Choosing the right type of frame for your particular piece of art can be a confusing and complicated process. Certain frames complement particular types of art, but how do you know which one is right for your needs? Typically speaking, the type of frame used is generally dictated by characteristics such as the size and type of art (but not always). Here we give you a brief introduction to some of the different types of frames available and what they are typically used for, to give you a better understanding and help simplify your decision of which frame to use.

Off-The-Shelf Frames
There are plenty of ready-made frames that can be found in all number of retail stores. Usually made of timber or metal, these frames are produced in bulk by manufacturers and usually include glass or plexi-glass, a backing board, and the parts needed to hold everything in the frame. These types of frames are usually sold in standard frame sizes due to their mass production.
Aside from retail stores, you can also find ready-made frames in framing shops and from framing suppliers. These frames are typically of a higher quality and are much more versatile, coming in a wide variety of styles for different applications.

Float Frames
Float frames are usually custom-made for framing things such as oil paintings or prints on canvas. Unlike more traditional frames, float frames dont have a lip that covers the canvas, so the entire painting is always visible. The desired look is for the canvas to be floating inside the frame, hence the name float frame. It is one of simplest type of frames, focusing the viewers attention directly on the art.

Gallery Frames
Similar to float frames, gallery frames are pieces of timber attached to the sides of a stretched canvas. This is done to give the canvas a finished edge, and like float frames, is a relatively inexpensive option for framing.

Shadowbox Frames
These type of frames are typically used to display three-dimensional objects such as sporting memorabilia, medals, trophies, etc. Most shadowbox frames are custom-built to house the individual object they will contain, however it is possible to find ready-made shadowbox frames in small sizes. If you require a shadowbox frame, it is probably best left to a professional framer to create a suitable frame for your piece.

If you need custom-made framing or any other types of frames, we highly recommend DNA Framing in the Wollongong/Shellharbour area. They have a wide range of ready-made frames and can also fabricate a custom framing from scratch should you require this service.