Materials                                     Page  3

Backing

When referring to backing, it includes mounting boards.  Mounting boards can be categorized into the same categories we used for mat boards.  Criteria for mat and mounting boards should be similar.  In order for preservation framing to be successful, the entire art package should be held to the same standards.

by Kaye Evans, CPF

Artcare Archival Foamboard
Created especially for framing, Archival Foamboard delivers two sided Artcare protection that outperforms all other acid-free foam boards, actively protecting mounted artwork from damaging pollutants and harmful gases. All this plus lightweight rigidity, easy cutability, excellent pressure memory and smooth mounting surfaces.

Bienfang Acid Free Foam Board
This specialty Foam Board is totally acid-free. This product features facing paper with a ph between 7.7 and 8.5. It's also made with a calcium carbonate buffer that provides many years of protection against pollutants that cause paper to become weak, brittle or yellow with age.

Regular Foam Board

Regular foam board will only be used by Royale Art Salon when the customer prefers that a replaceable poster be either dry-mounted to foam board or backed by regular foam board.  Regular foam board would never be used as a substitute for acid-free foam board, although we may, from time to time, substitute acid-free foam board for regular foam board.

Filler Boards

Filler boards are used as a method of filling in any unwanted space between the backing which the artwork is mounted to and the outer edge of the rabbet in the frame.  The filler board(s) simply make the back of the package flush eliminating  the formulation of unsightly creases that could develop over time.  Filler boards are generally acid-free foam board or acid-free cardboard.  Royale Art Salon will never compromise the artwork by using non acid-free materials.  The worst possible filler or backing boards that can be used would be regular card board, as it almost instantly starts burning the artwork due to the high acid content in un-neutralized pulp.

Dust Cover

The dust cover is the final defense against the entry of dusts, mildew, moisture, temperature changes and insects into the frame package.  The dust cover can be either  archival-conservation material or simple kraft paper in regular or black colours and is adhered to the frame backing by using the  widely used and acceptable double-sided ATG tape.  The framer must ensure that the dust cover is fully adhered to the frame without any spaces in the ATG tape.

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