Purvis Gallery & Framing, Ltd., Pembroke, Ontario

1.	Sentimental Value: 'On a scale of 1-10' how important this piece is to you should help you determine what kind of framing to use on it.
2.	Collector Value: The rarity of the piece should dictate how it should be handled and what techniques to use in the framing.
3.	Monetary Value: The cost of the piece is also a common indicator of value. Anything of great value should be handled with care, using only conservation methods.
4.	Decorator Value: How you want to present this piece can help determine the type of framing you use.
5.	Overall Value: Get the best you can afford. Anything worth framing is worth framing well. It will be on your wall for years, so think of it as a long-term investment. Do it right and do it to last.

1.	Rag mats: These are mats made from pure cotton. Use them wherever conservation care is essential.
2.	Alphacellulose mats: These are also known as Alphamats and meet or exceed Library of Congress standards in a variety of tests. They are ph neutral and lignin free and can, therefore, be used in conservation framing.
3.	Mulberry hinges: This Japanese paper, made from the bark of the Mulberry tree, has a long, strong fibre and is compeltely free of acid. This makes it the right choice for hinging valuable works of art on paper.
4.	Coroplast Board: Neutral and inert. Used in conservation framing. There is no off-gassing from this chemically stable polypropylene/polyethylene board.
5.	UV filtering glass: A must for the prolonged life of art on paper. The fading is gradual and cumulative and is often not noticed until it is too late to prevent it. Light fading cannot be reversed.

1.	Protection: Take care to hang the piece where it wll not be damaged by heat, UV light rays, or humidity.
2.	Proper hangers: Use the proper size, type and number of specially designed hangers for your wall. This can be determined by the size and weight of the piece, as well as by the type of wall.
3.	Lighting: Ambient lighting creates a smooth blended look for your room and your art. Regular household lighting is a form of ambient light. Spot lighting can dramatically emphasize a piece, but be careful that the light is neither too direct nor too strong. Without the protection of UV glass, too direct or too strong lighting can damage your piece of work. Too strong light can also cast unwanted shadows on deep framed pieces.
4.	Height: Hang your art at the eye-level of the average person. If more time is spent sitting than standing in a particular room, then 'eye level' will be somewhat lower.
5.	Location: Hang smaller, more detailed pieces in small spaces, such as hallways, where impact is less important than content, and where the art can be better enjoyed up close. Larger pieces need more room to be properly viewed, therefore, should be hung opposite an entrance to a room, at the end of a long corridor, or on a large wall where there is plenty of viewing space.