Custom Framing
What is custom picture framing?
A picture frame is a decorative edging for a picture, such as a painting or photograph, intended to enhance it, make it easier to display and/or to protect it. “Custom” is defined as made or done to order for a particular customer. When we combine those definitions we get: A decorative edging for a picture, such as a painting or photograph, intended to enhance it, display it, and protect it to a customer’s specifications.
The State College Framing Co. & Gallery is a professional custom picture framing shop specializing in the design and construction of custom picture frames for works of art on canvas and paper, photography, prints, and posters. We also custom frame a wide range of needle art and textile based arts, as well as other objects and collectibles meant to be framed and displayed in a shadow box. Whether our client’s item is an original oil by Georgia O’Keeffe, a work on paper thought to be done by Michelangelo, a diploma, a child’s drawing, or a signed sports jersey, it is as important to us as it is to our clients, and deserves better than a one-size-fits-all approach.
For us, it’s personal. Through consulting with you one-on-one, we’ll provide you with the personalized service you need to help define your preferences and expectations, in order to create for you a finished project that will delight you.
You can choose from an almost limitless selection of customizable options in material, style, and color to suit your project, your personal taste, and your décor. And we’ll guide you every step of the way.
All work is performed on-site by our experienced professional framers, who boast a total of more than 40 years combined experience and are well versed in the latest techniques and materials available.
Our goal is to wow you, with both our service and the results.
Call or stop in today to discuss how we can help make your next project a masterpiece.
Framing Options
Custom framing enhances and preserves more than just paintings and photographs. Our projects have included shadow-boxes for military honors, stretching and framing fine needlework and entire quilts, mounting athletic shoes and equipment for display, keepsake items, photography, printed canvas and acrylic, documents, mirrors, even coffee sacks.
We can also help with restoration and repairs, whether you just need to replace a damaged piece of glass, to create a new look, or a new frame built for an existing piece.
Quality Materials
We use only the finest materials from the industry’s leading producers of archival-quality framing products.
Moulding – Solid hardwoods, Gold and Silver Gild, Metal, and Acrylic
This is the material that makes up the frame itself.
Bella Moulding, International Moulding, Larson Juhl, Nielsen Metal, Nurre Caxton, Prisma Frame, Roma and others.
Matting – Acid free and museum quality matting material including but not limited to paper, linen, silk and suede surfaces. This is the material that surrounds and supports your work of art.
Bainbridge, Crescent and Artique matting materials are carried in stock and ordered weekly.
Glazing – Glass, Acrylic, Conservation, Reflection Control, Museum
This is the protective layer placed over your work of art.
Tru Vue
Delighted Customers
You don’t have to take our word for it. See for yourself what our customers are saying about our framing.
State College Framing Company is our first and only choice when we need a print finished. Whether we need framing, mounting or stretching, John always has the perfect solution!
State College Framing Company has provided excellent quality custom matting and framing for our design clients residentially and commercially. The service is truly wonderful. We have been so pleased with their work for closing in on 5 years. We look forward to working with them often in the future.
I have been using State College Framing Co. & Gallery for over 20 years. When I first met John I was so impressed with his attention to detail and how he cares about every project. He treats everything like his own and his workmanship shows. He and his staff are always welcoming and helpful and excellent with suggestions. I appreciate the service his store provides – something you just don’t get from a big box store. Highly recommend!
Some of our Projects
Victorian Silhouette Project
This was a project representing the three silhouettes of a family’s children. This was traditionally done in the the 19th century and had some roots to the Victorian time period; although paper cutting goes back for centuries in history and shows up in countless cultures.
The artwork itself is rather small, roughly 7’ x 5” so we wanted to give the piece some size and dimension so it stood out when displayed. We made the matting a combination of oval and rectangle to ease the transition to a finished rectangular frame. We kept colors simple as the art itself, while highly detailed is simple in presentation. We also wanted to give the fill of the time period and decided to accentuate the Victorian era will some line design and accents. The final design element was trying to find a custom frame that had the fill of age but yet simple in design elements as to not distract from the intricacies of the paper cut.
The finished project was roughly 15 X 13 inches and now is a show piece for the family’s home.
Shadow Box of a Special Moment
When we think of custom framing and a custom framed shadow box, we often think of a large complicated project with lots of three dimensional objects to mount and display. This is a project where we wanted to show off a special moment to the young man in the photo.
We had a photo of the gentleman and it did tell a story. Clearly he had caught a fish off the beach and the family wanted it framed to remind him and them of this moment. I asked, “Tell me more about this photo and why is it important?”. Listening to our clients and guest maybe one of the most important steps Jeff and I take to completing a great design vs something average. They explained that their son had caught this fish on a certain lure in the surf and it was his first using said technique. I immediately knew the project would be more complete, more special by including this lure in the design. We kept the elements… three mats and simple cherry frame… but now instead of a photo we had a small shadow box show casing the fish and the exact lure the fish was caught on. This gentleman 50 years from now will be able to tell his grandkids of a special moment cause the family and our show, The State College Framing Co & Gallery, took the time to custom frame and custom shadow box that special moment.
Congrats on the special catch!
Friends of THE S.C. FRAMING CO. & GALLERY
