An original painting on canvas from the VanArtHub gallery at 1242 Davie Street in Vancouver.

Works on paper · Vancouver

Poster Framing

Posters framed to their real size rather than trimmed to fit a shop-bought frame, with acid-free backing and a glazing choice that suits the room. Vancouver, 1242 Davie Street.

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Most posters are an odd size, and that is the whole problem. A ready-made frame is built to photographic paper sizes, so the usual advice is to trim the poster to fit it. We cut the frame to the poster instead, which costs more than a shop frame and is the only version that does not involve cutting up the thing you wanted to keep.

Posters are usually worth more care than people expect

A film poster, a gig poster or an exhibition poster is generally printed on inexpensive paper with inks that were never meant to last, which makes the framing the only thing standing between it and a slow fade. Acid-free backing matters more here than on good paper, not less, because cheap paper is already acidic and does not need help.

Rolled, creased or already pinned

Bring it as it is. A poster that has been rolled for years will relax flat under gentle weight over a few days and does not need ironing. Pinholes in the corners are extremely common and a mat covers them. A crease across the middle can often be improved but rarely removed completely, and we will tell you honestly which one yours is before you spend anything.

Glazing for a large poster

Past a certain size, glass gets heavy and dangerous, so we usually move to acrylic. It is lighter, it does not shatter, and on a big poster in a hallway that is the safer answer as well as the easier one to hang.

What we need

The poster and its real dimensions. If it is oversized, tell us how it will get to the wall, because a very large framed piece has to fit through your door and up your stairs.

Hinged at the top free to move at the sides and bottom Glued down nowhere to go, so it buckles
A work on paper is held by two hinges at the top edge and nothing else, so the sheet can expand and contract with the room. Glue, tape, and dry mounting all fix the sheet in place, and a fixed sheet buckles. Hinges are also reversible, which is the test of every conservation decision.

How it works

  1. 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. 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. 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

Why can't I just buy a frame that fits my poster?

Because ready-made frames are built to photographic paper sizes and most posters are not one of them. The usual advice is to trim the poster, which means cutting up the thing you wanted to keep. We cut the frame to the poster instead.

Is it worth framing a cheap poster properly?

Often more worth it than an expensive print, not less. Poster paper is usually acidic and the inks were never meant to last, so acid-free backing and UV glazing are doing more work here than they would on good paper.

My poster has been rolled for years. Can it be flattened?

Yes, and it does not need ironing. Gentle weight on the margins over a few days will relax it flat. Never apply heat, because that softens the ink surface and it takes an impression of whatever touches it.

What about pinholes in the corners?

Extremely common and easily dealt with. A mat overlapping the edge covers them completely. If you want the full sheet showing, they stay visible, so it is worth deciding which matters more to you.

Can a crease be removed?

Improved, rarely removed completely. A crease has broken the paper fibres along that line and nothing puts them back. We will tell you honestly which yours is before you spend anything on it.

Should a large poster be framed with glass or acrylic?

Acrylic, past a certain size. Glass gets heavy and genuinely dangerous at large sizes, both to hang and if it ever comes down. Acrylic is a fraction of the weight and does not shatter.

Other things we frame

Where to find us

VanArtHub Gallery 1242 Davie Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 1N3
Canada
Monday10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tuesday10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursday10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Get directions Call (604) 401-9499

Not sure what yours needs?

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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