Picture Framing For Jigsaw Puzzles

   

Making picture frames for 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 ought not be much more expensive than framing an ordinary prints because similar the same wet-mounting processes are used. The picture framer just needs to be careful not to tip, spill, drop, bump or upset the assembled jigsaw puzzle brought in by Customers, usually on flat boards or cardboard sheets.  Some Customers are aware of the inherent instability of their newly-solve puzzles and attempt to stabilize them with  masking  tapes, spray-adhesive or  Mod  Podge so that  the puzzles will stay together in one piece.

Some others go to the unnecessary expense of buying special gels with which seal, or bind together the jigsaw puzzle tiles. However a picture framer will  invariably do this for Customers by permanently mounting, or gluing down,  the entire puzzle on a sturdy backing board as part of the picture framing  process.

The Customer, The Jigsaw Puzzle And The Picture Framer

When taking a jigsaw puzzle to a picture framer be framed, all the Customer has to do is to carefully bring the assembled puzzle to the picture framer's shop counter, or table, in one piece, the rest will be done by the picture framer.

During the picture framing consultation,  Customers  should bear in mind that it isn't obligatory to glaze the puzzle  and that this is indeed optional. That said, you can certainly ask for the fitting of either clear or non-reflective glass for your puzzle, or none at all.

Some Customers dislike any and all glazing as this tends to "hide" or "detract" from the interesting mosaic of the jigsaw puzzle tile joints. Others just want to keep and protect the puzzle from household fumes, vapors and insects, so they ask for glass.

Though the COVID days are long gone, jigsaw puzzles are still a popular past-time and families often collaborate to assemble and get one, or more,  framed for their home. You can order and buy a wide and varied range of themes, subjects, designs and degrees of varying difficulty, just go online and Google search for them.

Interestingly, solving and assembling jigsaw puzzles can be somewhat addictive for some. Many find that starting and completing, or solving,  especially difficult or complex puzzle can be very satisfying.

Some folks also prefer to mount the finished jigsaw puzzle themselves instead of having a picture framer do it for them, as it adds to those personal feelings of completion and achievement.

If Wanting to DYO Jigsaw Puzzle Frame

DYO jigsaw puzzle mounting is a little challenging though not that difficult to accomplish.  Amateur puzzle mounters can begin by making sure their puzzle is laying on rigid or stiff, flat board with edges,  so that individual pieces, or tiles,  won't slide of fall off.

They then could spray the puzzle a fixative like 'Puzzle Mate' which binds the puzzle pieces 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 media ourselves.

With either of these products, the puzzle should then become "stiff" or at last rigid enough to be handled and lifted in one piece.

The assembled 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 needs to be archivally preserved or conserved. Some people like to a finishing touch such as applying imitation brush-strokes, or a clear finish texture like " Artist's Gel".

The gel will take at lest 24 hours to dry properly. Your local art supplies store should b e able to supply and advise you. 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 just want a frame around your puzzle either with or without glass,  and can collect it from our factory, you might like to consider ordering a Picture Framing Kit . The Kits are cheaper than custom picture frames because there is no picture framing consultation and Customers do the fitting up work themselves.

However if you would like to add a  window mat or a window mount around the jigsaw puzzle, then speak to your picture framer about having a custom picture frame made. A window mat's primary function is to keep the glass away from puzzles' design or image which can degrade or become damaged if pressed against the puzzle should moisture be present.

And if you're concerned about the puzzle colours and details fading, you should 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 a 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 500% 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.

The Do's And Dont's of Picture Framing Jigsaw Puzzles

 

	List of Do's		List of Don'ts
✓	Do check the finished puzzle size, usually shown  the product details of the product box before buying it. Chances  are that it won't finish up to a common or standard size and  that a custom picture  will be required.	❌	Don't presume that you'll readily or easily be able to find off-the-shelf frames for your jigsaw puzzles. We have framed hundreds over decades, but have seen and heard of only a few times of Customers being able to source  ready made frame for them.
✓	Do remember that nowadays, most modern puzzles are manufactured with protective coatings.  Typically, this is  a matte or satin laminate is applied during production to protect the image from wear, moisture, and fading.	❌	Don't think that you have to glue or mount your jigsaw puzzle before giving it to a picture framer for framing.  The framer will most likely either mount it on an adhesive board, or glue it down, most likely in a workshop vacuum press, before making the frame for it.
✓	Do make sure that your solved or finished puzzle is safely resting on a straight, rigid and stiff sheet or board before handling it or moving it. Some Customers have brought to us puzzles rolled up in felt and towels. Unfortunately,  the puzzles then broke up when being unrolled during  the Customers' consultation.	❌	Don't expect that your jigsaw puzzle necessarily has to be glazed.  More than two-thirds of the jigsaw puzzles we frame are without glass. This is because is it is thought or felt that glazing detracts from the look and feel of a finished puzzle and tends to make them look like prints under glass rather than real puzzles.