A race bib is a thin sheet that glue marks, and a finisher medal is heavy. We mount the bib flat with no glue and hang the medal on its ribbon, with a photograph beside them.
We frame a race bib, a finisher medal and a finish-line photograph together in one frame, for runners, cyclists and triathletes. The bib is the numbered sheet that was pinned to your shirt. The three items need different handling: the bib is thin and flat, the medal is thick and heavy, and the photograph is paper. One frame with some depth holds all three. The work is done at 1242 Davie Street.
The bib
Most bibs are made of a thin, tough sheet that feels like paper coated in plastic. Glue and tape mark this material and can show through from the front, and heat can warp it. So the bib is mounted flat with no adhesive. Clear corners, small pockets fixed to the backing board, grip each corner, or a mat, a border of card, overlaps its edges and holds it. The four pin holes, the creases and any dirt from the day stay as they are. A timing chip stuck to the back of a bib makes a raised strip, so tell us if yours has one, and the board behind can be cut away under it so the bib lies level.
The medal and its ribbon
A finisher medal is the thickest item, so it sets the depth of the frame. It hangs from its ribbon, and the ribbon carries the weight, held by a few hand stitches or a hidden support at the top. The ribbon can hang straight, or fold into a V with the medal at the lowest point. The medal is steadied from behind so it stays still. Spacers, thin strips hidden under the edge of the frame, hold the glazing in front of the medal. Glazing means the sheet of glass or acrylic at the front. Service medals and medal sets are covered under medal framing.
A canvas sets the depth of its own frame, through the wooden bars behind it. Silence of the Desert, an oil on canvas of small tents on a desert plain under a wide tan sky, 50 by 70 cm, is one of the originals in our gallery.
A finish-line photograph lies behind its own opening in the mat. Print it before you come, in the size you want. If you want your name, the distance and your finish time shown, ask us at the counter about an engraved plate. A printed card with those details, matted in a small opening of its own, is another way to show them.
Layouts
One race. The bib in the centre, the medal to one side, and the photograph above.
A series. Bibs from several races in a grid, with the medals in a row below.
A triathlon. The bib with a swim cap or a wristband, each on its own mount.
A medal can hang over the bib, and it then hides part of the number. We set the items out on the counter with you before anything is cut.
A series looks ordered on a wall when the pieces share a size. The Invitation is an acrylic on canvas in black and white, 30 by 40 cm, showing a flying saucer under a crescent moon with a beam of light on a woman in a gown.
The printing on a bib and the dye in a ribbon both fade in daylight. UV glazing filters ultraviolet light, the part of daylight that fades colour fastest, and we recommend it. The mat and the backing are acid-free, made so they stay free of the acid that browns paper. Our guide to UV glass and glazing lists the types.
What changes the cost
The depth needed for the medal, the outer size, the number of items, the glazing and the moulding, the shaped length of wood or metal the frame is cut from. A grid of several bibs and medals takes more cutting and more stitching than one set. You get the quote at the counter when the layout is agreed.
What to bring or send
Bring the bib flat, with its pins removed, and the medal with its ribbon. Leave the bib unironed, because heat can warp it. If you live outside Vancouver, send a photograph of the items and the size of each, with the thickness of the medal. A race shirt or team kit is covered under jersey framing, and signed sports items under sports memorabilia 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
How is a race bib mounted in a frame without glue?
A race bib is mounted in a frame by clear corners, small pockets that grip each corner of the bib and are fixed to the board behind. A mat that overlaps the edges can hold it as well. No glue or tape touches the bib, because adhesive marks its thin coated sheet and can show from the front.
Can a race bib and a finisher medal go in the same frame?
Yes, a race bib and a finisher medal can go in the same frame. The frame is built with enough depth for the medal, which is the thicker item, and a spacer holds the glazing in front of it. The bib lies flat on the backing, and the medal hangs from its ribbon beside or below the bib.
Should I iron a creased race bib before framing?
Leave a creased race bib unironed before framing. Most bibs are a thin coated sheet that can warp or melt under an iron. Light creases flatten when the bib is held at its corners behind a mat, and deeper creases stay visible as marks of the race. Bring the bib flat between two sheets of cardboard.
How is a finisher medal ribbon arranged in a frame?
A finisher medal ribbon is arranged in a frame either hanging straight or folded into a V with the medal at the lowest point. The ribbon is held by a few hand stitches in fine thread, and it carries the weight of the medal. A support behind the medal keeps it still. The stitches can be cut to free the ribbon.
Can my finish time be shown in the frame?
Your finish time can be shown in the frame on a printed card, matted in a small opening beside the bib and the medal. The card can also carry your name, the distance and the date. If you would prefer an engraved plate, ask us at the counter before the layout is fixed, since a plate needs its own space.
Can several race bibs be framed in one frame?
Yes, several race bibs can be framed in one frame, in a grid with one opening for each bib. Bibs from different races differ in size, so each opening is cut to its bib. The medals can hang in a row below. A grid of many bibs makes a large frame, and acrylic glazing keeps a large frame lighter than glass.
Will the colours on a race bib and ribbon fade?
The colours on a race bib and ribbon fade in daylight as time passes, and UV glazing slows this. Printed logos on the bib and the dye in the ribbon both react to light. Hang the frame on a wall away from direct sun. A room with a large window is brighter than a hallway, so choose its most shaded wall.
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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