About making picture frames for and picture framing jigsaw puzzles

Picture framing jigsaw puzzles is part and parcel of everyday picture framing. Most experienced framers should have no problems at all picture framing these reasonably quickly and economically. The cost of framing puzzles (use Option 5 here) is no dearer than framing an ordinary print as the same wet-mounting process is used. The picture framer just needs to be careful not to tip, spill, drop or upset the loose puzzle board brought in by the customer, usually on a large, loose plywood or thick cardboard sheets. It is also not required or necessary for customers to spray  glue or treat the loose puzzles so that they will all stay together.

The picture framer will always mount or glue-down the entire puzzle on a sturdy backing board as part of the framing  process. Often a customer will go to the unnecessary expense of buying gels, varnishes or sprays with which to treat or coat the loose puzzles. When custom picture framing a puzzle, all the customer has to do is to carefully bring the assembled puzzle to the picture framer's shop counter or table.

Everything else will be done by the framer. The last point to be considered is that glazing the puzzle is optional. You can certainly ask for the fitting of either clear or non-reflective glass on you puzzle or none at all. Some customers dislike glazing as this "hides" or "detracts" from the interesting mosaic of the jigsaw puzzle tile joints. Other just want to keep and protect the puzzle, so they ask for glass. No, a few thoughts about jigsaw puzzles.

These are still a popular past-time and often families combine efforts to assemble and frame one for their home. You can buy a wide and varied range of themes, designs and degrees of difficulty, just go online and Google search for them. The one thing about making jigsaw puzzles and which you should know beforehand is that these can be addictive. Starting and completing (especially difficult or complex) tasks is very satisfying.

Some folks, want to experience that feeling over an over again. With them, jigsaw puzzle making becomes a serious hobby or even ( shudder) an addiction! Again, some people also prefer to mount the jigsaw puzzle themselves instead of having a picture framer do it for them. That's not too difficult to do. DYO jigsaw puzzle mounters often begin by making sure their puzzle is sitting on hardy board with edges one so that the puzzle or the pieces won't slide of fall off.

They then might them spray a fixative like 'Puzzle Mate' which is both binds the puzzle piece together and covers the puzzle with a protective layer. We've also heard of some customers using an acrylic varnish or Artist's Gel though we've never used these ourselves. With either of these mediums, the puzzle should be or become "stiff" or at last rigid enough to be handled in one piece. The assembled, stiff puzzle is then either mounted on a self-adhesive sticky foamboard or even just placed on top of a loose pierce of MDF or plywood. You can use a snap-kine or Stanley knife with a Tee-square to trim the foamboard to suit.

These backings are fine so long as the puzzle isn't valuable or meant to be conserved. Some people like to brush in or apply a fake brush-stroke, clear finish texture like " Artist's Gel" to their finished puzzles. The gel will take at lest 24 hours to dry properly. Your local art supplies store will have some for sure. Note that if finishing with Artist's Gel, glazing with either glass or acrylic is not recommended.

After all this, the mounted jigsaw puzzle is now ready for picture framing. If you do want to add glass and a mat or mount around the picture, talk to your picture framer picture framing jigsaw puzzles with these. Images and printed paper, like the puzzle pieces, can degrade more quickly if pressed against glass. And if you're worried about the puzzle colours and details fading, ask you picture framer how much extra it would cost to have your puzzled framed with Ultra-Violet protection glass.

If you puzzle is of standard picture frame size, consider buying a cheaper, ready-made frame, rather than a custom picture frame which will be more expensive. Don't be afraid to do a ring-around for prices as custom picture framing prices can vary by as much as 200% depending on which area of your city a picture framer works from. Picture framers in expensive, well-to-do suburbs always charge more than others in poorer, less well-to-do areas. It's a fact of life. than you for reading this post "About making picture frames for and picture framing jigsaw puzzles.".