Boston, Glossary Of Picture Framing Terms

Glossary Of Picture Framing Terms [17]

W Wall frame A frame just by itself without any glass, hardware or backing.
Wallbuddies A brand name type of frame hanging hardware that affixes to both the top horizontal, and vertical leg on each side of the frame. This ensures that all the weight of the frame and contents is not supported solely by the top leg of the frame.
Walnut wood Walnut varies in color from a pale brown to a rich chocolate brown. It is a dense hardwood whose grain can be irregular or straight. When straight-grained, the wood is easy to work with; irregular grain can sometimes result in pieces of the wood chipping out while cutting. Walnut can be an expensive wood, and is most often seen as a veneer on furniture and picture frames.
Wash line A picture display method that consists of a wire or string stretched horizontally between two vertical beams (or walls) on which images are hung using clips or clothespins. This is a modern rustic decor technique. Could also refer to the line strung across a darkroom in a photography studio, onto which prints are hung to dry when they are removed from the developer.
Watercolor painting Watercolor painting is a painting method. A watercolor is the medium or the resulting artwork, in which the paints are made of pigments suspended in a water soluble vehicle. The traditional and most common support for watercolor paintings is paper; other supports include papyrus, bark papers, plastics, vellum or leather, fabric, wood, and canvas. In East Asia, watercolor painting with inks is referred to as brush painting or scroll painting. In Chinese and Japanese painting it has been the dominant medium, often in monochrome black or browns. India, Ethiopia and other countries also have long traditions. Finger painting with watercolor paints originated in China.
Wedge (1) Another name for V-nails used in underpinners to join two mitered frame lengths into a 90 degree corner. this video shows how it works: click here These wedges are made from a special steel alloy which gives shape memory properties to the wedge. This way, when it penetrates into the moulding, it spreads its wings which -because of shape memory- try then to come back to their initial position. This results in pulling very strongly the 2 pieces of mouldings towards each other, so as to give a perfectly closed corner. (2)Thin pieces of wood that are inserted into the corner of two mitered frame lengths to join them together. Order online: Wedge nails
Wet Mounting The process of adhering a print to a rigid backing such as foam core, gatorboard or wood using a wet adhesive (glue, paste) that adheres as it dries. In contrast, dry mounting uses a "dry" adhesive that is activated by heat rather than air dryinh.
Wheat Starch Paste A paste made from wheat flour that can be used as a hinging adhesive for affixing an artwork to a backing or mat prior to framing. Starches are generally water soluble and considered a conservation-grade hinging technique (meaning the starch could be removed without damaging the artwork).
White core mat A mat board that is constructed from bright white fiber that is tightly pressed into a thick layer. A thinner, colored layer is laid over top to provide the color of the mat. The white core is visible in the finished display only at the bevelled inner edge. At KeenART Media, our Peterboro White Core mats are buffered with calcium carbonate to make them stable for many years. The backing paper on the mat is conservation quality so it will not react negatively with your artwork. The white core will resist discoloration over time. Order online: Uncut Matboard, 32x40" To order Custom Cut Frame MatBoards click here: Custom Cut Frame MatBoards
Wholesale framing The process of selling picture frames not directly to a customer but rather to a company who will then sell them to the customer. In other words, B2B (Business to Business), not B2C (Business to Consumer).
Wilhelm Imaging Research A company that researches the stability and preservation qualities of digital images and film. They publish data regarding the inkjet printers used for giclée printing.
Wipes Clothes designed specifically for cleaning glass and acrylic are formulated to prevent static build up on the surface, therefore minimizing the adherence of dust and other particles.
Wire Hoops Any type of hanging hardware that provides a loop or eyelet through which wire can be threaded. Generally, two hoops are attached to the frame or canvas, one on each vertical arm, 1/3 of the frame's size down from the top. Depending on the size/weight of the artwork, the hook may be affixed with one, two or as many as four screws or nails. The wire is then twisted around each hook, with a bit of slack in the middle to allow it to be hung over a nail or wall hook and displayed. Order online: Ring Hangers
Wood Panels A wood surface suited for arts and crafts or anything imaginable. These Hardboard Panels offer an archival alternative to stretched canvas. This rigid support is best for non flexible media such as tempera, and casein paints or even Resin Coatings. 15/16" Standard or 1-5/8" Profile deep - with Baltic Birch plywood Surface Wood panel, art panel, Hardboard Panels, Birch plywood Surface are the other names. Order online: Wood Panels
Wooden French Cleats A two-piece hanger with a bevelled edge on each piece, used for displaying large framed artwork on the wall. One long wooden piece is screwed into the back of the picture frame, with the lip facing down. The other piece is screwed into the wall with the lip facing up. The frame lip will then sit within the wall lip, securely holding the artwork. Metal french cleats are also available. Order online: Metal French Cleats
Workbench A workbench is sturdy table at which manual work is done. They range from simple flat surfaces to very complex designs that may be considered tools in themselves. Workbenches vary in size from tiny jewelers benches to the huge benches used by staircase makers. Almost all workbenches are rectangular in shape, often using the surface, corners and edges as flat/square and dimension standards. Design is as varied as type of work for which the benches are used but most share these attributes:
Wraparound effect This effect is created when canvas is mounted onto a wooden frame, stretched around the sides, and fastened with staples in the back. In the instance of an "image wrap", the front image is continued around the sides of the frame, creating a continuous, angled viewing area. Create your own, unique wraparound wall hanging with a custom made Giclée canvas print.