How to Install Artwork in a Frame

This is for prints, photos and other flat artwork going into a traditional frame with glazing and a backing. Everything goes in from the back of the frame in a set order, then points hold the stack in place. There are two ways to set those points and both work: most customers use a point gun, and manual framer's points do the same job without one.

What you need

  • A point gun, or Manual Framer's Points if you do not have one.
  • A clean, flat, padded work surface with room for the whole frame.
  • A soft, lint-free cloth for the glazing.
  • Hanging hardware, so you can finish the job in one sitting.

Hardware is not included with the frame. Points, D-rings, wire and sawtooth hangers are all in hardware.

Steps

  1. Lay the frame face down on a padded surface so you are working from the back.
  2. Leave the protective film on acrylic until the moment it goes in the frame. It keeps dust, fingerprints and scratches off the sheet while you handle it.
  3. Wipe the glazing with the lint-free cloth. Stay away from paper towels and ammonia-based cleaners, which scratch acrylic.
  4. Drop the glazing into the rabbet first, then the mat if you are using one, then the artwork face down, then the backing.
  5. Turn the frame over and look through the front before you close it up. Dust and hair are much easier to deal with now than later.
  6. Lay it face down again and secure the stack with points driven into the inside of the rabbet, against the backing.
  7. If you are working with manual points instead of a gun, they go in the same place, spaced every few inches along each side.
  8. Add D-rings and wire or a sawtooth hanger, then hang it.

If you find dust under the glazing after the points are in, it is worth pulling a few points, lifting the stack out, and starting that part again. It will bother you on the wall.

Shop this

Related

Need help? Contact us and we will talk it through with you.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a point gun?

No. Most customers use one because it is quick, but manual framer’s points hold just as well and need no tool to buy.

What order does everything go in?

Working from the back of the frame: glazing first, then the mat if you have one, then the artwork face down, then the backing. Points go in last.

Is the hardware included with my frame?

No. Points and hanging hardware are sold separately in hardware.

What if I am framing a canvas instead?

A canvas is mounted differently. See mounting a canvas in a traditional frame, or offset clips for a floater frame.

How should I clean the glazing before it goes in?

Use a soft, lint-free microfiber cloth with a non-abrasive acrylic cleaner or mild soap and water. Avoid paper towels, ammonia-based cleaners and anything rough, because they scratch the surface.