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

Objects & textiles · Vancouver

Record & Album Art Framing

Album sleeves and records framed so the sleeve is supported and the disc can be removed again, with UV glazing to stop the artwork fading. Vancouver, 1242 Davie Street.

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An album sleeve is printed card, and it does two things over time: it fades, and it warps. Both are the framing's problem to solve. The other question is whether the record itself goes in, and whether you ever want it out again.

Sleeve, record, or both

Most people frame the sleeve alone, which keeps it simple and lets the artwork sit flat behind glazing. If the disc goes in too, it is mounted separately so it can be lifted out without dismantling the frame, because a record that can never be played again is a decision worth making deliberately rather than by accident.

Support across the whole sleeve

Card sags. A sleeve held only at the edges will bow forward in the middle within a couple of years, especially in a room with any humidity. It is supported across its whole back on an acid-free board, so the face stays flat.

UV glazing, because sleeve art fades

Album artwork is printed with inks that were chosen to look good in a shop, not to last fifty years on a wall. Reds and yellows go first. If the piece is going anywhere with daylight, UV glazing is doing the main work of keeping it looking like itself.

Gatefolds and sets

A gatefold can be framed open, which is much wider than people expect, so measure the wall first. A run of several sleeves usually reads better with identical frames and a consistent gap than with a mixed group. Bring the whole set if you are framing more than one.

floated, so it casts a shadow hidden mount, shaped to the object spacer
An object is floated a few millimetres off the backing board so it casts a shadow and reads as an object rather than as a picture of one. It is held by a mount shaped to it, which touches only where it can safely bear weight, and which can be released without leaving a mark.

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

Can the record go in the frame with the sleeve?

Yes, mounted separately so it can be lifted out without dismantling the frame. Whether it should is your call, and it is worth making deliberately rather than by accident, because a record that can never be played again is a decision.

Why does an album sleeve need support across its whole back?

Because card sags. A sleeve held only at the edges will bow forward in the middle within a couple of years, especially in a room with any humidity. Supported across an acid-free board, the face stays flat.

Does album artwork fade?

Yes, and faster than people expect. Sleeve art was printed with inks chosen to look good in a shop, not to last fifty years on a wall. Reds and yellows go first. UV glazing does the main work of keeping it looking like itself.

Can a gatefold be framed open?

Yes, and it is much wider than people expect, so measure the wall first. Framed open it becomes a substantial piece, which is often the point, but it needs the space planned for.

I want to frame several sleeves. Any advice?

Identical frames and a consistent gap almost always read better than a mixed group. Bring the whole set rather than framing them one at a time, so the sizing and spacing are worked out together.

Will framing devalue a collectible record?

It can, if the framing is not reversible. Ours is: nothing is glued and the disc and sleeve can both come out again. If the record is genuinely collectible, say so before anything is mounted.

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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