The worth of a comic or a card depends on its condition. We frame comics, cards and graded slabs so nothing sticks to them, light is filtered, and each item can be taken out as it went in.
We frame comic books, trading cards and graded slabs at 1242 Davie Street. A graded slab is a sealed hard plastic case from a grading company, with a label that gives the item a condition score. With all three, the price a collector pays depends on condition. A bent corner, a mark from tape or a faded cover lowers it. So the frame has one task besides looking good: it must add nothing to the item and take nothing away.
How a comic or a card is held
The item sits in a recess, a shallow space cut to its exact size in acid-free board. Acid-free means the board is made so it does not turn acidic and stain paper. A mat, a border of card with an opening, lies over the recess and overlaps the edges of the item by a narrow strip. The recess stops the item from sliding and the mat stops it from falling forward. No glue, tape or heat touches it.
A comic is a stapled booklet, thicker at the spine than at the open edge, so its recess is cut to that thickness. A card is thin and small, and several cards can sit in a row of recesses under one mat.
Graded slabs
A slab is framed whole, with its label showing. It is thicker than a loose comic, so the recess is deeper and the frame is deeper. The case stays sealed. We treat the plastic of the slab as giving no protection from light, and we fit the same UV glazing as for a loose comic.
Light and yellowing
Older comics were printed on low-cost paper that turns yellow and brittle with age and with light. Cover inks fade. Glazing means the sheet of glass or acrylic at the front of the frame. We fit UV glazing, which filters out ultraviolet light, the part of daylight that does the most damage to paper and ink. Our guide to UV glass and glazing explains the types. Acid-free board around the comic means the frame adds no acid to paper that already has its own, as explained in our guide to acid-free mats and backing. A wall away from direct sun slows the change further.
A drawing on board needs the same two things as an old comic: acid-free board around it and UV glazing in front. Silent Frequency is a graphite drawing on artboard, 30 by 40 cm, of a figure with an old television set for a head.
One item. A single comic or slab in its own frame, with a wide mat around the cover.
A run of covers. Several issues in a grid under one mat, with all the openings cut from a single sheet so the spacing is exact.
A set of cards. A team, a full set or a single player across several years, in rows.
Bring the whole set, in the order you want it. For a large set, we plan the grid on the counter with you before anything is cut.
A small picture can hang alone or in a row with others of its size. Beyond the Lightbeam, an acrylic on canvas in black and white, 30 by 40 cm, shows a flying saucer sending a beam of light down on a woman in a long gown. It comes from our gallery.
You may sell or trade the item one day, or send it to be graded. Because it rests in a recess with no adhesive, it lifts out when the back of the frame is opened. An item of the same size can go into the same opening later.
What changes the cost
The number of openings is the largest factor, since each recess is cut for one item. Slabs add depth, which means a deeper moulding, the shaped length of wood or metal the frame is cut from. The outer size and the glazing make up the rest. We quote at the counter when we have seen the items.
What to bring or send
Bring each item in the sleeve or case you keep it in. If you live outside Vancouver, send the height, width and thickness of each item, the number of items, and a photograph. Album sleeves are covered on our record framing page, signed sports items under sports memorabilia framing, and film or comic posters under poster framing.
Walk in at 1242 Davie Street during opening hours. Enter your email on this page for a 10% framing code to show at the shop, and see custom framing for everything else we frame.
How it works
1
Bring it in, or send photographs
Walk in to 1242 Davie Street during opening hours. If you are not in Vancouver, send the dimensions and a photograph and we will work from that.
2
We look at the actual piece
What it is made of, what condition it is in, and where it is going to hang all change the answer. You get a straight recommendation and a price for your piece, not a rate card.
3
It is made by hand and fitted
Cut to the piece, using conservation materials, and finished with hanging hardware rated for the actual weight.
Common questions
Can a comic book be framed without damaging it?
Yes, a comic book can be framed without damage when no adhesive touches it. We rest the comic in a recess cut to its size in acid-free board, and a mat overlaps its edges to hold it in place. No glue, tape or heat is used, and UV glazing filters the light that fades covers and yellows paper.
Can a graded comic or card slab be framed without opening the case?
Yes, a graded comic or card slab is framed whole, with the case sealed and the label showing. The slab sits in a recess cut to its size and thickness, so the frame is deeper than one for a loose comic. We fit UV glazing over it, because we do not rely on the plastic of the case to filter light.
Should a comic stay in its bag and backing board inside the frame?
A comic can stay in its bag and backing board inside the frame, or come out of them. That choice is yours. Out of the bag, the cover shows with no extra layer of plastic in front of it. In the bag, the comic is handled less. Tell us which you prefer at the counter, and we cut the recess to suit.
How many trading cards fit in one frame?
The number of trading cards in one frame is limited only by the size of frame your wall can take. Each card has its own recess under a shared mat, and the cards are arranged in rows. A large set makes a large frame, so some collectors split a set across two or three matching frames. Bring the full set and we plan the grid with you.
Can I still sell a comic after it has been framed?
Yes, you can still sell a comic after it has been framed, as long as the mount used no adhesive. Ours uses none. The comic rests in a recess and lifts out when the back of the frame is opened. Condition depends on light as well, which is why we fit UV glazing and suggest a wall away from direct sun.
Will a framed comic cover fade or turn yellow?
A framed comic cover fades and yellows more slowly behind UV glazing and against acid-free board. Comic paper carries its own acid and reacts to light, so no frame stops the change completely. Hang the frame away from direct sun and strong lamps. For a comic that matters to you, a hallway or a room with little daylight is the safest wall.
Can I swap the comic in a frame for a different issue later?
Yes, you can swap the comic in a frame for another issue of the same size. The recess is cut to the height, width and thickness of the first comic, so a later issue from the same series usually fits. Comics from other periods were printed in other sizes, so measure the new one before you open the frame.
10% off your custom framing when you show this code at our shop
We frame, stretch canvas and reframe by hand, in our own workshop inside the gallery at
1242 Davie Street. Enter your email and your code appears right here. Show it at the
counter and we take 10% off the job. The code does not expire.
Send the measurements, what it is made of, and a photograph. We will tell you what it actually needs, including when the answer is that it needs less than you expected.
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Exceptional Service and a Truly Memorable Art Purchase
I had a wonderful experience with Van Art Hub Gallery. I came across two pieces by Melina Ghaemi — *Mad Mirrors* and *Small World in the Hands of a Stranger* — and immediately fell in love with them.
I contacted Van Art Hub Gallery, and they were incredibly helpful throughout the entire process, from arranging the payment to organizing the shipping. At first, I was a little skeptical and nervous about how everything would work, especially since the paintings were still in Iran and it was shortly after the war. But the gallery handled everything with such professionalism and care that my concerns quickly disappeared. Amazingly, they were able to get the paintings to Canada in just two days!
The pieces are absolutely captivating. Even when I picked them up from the frame maker and was simply carrying them to my car, several people stopped and asked me about the paintings. That says a lot about how striking and special Melina Ghaemi’s work is.
A big thank you to Van Art Hub Gallery for making this experience so smooth and enjoyable. I truly appreciated their professionalism, communication, honesty, and integrity throughout the entire process. I would happily work with them again and highly recommend them to anyone interested in purchasing art through the gallery.
I got my order today and your work is really good. I didn’t expect to get a certificate for this painting, it was a surprise. Thanks for caring about small details.
The support team was really helpful and followed up nicely, wich I really appreciated. The painting is just like the photo – great quality and very detalied. I just wish it arrived a bit sooner, but honestly it was worth the wait.
I received my painting today. The support team was great and very responsive. The artwork is exactly what I was hoping for – even more beautifull in person. Truly a valuable piece. I’ll definetely order again. Thank you!
