Framing services

This style sees your artwork framed and bordered with a window mount. If the artwork requires extra protection (say, if it is an antique, or particularly valuable), we can fit an archival backing behind the front mount. These two pieces will then be hinged together in what is called a presentation mount. Our standard mountboard is made from 2mm archival board, but we also offer mounts from 1.4mm, all the way up to 4.1mm, which is the thickest board on the market. Please note that the maximum possible exterior size we can frame in this manner is 2600mm x 1524mm. All frame process images exclusive copyright of SohoFrames Ltd. Original print of London Skyline copyright Alex Vintilescu. These actual frame process samples can be seen in our workshop.

This method applies the classic mount described above, with an additional aperture cut into the mountboard to hold some printed text. We can also use this space for an engraved metal plaque, though plaques can also be displayed on the actual frame body.

A flat float sees your artwork attached to a backing mountboard, which will then be framed with a spacer. This is the recommended best framing practice, and can be sized from as small as 1.5mm upwards — the most common sizes are 12mm and 20mm. This example is framed using a 3mm acid-free acrylic spacer, which is almost imperceptible, but maintains an air-gap between the glass and the work.

With a shadow float, the framed work “hovers” over the backing mountboard, having been attached to a hidden plinth. This is usually made of foamcore or Kappa board, and “hover height” is generally between 5 and 6mm, allowing the light falling onto the frame to create a pleasing shadow around the artwork. This method is often used with ragged-edge prints. For this method of framing and mounting, a spacer is always needed, this example being framed using a 12mm paper-wrapped acid-free spacer. We can make spacers of any depth, and exactly match them to the colour of the mounting board.

If framed straight to edge, the picture frame is placed around the edge of the artwork, with the print often drymounted to prevent it from wrinkling and, although not generally recommended best practice, the glass is often placed directly on top. Spacers can however be fitted to keep the glass away from the work and so observe best framing practice.

With this framing style, the work is recessed using a paper-wrapped or acid-free acrylic spacer, and often drymounted, which allows it to “sit” better on the spacer. These can also be any colour, or match the frame.

We can print your desired image directly onto high-quality heavyweight canvas, which is then stretched around a wooden rim. We offer two types of stretcher rims: one from knot-free finger-joined pine with strengthening batons if required, the other from museum-grade wooden-aluminium composite stretcher rim. Although more expensive than plain wood, this kind of stretcher will always remain perfectly true due to its superior construction. Our canvas prints is done at a size of 1524mm x 3000mm, then stretched for you. However, any canvas print over 2000mm long would need to be done on-site — please contact us for details.

We can fit any stretched canvas inside a tray or floater frame, leaving a small gap around the edges. Works on board and dibond panels can also be framed this way, and we are able to make custom tray frames in almost any wood, to fit any depth and size, colour or finish, depending on your exact specifications.