You’ve just invested in a gallery123 limited edition print. Ensuring that your print is properly hung in the most suitable environment will help you derive maximum enjoyment from the work over the longest period of time. Below we offer some gentle words of wisdom on how best to protect your investment. If there is anything you would like to know that is not covered here, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Handling
It is important not to touch the print directly as oils from your hands can damage the artwork and compromise your investment. When handling your artwork please use clean cotton gloves, readily available from any art store.

Storage
To ensure their integrity and your investment, it is vital that these prints are not stored in their packaging long-term, and should be moved to a low-light and acid-free environment as soon as possible.

Hanging
Ensuring that your print hangs in the best conditions possible will enable you to get the best out of your artwork over the longest period of time. Here is some information for ensuring your artwork will remain in good condition for as long as possible.

• Lighting Works on paper, photography and textiles are particularly vulnerable to light’s adverse effects (UV rays). Too much direct light can lead to changes in print texture and discoloration, so it is important to strike a balance between the benefits of light for viewing your artwork and its potential dangers. Artworks should not be hung in direct sunlight, and artificial light can also be harmful, especially halogen lights and direct spotlights. Lights near the top of the picture frame can heat the work and cause discoloration.
• Humidity Prints on paper and photographic prints will be adversely affected by overly humid conditions and will be damaged by water, potentially causing an uneven print surface and discoloration. In view of this, bathrooms are not recommended for hanging prints. Also avoid places where accidental liquid spills are possible e.g. near a kitchen work surface.
• Heat Intense heat can affect both the colour and texture of artworks, so make sure your print is not displayed in close proximity to any heated surfaces such as radiators or placed in direct sunlight.

Framing
Ensuring that your print hangs in the best conditions possible will help maximise your enjoyment of the work over the longest period of time. Here are some quick and simple framing tips for ensuring your work of art remains in good condition for as long as possible.

Glass
UV resistant glass can be more expensive but will block out harmful light rays. Non-shatter glass will ensure that should a breakage occur, glass should not spear or scratch the artwork.

Do not frame your print with the glass pressed directly onto the image surface - this can damage the surface of the work and lead to humidity pockets gathering on the surface of the artwork. Instead, frame your print with a fillet or an air gap between the print surface and the glass.
Make sure the glass you use does not have a strong colour tint of its own - this will affect the original colour in your artwork.

Mount board / Matt board
Paper and photographic prints are sensitive to acidity levels present in non-professional framing materials. This especially applies to mount board, which should have low acidity levels or be acid free. Ask your framer for the best advice on acid free framing mount materials.

Adhesives
Acid free framing tapes should be used by your framer.