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 the same wet-mounting process is used. The picture framer just needs to be careful not to tip, spill, drop or upset the loose the puzzle tiles board brought in by Customers, usually on large, loose, plywood or thick cardboard sheets. Although this is not required, some Customers spray the puzzles with glue, spray-adhesive,  Mod  Podge or otherwise treat the loose   puzzles so that  they will all stay together in one piece.

Often Customers go to the unnecessary expense of buying gels, or sprays with which to glue, treat or coat the jigsaw puzzle tiles. However a picture framer will always mount or glue-down the entire puzzle on a sturdy backing board as part of the framing  process.

The Customer, The Jigsaw Puzzle And The Picture Framer

When taking a jigsaw puzzle to be picture 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  an that this is optional. That said, you can certainly ask for the fitting of either clear or non-reflective glass on your puzzle, or none at all.

Some Customers dislike any 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 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 that personal feeling of 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 often begin by making sure their puzzle is laying on rigid or stiff, flat board with edges,  so that the puzzle or the pieces won't slide of fall off.

They then might them spray 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 ourselves.

With either of these mediums, the puzzle should be or become "stiff" or at last rigid enough to be handled and lifted 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 needs to be archivally preserved or conserved. Some people like to a finishing touch such as applying 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 just want a frame around your puzzle either with or without glass and you 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 fit up work themselves.

However if you would like to add a  window mat or a window mount around the jigsaw puzzle, then talk to your picture framer about having a custom picture frame made. Images and printed paper, like the puzzle pieces, can degrade if pressed against glass and moisture is present.

A window mat tends to prevent because the glass sits on top of the window mat and  away from touching the 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.

	List of Do's		List of Don'ts
✓	Do check the finish puzzle size which is usually shown  the product details of the puzzle 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 once, or maybe twice, of Customers finding  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 laid  on a straight, rigid and stiff plywood, MDF or foamboard sheet before handling it or moving it. Some Customers have brought to us their 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 needs to be glazed.  Around half of the jigsaw puzzles we frame are without glass. This is because glazing them detracts from the look and feel of a finished puzzle and tends to make them look like prints under glass rather than assembled puzzles.