PRODUCTS    FRAMING SERVICE

	Vilis Kuksa (GCF) Welcome to our site! We are a family run business established in 1987. We carry out custom framing for personal callers and sell fine art prints, open & limited editions, posters and photographs. Being born and bred in Penarth, I have a natural affinity for the town and I hope this is reflected in my photography, which is mainly of Penarth & Cardiff by day, by night & from the air. We also take commissions for aerial photography.
	Beverley Kuksa (GCF) Hi, I'm Bev. As well as framing, I help customers with their choice of mounts & frames and recommend the best way to present & display their artwork. We have many prints & photos displayed in the shop, particularly views of local interest and limited editions.
	Fine Art Trade Guild We are members of the Fine Art Trade Guild, who's aim is to promote excellence within the framing industry. Particularly by the Commended Framer Exam, which distinguishes the skilled from the semi-skilled, to help the public select a professional framer who will apply a high level of expertise to the conservation and display of their artwork. Vilis and Beverley are Guild Commended Framers.
	Framing Our full framing service is available to personal callers, where Bev will be pleased to help you choose from over 100 mount colours and over 350 frames styles. We frame anything from a simple snap, to rugby shirts etc. and use conservation mountboards (commonly/wrongly referred to as acid-free). We frame to standard, conservation and museum levels. All work is carried out on the premises to your exact requirements. Selection of plain glass, non-reflective, acrylic, conservation, museum, UV, anti-reflection and mirrors. Fast & accurate computer pricing using the 'FrameMan' software.
	We frame all sorts! Photos, Prints, Posters, Oils, Canvas, Watercolours, Acrylics, Tapestry, Cross-Stitch, Certs, Newspapers, Fabrics, 3D Items, Stamps, Postcards, Cigarette Card, Documents, Tickets, Medals, Mirrors, Shirts... in fact...Allsorts.
	Letter Mounts These mounts have become very popular lately. We cut the letters into a mount colour of your choice, then you put your photos behind the letters. Ideal gift for many occasions - births, christenings, weddings, to 'name' but a few!
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	Computerised_Mountcutting With our 'WIZARD' computerised mountcutter, we can create special themed mounts for nearly all occasions. Weddings, Birthdays, Valentines, Diplomas, etc. With hundreds of different aperture styles & shapes to choose from, you are no longer restricted to just rectangular or oval mounts. A good mount will transform & enhance your pictures, even giving that old 'snap' a new lease of life!
	Specialist Glass Top: PLAIN GLASS Bottom: Same picture with AR GLASS. (Both photos shot from the same angle with same lighting). UV: Filters 99% of UV, but does not reduce reflection. AR: Filters 70% of UV and considerably reduces reflection. A clear glass with none of the green tint you get with plain glass. AR UV: Same as AR glass with a higher UV filtering of 92% MUSEUM: The ultimate in UV protection & reflection control. Used by museums, this is a clear glass, yet reduces reflections and filters 99% of UV.
Standard framing glass only filters out around 50% of harmful UV rays and usually has a green tint. Standard Non Reflective glass (diffused) will reduce mirror like reflections, but you'll still see some sheen and lose some image clarity (it has a matt/etched surface). In most cases, these glazing options are perfectly fine, but when you have that special artwork that needs extra care and protection, specialised glazing can help. With AR glass being almost invisible, you see the pure art, not reflections. Although more expensive than plain glass, it offers you much more choice. Whether you want to control reflection whilst retaining clarity, protect your artwork from damaging UV rays, or a combination of both, we have the answer. The various options are explained above:
	We also do reflecting glass - MIRRORS! Plain or bevelled mirrors, framed in a style and size of your choice.
	Dry Mounting Vacuum Press Dry Mounting: This process involves bonding prints, photos etc. onto board by means of heat and pressure to keep them perfectly flat. Heat Sealing: Thin plastic film is bonded onto the surface of prints etc. in order to protect them from moisture and airborne pollutants. Can be used instead of glass. Canvas Bonding: Photos & Prints bonded onto canvas for that 'Oil Painting' look, ready for stretching & framing, or canvas wrap.
	Framing Visualisation software We can show you what your artwork will look like framed up on our computer screen, with the Wizard Integrated Framer software. A picture of your artwork is placed on our computer screen, where we add mounts & frame etc.
	Opening Times Mon/Tues/Thur/Fri: 10am - 6pm Wednesday: 10am - 1pm. closed half day. Saturday: 9:30am - 5:30pm. Closed lunchtimes 1-2pm
	I WAS FRAMED! By Penarth Framing Services
Caring for your artwork at home Recommendations from The Fine Art Trade Guild: Avoid Heat Ideally pictures should not be hung above radiators. Extreme or rapid changes in temperature cause paper and wood to dry out and adhesives to fail Beware damp Damp can cause pictures to ripple. If the ripples touch the glass, the picture might stick and be hard to remove. Damp also encourages fungal growth - likely to show as brown stains. Conservation framing can slow these effects, but it is always best to avoid hanging framed pictures in humid conditions. Allow six months before hanging pictures on newly plastered walls Eye-level display Remember most pictures are designed to be viewed at eye-level. When hanging a group of pictures of different sizes align the top edges. Groups of pictures need not be hung in symmetrical patterns, but they should follow some sort of overall design. Try arranging them on the floor first Hang securely Use two hooks on the wall, each set about a quarter of the way in from either side of the picture. Check that the cord, wire or other hanger you use is designed to support the weight of your artwork. Where safety is critical, in children's bedrooms, for example, ask your framer about security fittings and glazing A gentle clean Dust frames or treat with a soft brush, rather than risk applying water or cleaning fluids. Don't use cleaning fluids or water on the varnished surface of oil paintings; again dust carefully. If cleaning fluids have to be used on the glass, apply them to a duster first (rather than spraying the glass directly); take care not to let the fluids touch the frame Regular checks If you find any evidence of discolouration, unsightly brown dots, small insects under the glass or that the brown paper tape sealing the back of the frame has come unstuck, return the frame to the framer. Check for corroding picture wire or weak or loosening cord. The varnish on oil paintings will gradually discolour, especially if the picture hangs in smoky or polluted conditions. It should be replaced as it dirties. Oil paintings stretched over wooden bars may sag over time and the bars can make a slight imprint on the front of the canvas. Take the picture back to your framer for tightening or re-stretching. The Fine Art Trade Guild recommends inspection every five years Out of the light Try not to hang pictures directly opposite large windows as sunlight fades colours and discolours paper. Special UV-coated glass can help to slow this down. The Fine Art Trade Guild has set industry-wide standards for printing and framing materials. Ask your framer about the ways in which you can preserve your artwork for the long-term. Handle with care When carrying and transporting a picture, grasp the frame firmly on both sides. If you have to store pictures, make sure they are stacked vertically and the right way up. When stacking pictures, stand them 'glass to glass' so that the hangers do not damage the frames
Choosing the right frame: What your money buys. You may think you want the cheapest frame but remember that low-cost framing can actually damage your picture. Some art should be protected for future generations. A professional framer will be able to advise you on the appropriate level of framing for your artwork - and will know how to make even a modestly priced print look its best The Five Levels of Framing You have a choice about how much or how little you want to safeguard your picture. There are Five Levels of Framing for you to choose from as the following summary explains: Museum - The ultimate protection for your artwork Conservation - Helping preserve your artwork for future generations Commended - Guarantees a degree of protection, with design playing an important part Budget - Visually pleasing, but offering no long-term protection Minimum - Putting economy first Ask your framer which level you should choose for YOUR artwork