the area where the print is to be stored.
Rotating Displays
Rotating displays can help prints last longer, delay fading, and keep your home décor fresh for both residents and guests to look at. Consider rotating your displays seasonally to change up the look.
While fading is not generally a concern with high quality prints kept out of direct sunlight, rotating your displays can help when you have no choice but to display your prints in areas with lots of direct sunlight, humidity, and other environmental factors.
Conclusion
We hope this tips help you preserve your artworks over the long term, and enjoy them for decades to come!
