The Framers Forum

My thanks to Jack and David for their kind comments. It's very encouraging to have good feedback. We plan to film some more video after Easter and have it available either as a complete "course" or in individual sections so that framers can "cherry pick" the parts that interest t...

I’ve re-read through all the posts and I still don’t know what else I’m supposed to be answering. I’ve already agreed that a high BWS doesn’t provide greater protection to the artwork – it is purely aesthetic. The information may not help the “average framing business”, but I would expect that some ...

Well, you don't get away with anything on the Forum! Roboframer is right. I first posted on Announcements - it was there for all of two, maybe five, minutes max. But then I thought that since this issue only appies to Conservation mountboards, perhaps I should have put it on Outgassing, so I moved i...

I first became interested in the BWS rates on mountboards when an artist customer spent considerable time choosing a particular shade (of mushroom) for some artworks, a board from a range which I did not regularly stock. When it was delivered it turned out to BWS 1, which I interpret as meaning it i...

Most framers know that mountboards can fade and may then not look as good with the artwork as when newly framed which is particularly relevant for framing at Guild Museum or Conservation Levels where the target life is 35 and 20 years respectively. Currently all Cotton Museum mountboards are require...

Roboframer wrote: Mary Evans wrote:I haven’t ever heard a claim that ordinary Conservation (chemically reduced woodpulp) mountboards are as good as Cotton Museum boards. With your CV and with the FATG's 5 levels being claimed as 'internationally recognised' and with the links and info provided here,...

To answer Roboframers question on mountboards, I am not an expert on the technical properties. I appreciate that the Microchamber technology is claimed to be superior, but I’m not aware that Nielsen have submitted it for independent testing so, to use a rather overused quote, “they would say that, w...

Surely I can’t be the only framer who has been asked to keep an existing mount? I accept that England is a bit more “nutty” about antiques and distressed items than most countries and I guess I must just be one of the nuts! Of course it is better for the art to have nice new museum or conservation m...

I agree with Nigel Nobody (am I right that you are really Ormond Williams – I get very confused with the TFF names?). As I understand it, traditionally produced photographs and protein based materials, such as silk and wool, can be adversely affected by alkaline-buffered boards. I have always assume...

Just to say I've been away for a few days, during which time this post has moved on. Maxwell and Louise are in a far better position than I am to answer questions about the general direction the Guild hopes to go, and I am very supportive of their plans. I'm still reading and interested in all comme...

Sorry - meant to put the above post on "GCF Framers Committee reply to points raised".
Will now read this thread.

Mary

Just to say I've been away for a few days, during which time this post has moved on. Maxwell is in a far better position than I am to answer questions about the general direction the Guild hopes to go, and I am very supportive of his plans. I'm still reading and interested in all comments, but will ...

Thanks Nigel/Ormond This is a personal reply, not on behalf of the Framers Committee. I accept that Alphamat Artcare boards may be a better product than other boards but not everyone will agree with that. What (I hope!) is certain is that all conservation moountboards come up to a minimum level agre...

Nigel Nobody asked the difference between Guild Museum and Conservation Level framing. There are two main differences for art on paper: the quality of mountboards, and quality of tapes used for hinging the artwork. Museum Level: Cotton Museum mountboards Hinging tapes made from naturally lignin-free...

There are a couple of points which have recently been raised on TFF which were discussed at the Framers Committee meeting this week. 1. Do we need Five Levels of Framing? There have been suggestions that the bottom two levels (Budget and Minimum) are irrelevant, and that they should at least be comb...

At Spring Fair International, 6-10 February 2011 – Hall 3 Stand 51 A member of the Framers Committee will be on the Guild stand to answer queries or discuss the GCF exam at the following times; Guild staff will be able to help if they are not available: Sunday 6 February at noon - Neil Duguid Monday...

Many thanks for the replies. I will take the suggestions made to the next Framers Committee meeting. I think this thread is about to finish, but just one factual point I would like to make. The updated GCF exam gives a choice between doing washlines or a V-groove. So we have taken that one on board!...

I’m really sorry to come in so late, when you are about to close this discussion. I haven’t been into TFF much recently and have only just picked up on this thread and there are some points I’d like to answer. 1. A couple of posts have suggested that GCF framers cannot promote their qualification un...

In answer to several posts I have checked my facts with the Guild office. I confirm that non-member GCFs can display their certificate, can put GCF after their name, and can make the statement in writing that they are Guild Commended Framers in their marketing. But they cannot use the logo, either a...

There has been much discussion about the Guild not allowing non-member GCFs to use the GCF logo. It has been claimed that “it is like a university giving you a degree, then not allowing you to use or promote that degree unless you pay them a fee every year”. In my experience, graduates with degrees ...