: We hope this list of terms will help you to gain a greater knowledge of custom framing.

A Acid-free A general term used to describe an element of board or material purification; specially manufactured materials that do not contain acids that cause deterioration. However, "acid-free" alone does not constitute conservation quality. NOTE: Acid-free materials may become acidic over time--due to residual chlorine from bleaching, aluminum sulfate from sizing, or atmospheric pollutants.


A Acid Migration The transfer of acid from an acidic material, such as groundwood pulp paper, to less acidic material when they are stored in contact with one another. This usually causes weakening and staining of the less acidic material.


A Acid Neutralizer Calcium or magnesium carbonate, bicarbonate, calcium hydroxide, or methyl magnesium carbonate.


A Acid Neutralizing Paper Paper specially manufactured to contain small amounts of neutralizer which absorbs acidity from the environment. It is used in protective mounting, storage, and display of paper.


A Acrylic Sheeting A polymethyl methacrylate plastic which can be substituted for glass in framing artwork. Available under the trade names "Plexiglas," "Lucite," etc. It is shatter-resistant and can be purchased with ultra-violet light filtering capacity.


A Adhesive Any material or compound which enables two surfaces to become united.


A All-rag Paper (Mat) Paper consisting of fibers derived from cotton or linen rags, or from cotton linters. The designation "rag content" means only that the rag content is not less than 25%. Check with individual manufacturers for the exact rag content.


A Alum A number of compounds are referred to by this name. The one most commonly used in papermaking is aluminum sulphate.


A Archival The term used to describe materials which may be stored in an archive; in the graphic arts, archival refers to the relative permanence of a material and its ability to remain stable over time.


B Backboard A solid piece of board that supports the artwork and acts as a barrier.


B Barrier Sheet Acid-free sheets of paper or polyester used as a barrier to retard acid or oil from spreading from one material to another.


B Bevel The edge of an object which is cut obliquely. The term can apply to wood, cardboard, glass, or mirror.


B Buffering The process by which an excess of acid neutralizing material is incorporated into the paper which will offer protection against further deterioration caused by acidity.


C Cockle A wrinkle or pucker caused by the unequal expansion of paper.


C Conservation A careful preservation and protection of something, in this case, works of art.


C Conservation Framing or Mounting The terms used to describe the use of chemically-benign materials, using readily reversible techniques, in an effort to conserve art for a longer period of time.


C Conservator An individual responsible for the care, restoration, and repair of works of art.


C Corrugated A fluted material which may be used alone as packing material for shipping, or lined on one or both sides and used as a stiffener. Corrugated board is available in both acid and acid-free forms.


C Cotton Linters The cotton fibers used in the manufacture of cotton-content papers and boards.


D Deckle Edge The uneven, feathered edge of a paper.


D Deterioration (of Paper) The degradation or breakdown of a paper caused by ingredients added during manufacturing processes, natural aging due to inherent qualities, or environmental processes that yield volatile acid products.


D Dry Mounting The method of mounting art on paper used extensively in commercial work, employing adhesive-impregnated tissue, pressure, and heat.


D Dust Cover Paper affixed to the back of the frame to protect the frame and its contents from dust and dirt.


F Filler Board The material found at the back of the frame assembly, used as a space filler, or to add rigidity to the finished frame.


F Florescent Light Electric lights coated on the inside with a florescent substance which, when charged with electricity, emits light.


F Float A means of securing artwork to a rigid support so that all sides are visible. This is usually done when the edges of the paper are deckled or decorative, or if the image extends to the paper's border.


F Foxing Brown or reddish brown spots in paper. Although these spots are generally associated with iron salts or an actual particle of iron, it is now recognized that some foxing is caused by fungus.


F Fumigation Treatment given to slow or halt the activity of mold or insects on art.


Gelatin A highly-purified form of hide glue which is relatively colorless.


G Glazing A protective interface between a work of art and its environment, including glass and plastic sheets, but not varnishes or other protective coatings.


G Glue An adhesive made from the bones or hides of animals, containing two groups of proteins: chondrain - affecting the adhesive strength glutin - affecting the jelling strength Glue at a weaker strength can also be used as a sizing for paper. Flexible glue contains some hygroscopic material, such as glycerine, to keep it from becoming dry or brittle.


G Grain The direction in which a majority of paper fibers are oriented, and the axis along which paper tears most easily.


G Ground The surface upon which the art is created.


G Groundwood (Woodpulp) A source of cellulose fiber used in papermaking.


H Hinges That material, generally paper or linen, which is attached to a rrc of art and is, in turn, attached to the mat to maintain the work of art in position.


H Hygroscopic Readily absorbing and retaining moisture, especially under certain conditions of humidity and temperature.


I Incandescent Generally refers to a glass lamp or bulb which surrounds a conducting filament in a vacuum. The bulb is lit when electric current is applied.


J Japanese Paper A thin, long-fibered, acid-free, tissue-like paper used for hinging and repair of art.


K Kraft Paper A tough, strong paper made entirely from woodpulp and produced by a modified sulfate pulping process.


L Lignin A chemically-complex, hydrophobic substance which is present in extremely small quantities in cotton and linen fibers but forms approximately 17% to 32% of hardwoods and softwoods. Lignin interferes with the interfiber bonding of paper and contributes to the formation of acids in paper.


M Mat A protective housing for flat art works, usually a plate of cardboard, comprising a base to which the support is fixed (backboard), and a frame (window mat) which allows it to be seen while protecting it.


M Matboard Multi-ply paper board from which mats are made.


M Mold/Mould The implement used by a paper maker to separate fiber from water in the production of sheets of paper.


M Mold Microorganisms which feed on paper and paper constituents, such as cellulose, lignin, and even oil from fingers handling the paper. Some species of mold detrimental to paper can germinate at relative humidity levels as low as 63% to 65%.


M Mounting Strip A folded flange that wraps around or overlaps the art to form a pocket in the border area. Made either of purified, pH neutral, buffered paper or Mylar D, mounting strips adhere to the backing board with a pH neutral adhesive.


M Museum Framing or Mounting A popular term used to describe the use of chemically-benign materials using readily reversible techniques.


M Mylar A tough, pH neutral, clear, 100% synthetic polyester resin film that contains no plasticizers. Mylar combines outstanding durability, dimensional stability, and electrical, thermal, and barrier properties. Type D is the specific type of Mylar film recommended for use in conservation framing because Mylar D is clear in all thicknesses.


N Newsprint Paper made from woodpulp, noted especially for low strength, high acid content, and short useful lifespan.


P Paste Generally, an adhesive made from flour or starch. The two most commonly used materials are wheat and rice flour or starch.


P pH The measurement of the chemical activity of the acid present in a substaroad The scale is numbered from 0 to 14, with 0 representing the greatest concentrationroadacidity and 14 representing the greatest concentration of alkalinity. A "Neutral pH" of 7 is desirable in paper because even a slightly acidic condition may have detiorating effects over time. Buffering agents are sometimes added during manufacturing to raise the pH of paper, making it more alkaline.


P Plasticizer Chemical solvents used in the manufacture of some plastic products to give properties of flexibility and conformability. Many plasticizers contain acids which can migrate and damage paper art.


P Polyester Film A thin, transparent flexible plastic sheeting made from polyethylene terphthalate and sold under various trade names. When uncoated and untreated, it is smooth and exceptionally stable.


P Pressure-sensitive Tape Tape which requires no solvent to activate its adhesive (e.g., cellophane, masking, and archival tape).


P Pulp A mixture of ground, moistened cellulose material, such as wood, linen or cotton linters, from which paper is made.


P Purified Wood Pulp Wood pulp which is treated to remove acid-causing agents.


R Rabbet A recess in the frame to support the glass and the mounted object.


R Rag Paper A term used to describe papers which contain fibers made from new and used cotton and linen rags.


R Recto The front side of a print or printed sheet of paper.


R Relative Humidity (RH) A measurement of the amount of moisture in a given volume of air, expressed as a percentage of the maximum amount of moisture which that amount of air can hold at a particular temperature.


R Rice Paper Paper made from the inner pith of the plant "tetrapanax papyriferum," a plant grown in northern Formosa. The term is often misapplied to oriental handmade papers.


R Rosin The residue left after turpentine and water are distilled from the sap, or gum of trees.


S Size A substance (e.g., gelatin) applied to paperpulp or paper itself to strengthen and/or harden it. A common sizing agent, rosin mixed with alum, contributes to the acid deterioration of paper.


S Slip Sheet A smooth, non-damaging protective sheet inserted between the window mat and the artwork.


S Spores Small, airborne organisms that prroadate mold.


S Styrene Sheeting Clear and non-glare, rigid, thermoplastic extruded sheets made of polystyrene and used for glazing.


S Substrata A term generally used in dry mounting which refers to the surface used to mount prints, photographs, or fabrics. In conservation mounting, the backboard would be considered the substrata.


S Sulphur Dioxide An acidic gas, generally formed as an industrial pollutant. it combines readily with moisture in the air to form sulphurous acid. This acid is readily absorbed by paper.


S Support The paper upon which a work of art is executed.


U Ultraviolet (UV) Those light waves emitted by sunlight and fluorescent light and not part of the visible spectrum.


V Verso The back or unprinted side of a print or sheet of paper.


W Water Tape Generally, a strong paper tape coated on one side with a water re-moistenable adhesive.


W Watermark Traditionally, a mark or ornament executed in brass wire on a mold which contains the paper pulp, creating a relief design marking the sheet with a visible, transparent imprint.


W Wet Mounting The method of mounting art on paper which uses some type of aqueous adhesive to fix the paper to another surface.


W Window Mat Matboard with an opening to allow the artwork to be displayed.