Framing a football shirt or any sports shirt for that matter is a skilled and time consuming exercise and in order for you to display your shirt at its best it is imperative it is done properly and professionally. All shirt framing work undertaken by us is totally custom manufactured by skilled staff using specialist industry leading techniques and top quality products.
OK - So where do we begin when framing a football rugby t shirt or sports shirt - What exactly do we do and why do we believe we set the standard for others to follow?
Firstly it is important to note that no two sports shirts are the same and we treat each and every shirt on an individual basis and in accordance with customers implicit instruction after offering advice.We consider it unsuitable to stretch shirts tight over V board which can not only damage the shirt but also create an unatural look.We believe a framed shirt should look just that - a shirt - by its very nature that being it is an item of fabric and should at all times look like such. Some people will frame a shirt by cutting a mount "shirt shape design " and then placing the shirt behind this with no regard to skilfull arrangement. We do not frame shirts this way as it is very easy to make even a towel with a name and number on it look like a shirt using this method..!!!
All football shirts are carefully arranged (there are a variety of arrangement styles from which to choose) with either the front or the back on show (dependant on customers requirements) and attached to mount card. Please be aware that the mount card we use is acid free PH neutral and is generally Slater Harrison Colourmount which is manufactured to exceed the strict standards laid down by The Fine Art Trade Guild.
A bare faced wooden shadow box is constructed into which the mounted football shirt is placed and secured in a manner that prevents the football shirt dropping moving or sagging. We do NOT use staples nor glues nor tapes to secure the shirt that some budget framers or the less well informed may do as this can damage the shirt in the short and long term.Staples rust due to dampness in the atmosphere and thus stain the shirt and it obviously needs no mention that great holes are left in the fabric due to over zealous stapling. Adhesives leave residues which again not only stain the shirt but can actually degrade the material as adhesive is acidic.
We use a special technique used in the clothing and embroidery industry where a delicate but secure method of attachment is necessary. The purpose of the shadow box is that it serves to keep the shirt away from the glazing and also preserves and protects the football shirt. Note that our use of shadow box frame techniques enables the customer to choose from a larger selection of frame moulding colours and designs.
When including extras within the frame such as photographs plaques football stubs COA etc these can either be incorporated on the rear mountcard or incorporated within the design of the front mount surround.The choice really is yours.
The box is then attached to the individually manufactured frame moulding finished off with a bevel cut mount and glazed using either glass or safety glazing depending on the completed products size and/or weight. Diffused glass (non/low-reflective) which is normally utilised to minimise reflection should not be used in box framing as it will make the view of any signatures on the football shirt less clear.Such glass is better utilised within normal framing work such as print and photograph framing where its use is beneficial.
The rear of the shadow box frame is plated and secured with sturdy mdf then sealed with picture framers tape to keep dust and pollution out and also for a neat finish. Dependant upon size and /or weight the finished framed football shirt is strung ready for hanging. Alternatively hanging attachments are supplied in order for you to display the finished product on the wall.
Additional items can be included with the framed football shirt such as photographs ticket stubs engraved plaques certificates of authenticity etc but be aware that if the shirt is framed fully on show that adding extras greatly increases the overall size and weight.
Generally speaking when extra items are to be included within the framed football shirt then the shirt is arranged in the half folded style. This however is dependent on where the shirt has been signed. With regard to overall shirt frame dimensions and purely as a guide a framed football shirt is around 38 x 33 inches (970 x 840 mm).
A football shirt should always be framed in a manner that avoids the shirt touching the glass/glazing. This is why all the football shirts we frame are shadow box framed. This method not only protects and preserves the football shirt but ensures it is displayed in a manner that looks both professional and pleasing to the eye as you are looking into the frame as opposed to at it thus giving the football shirt a deep "3 dimensional" look. The end result is that your football shirt will look as though it is "floating" in the frame.
Further and in order to protect and preserve your shirt including its financial or sentimental value all
techniques employed by us to frame your shirt are fully reversible and
non- damaging to the item.
Numerous framers will "frame" a football shirt in a "standard" frame i.e. - like framing a print or a certificate. This means the shirt is pressed up against the glass with the glass and the backing board around which the shirt would be wrapped holding the shirt in place. This can lead to moisture and mold problems as the shirt cannot "breathe" as air is not able to circulate.This method of framing a shirt is not best practice not recommended and is just one of the reasons why all football shirts framed by us are framed using shadow box frames to avoid such issues.
On
the subject of glass we receive enquiries as to the most suitable
glazing to stop signatures on shirts fading.Fading of signatures cannot
be stopped irrespective of the glazing utilised it can only be slowed
down. UV protective glass which filters out a lot of the rays that may
contribute to fading is available but is also extremely expensive. It
is advisable to keep your framed shirt out of direct sunlight in order
to obviate the possibility of premature fading of signatures.
To demonstrate that there are many factors as well as direct light that can cause fading remember that football shirts are generally volume produced with maybe not the highest nor most expensive quality cottons and then signed by a player using a cheap felt tip type pen. Put the two together and you do not have the best medium upon which to obtain and keep a steadfast colourfast long lasting signature. Remember those cards you may have received years ago or that electronic till receipt that you may have kept out of the light and locked safely in a drawer - well take a look now and you may well find that the ink has faded or even disappeared!
We do not have bronze or silver or gold or platinum or standard or deluxe levels as all our shirts are framed exactly the same whatever you pay.We frame all our shirts to the same "platinum deluxe" standard. All shirts are framed using reversible techniques which means simply that your shirt is undamaged and well protected. This is conservation level which is the standard to which we adhere. All sport shirts framed are framed to this standard regardless. We do not charge less to frame to a lower standard or more to frame to a higher standard. All our shirts are framed the same way regardless.
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