This Glossary, which is in the process of being compiled, lists many of the terms used in picture framing, conservation, museum curatorship and fine arts. I am most grateful to those individuals who have helped me and also, to those organizations who enabled me to publish this page by providing free educational information on their websites.

A

Absorption: The action by which a liquid or gas is leaked or drawn into the porous or permeable structure of a solid or fluid. This contrasts with adsorption, where the substances are simply held on the surface of the solid material. See also Adsorb, adsorption.

Accretions: Solid pieces of extraneous or foreign matter attached to the surface of artwork or an object such as dirt or food particles. Should the removal of such matter be required, great care must be exercised during the mechanical dismantling process to avoid tears, holes or similar damage. Where the artwork has any sentimental, historical or financial value a qualified Conservator ought to be consulted.

Acid: In chemistry, a compound that produces hydrogen ions (H+) in aqueous solutions. The resulting concentration and state of hydrogen ions in water is known as acidity.

Acidic paper: Depending on the process used in its production, and the materials it is in contact with, paper can be acidic, neutral or alkaline. Many new papers are acidic and although they may initially be quite strong they will rapidly lose strength if they contain strong acids. This is due to chemical reactions that break down the chain length of the cellulose, the main component of paper. When paper loses most of its strength, it is said to be brittle.

Acid-free: A technical term that describes materials, including boards and papers, that have a reading of 7 pH, or very close to 7 pH. Acid-free materials are more permanent and less likely to discolor over time. The term Archival or conservation quality more accurately describes true acid-free conservation quality matboard.

Acid migration: This refers to the contamination, or transfer of acid from an acidic material to one less so or to an acid-fee one. In picture framing this often occurs when acidic papers or boards are placed in contact with non-acidic artwork thereby staining and damaging it.

Acid rain: Rain, or precipitation, with a pH below 5.7. Caused by oxides of nitrogen and sulphur released into the air through the burning of fossil fuels for transport, heat and power. These oxides are converted into nitric and sulphuric acids and washed down in the rain. Acid rain can be particularly damaging to stone buildings, outdoor metal and stone sculpture.

Acrylic: A class of plastics known for their clear optical properties and durability. Acrylics have good resistance to the effects of sunlight and exposure to the elements over a long period of time. They do not yellow significantly or undergo significant changes in their physical properties. Acrylic sheets are used extensively for glazing in picture frames. Perspex and Plexiglas are trade names of manufactured acrylic sheeting. Acrylic resins are also widely used in binders for adhesives, paints and varnishes

Adhesive: A substance capable of bonding or gluing materials to each other by chemical or mechanical action, or both, and which may be activated by water, non-aqueous solvents, pressure, heat, cold or other means. A desirable characteristic of adhesives used in conservation is reversibility.

Adsorption: The action by which a liquid or gas is stopped or held on the surface or outside of a solid material. This contrasts with absorb and absorption, where a liquid or gas is leaked or drawn into the porous or permeable structure of a solid or fluid. See also Absorb, absorption.

Agency: In picture framing, an Agency is run by an Agent who agrees to have your picture framed but does not actually do it and merely passes the work on to a third party for a fee or commission, much like leaving your clothes to be dry-cleaned at the Newsagent. Agencies were more common in the past, but still exist, particularly in the country. It's preferable though to leave your artwork to be framed personally by the picture framer, or his~her staff, on their premises. Avoid having your artwork double-handled, loaded into trucks and shipped off to strangers who have not talked to you and may not be professional picture framers.

Alkaline buffer:  Chemicals that neutralize acids present in papers or boards as a result of manufacture or the environment. Various agents may be used as alkaline buffers but magnesium or calcium carbonate are the most common. While this is a useful method to decelerate paper deterioration, it can be damaging when in contact with other materials such as leather or older photographs.

Alpha cellulose: The insoluble part of cellulose composites when in a 17.5% solution of sodium hydroxide at 20¡C under specified conditions. Alpha cellulose is made up mostly of cellulose but may include other materials that are insoluble under test conditions. Because the durability of papers and boards depends to some extent on the absence of non-cellulosic impurities, the determination of true cellulose-alpha cellulose-gives also indicates its stability and permanence. The term alpha cellulose in a paper or board specification generally indicates a high-quality product.

Ambrotype: A 19th century, photographic process that produced a wet collodion negative image onto a glass plate which was coated with black paper or lacquer to give a positive image. A popular photographic portraiture medium during the 1850s.

Aniline Dyes: Today this term refers to any synthetic organic dyes and pigments, regardless of source, as against animal or vegetable colouring materials, natural earth pigments, and synthetic inorganic pigments. Aniline dyes are classified according to their degree of brightness or their light fastness. Basic dyes are known for their extreme brightness, as well as for their lack of colour fastness.

Archival: An inexact term implying materials, products or processes that are durable, chemically stable, of long life and suitable for conservation purposes. The phrase is not quantifiable; no standards exist that describe how long an 'archival' material will last. Permanence and permanent are often used to mean the same thing.However, most reputable manufacturers nowadays produce non-acidic, archival-quality materials can be safely used for long-term display or storage of valuable artwork without causing or adding to degradation. These materials usually have additives that slow down deterioration caused by other factors. Archival-quality papers, cards and boards are mostly made from high-quality cellulose fibres such as those from rags. Archival-quality plastics are inert and allied adhesives are stable without acids.

ATG Tapes: Double-sided tapes used to stick mat boards and other mterials together. Usually used with an Adhesive Transfer Gun or applicator, available at Art Supply stores.

Auxiliary support:  In picture framing, the structure to which the substratum or support is attached. In a conventional oil painting this is normally a wooden stretcher.

Backboard:  The part of a mat made from a solid piece of mat board, which functions as a protective support for works of art on paper. This term is sometimes confused with a backing board, which serves a different function. See also Mounts, mats.

Backing Board:  A protective sheet of material attached to the back, or verso, of a frame, or sometimes directly to the stretcher, to isolate the back of the support from the environment. Backing board materials may be of Regular, Conservation and Museum qualities. Regular backs include MDF, cardboards, plywoods, chipboards and masonite made out of unbleached wood pulp containing harmful lignin, that progressively yellow, become more acidic with time and may damage your artwork. Conservation backs, such as foamboards, are available with an acid-free rating and will not damage your artwork.

Museum backs have all the qualities of Conservation foamboard, are of higher-quality, and the polystirene core is sandwiched with cotton rag paper sheets. The quality of a backing to be used in a particular picture framing job is decided in consultation with the Customer since not all prints are created equal. An inexpensive, commercial print or poster would not warrant the extra expense of Museum or Conservation materials whereas a fine art limited edition, etching or watercolour most probably would.

Baryta coating:  A coating made from the mineral, barium sulphate. It is opaque and white. In photographs, the baryta layer is made of barium oxide with a binder to hold it together, or barium sulhpate suspended in gelatine. It is applied to photographic printing papers under the emulsion layer to mask the colour and texture of the paper and ensure a smooth image.

Bevelled edge:  The angled, 45-degree cuts foerming the hole, opening or window of a matboard. This allows about 3 mm of the core to be seen.A reverse bevel means the core will not be seen from the front of the mat.

Bleaching:  The cosmetic whitening or reduction of coloured substances by the chemical action of an oxidising or reducing agent. The process is likely to weaken paper or textiles and is rarely a recommended conservation treatment.

Blistering:  Bubbling between layers of paint or between paint and the surface it is covering, often caused by heat.

Bloom:  a) On metals, a loose, flower-like corrosion product which forms when certain metals are exposed to a moist environment.
b) On paintings, a cloudy appearance on the varnish of the painting, probably caused by the presence of moisture on the surface of the paint or in the varnish itself at the time of original varnishing.
c) On other organic objects, a term used to describe the visible appearance of active mould spores.

Bone folder:  A flat piece of bone or plastic with rounded corners and edges. It is used to score and fold paper and light card when making storage folders.

Brittle/brittleness:  A property or condition of a material, such as paper, board and adhesives, that causes it to break when it is deformed by bending. Paper is said to be brittle when a corner will not withstand two complete folds.

Bronze disease:  A non-protective corrosion of copper and bronze objects, caused by the production of copper chlorides which break down the normally protective surface patinas. Light blue-green blisters form on the surface. When they are touched, they crumble and fall away leaving a pitted surface. The corrosion is cyclic, setting up reactive and destructive corrosion cells on the surface of the metal.

Buckling:  When a flat, or regular surface goes out of shape. Distortion caused by water damage, heat, expansions, shrinkage or compression.

Buffered: (See Alkaline Buffering)

C

Calibrate:  To check, and correct if necessary, the accuracy of an instrument against a standard.

Camera obscura:  An early form of camera consisting of a darkened box with a hole-or lens-in one side which casts an image of an object onto a ground glass screen or sheet of paper. The image was then traced rather than recorded photographically.

Carbonaceous:  A substance which contains carbon.

Carcinoged:  A substance which produces a cancer in a body.

Carte-de-visite:  A photograph, originally albumen, attached to a cardboard backingand used as a visitor's card. The photographs were nearly always portraits and were collected enthusiastically and mounted in albums. The mass-produced photographs were taken by a camera which could take more than one image on a single glass plate negative. They were popular from 1860 to the late 1890s.

Cataloguing:  Creating a record according to specific and uniform principles of construction. Museum cataloguing usually includes details of any numbers assigned to the object; the object name; details of manufacture; history and use; storage location; physical condition; and often some form of classification.

Cellair:  A thin polyethylene foam padding, used for packaging, wrapping, and the lining of rebates and frames. A similar product is called Protecta Foam-this is a trademark/brand name.

Cellulose, cellulose fibres:  A complex carbohydrate forming the walls of the cells in all plants. The chief source of cellulose is wood, cotton and other fibrous materials, for example, flax and hemp. Cellulose is the raw material for the manufacture of paper, rayon, cellulose lacquers and films.

Cellulose nitrate:  Cellulose nitrates are a range of compounds formed by treating cellulose with a mixture of nitric and sulphuric acids. They are used in the manufacture of plastics, lacquers and explosives. They were also used extensively as a film base until 1951, but were abandoned for this purpose because of their high flammability. See also Nitrate film.

Chemical deterioration:  Deterioration caused by chemical changes within a substance, or by chemicals from another source acting on the structure of a substance.

Chemical reaction:  The process by which chemicals combine with each other to form products which differ from, or alter, the original substances.

Chloride:  Often found in nature in a chemical compound called salt where chloride is chemically bound to a metal such as sodium. Chloride salts may cause abrasions or produce harmful chemical reactions such as those associated with bronze disease.

Chlorinated hydrocarbons:  Any of a wide variety of organic compounds, liquids and solids. Cholorinated hydrocarbons are produced when chlorine is chemically combined with hydrocarbons such as methane, ethylene and benzene. Chlorinated hydrocarbons are used as solvents and plasticisers. Polyvinyl chloride-PVC-is a plastic form of chlorinated hydrocarbon. See also PVC.

Cibachrome:  A photographic process for making colour prints from colour slides or transparencies. It produces a high-quality, direct, positive photograph using a silver dye-bleach process. Cibachromes were produced with gloss or pearl finishes; gloss cibachromes have a longer life expectancy. The name was changed to Ilfochrome in 1992.

Clamshell box:  Well-made storage boxes for individual books, similar to Solander boxes. They are handmade and are relatively expensive. See also Solander box.

Classification: ; Assigning objects into groups within a system of categories. Classifying or grouping similar objects helps in retrieval when the objects are required.

Clear title:  Ownership without restrictions or conditions. It is important to establish clear title when accepting donations or bequests to collections.

Cleavage:  The separation of the layers of paint from the ground of a painting, which may cause cracking and blistering between layers. This eventually causes the paint to flake off.

Coated paper:  A slick, glossy paper, usually very opaque white, created by coating the surface with adhesives, clay, calcium carbonate or other mineral pigments to provide a smoother base for printing. Also called glossy paper. Coated papers often stick together when wet.

Cockling:  Wrinkling or puckering caused when paper, fabric, or any sheet of support material dries unevenly.

Collection:  The body of acquired objects held in title by the collecting organisation; or the accumulated items held by a collector.

Collection management:  All activities related to the care of a collection from the time an object is acquired to its eventual disposal. Collection management covers documentation-registration, accessioning, cataloguing; handling-storage, conservation, display; loan and disposal of objects.

Collection survey:  Information collected about the state of a collection or part of a collection, at a given time. Collection surveys can be as broad or as detailed as necessary. They are a snapshot of the collection, and a means of examining and recording the condition of a whole collection, rather than of a particular item. Collection surveys are useful for resource planning, collection maintenance, and developing conservation plans. Also called conservation surveys.

Collodion:  A solution of cellulose nitrate compound in a mixture of alcohol and ether. It was used in photography as the basis for the wet collodion process from the 1850s.

Composite object:  An object made up of different materials; for example, metal and wood; leather, wood and feathers. Care must be taken that storage and display conditions are suitable for all the materials which make up the object.

Condensation:  The process by which a gas or vapour becomes a liquid. In museums, galleries and libraries, a change in relative humidity can cause condensation of water in enclosed cases, causing damage to objects.

Condition report:  A document which details the condition of an object and is used as a tool to determine change in the object over time. Ideally, condition reports should be produced as soon as an object is acquired. They may also be produced as part of a collection survey; prior to conservation treatment; or as documentation to accompany travelling exhibitions or loans.

Conditioning is a process of gradual adjustment to new and/or different conditions of temperature and relative humidity. This is achieved through small incremental exposures to the new environment over time. The length of time that conditioning takes will depend on the item and the extent of the environmental differences. See also Acclimatise.

Conservation:  All actions aimed at safeguarding cultural material for the future. Its purpose is to study, record, retain and restore the culturally significant qualities of an object with the least possible intervention. See also Preservation; Preventive conservation; Restoration.

Conservation framing:  Conservation approved framing methods using acid-free materials which protect artwork, documents and photographic prints and help prolong their lives. See also Conservation mounting In picture framing, this broad term encompasses the materials, processes and technique employed by professional picture framers to conserve or preserve, with as minimal a deterioration as possible, the original condition of the item being framed. This process must also embody the principle of reversibility, ie:, the item to be framed must be capable of being safely deframed, disassembled, removed or detached should the need arise to do so in the future.

Also synonymous with museum-framing, this process helps to protect artwork against the effects of sunlight, acids and pollutants that yellow, fade and damage the art. Specially selected conservation materials, archival matting, hinging, frame sealing and UV protective glazing (glass or acrylic) may all be used to increase the stability and longevity of framed items.

Conservation and preservation are crucial criteria when framing articles with financial, personal value or are simply irreplaceable. It focusses on using acid-free materials such as the matboards, backing, and mounting materials. Acids in many, cheaper picture framing materials, including cardboards, plywoods and spray-glue, can cause acid-leaching, staining, discolouration, deterioration, brittleness, slow disintegration, of your valuable artwork. By requesting conservation-rated materials, you can be sure your framed artwork will be well-preserved to stand the test of time.

Generally speaking, conservation materials, processses and techniques are not used for a range of ephemeral, replaceable or commercial prints or posters since the added cost of conservation picture framing is not ususally regarded by customers as commensurate with the value of the item.

Conservation grade:  An indication of the purity or quality of materials used in conservation. Conservation-grade boards and papers are made from 100% rag-usually cotton fibres-or purified wood pulp which has the acidic lignin and other contaminating components removed.

The terms 'conservation-quality' and 'museum-quality' are used differently in many countries, therefore, specifications should be checked when purchasing. See also Museum-quality.

Conservation mounting:  Conservation approved mounting methods using acid free materials that protect artwork, documents and photographic prints, and help prolong their lives. See also Conservation framing; Mounting.

Conservation plan:  Preparation of a strategy for the long-term care of collections. Developing a conservation plan involves identifying the conservation needs of collections, prioritising them and allocating resources to deal with them.

Conservation-quality:  See also Conservation grade; Museum-quality.

Conservation standards:  Agreed standards of care needed for the long-term conservation of collections.

Conservation survey:  See Collection survey.

Copysafe sleeves:  Ring binder, plastic sleeves made from polypropylene with tiny bubbles on the inside to prevent photocopies from sticking to the sleeve. The word 'Copysafe' is always embossed along the ring-binder edge of the sleeve.

Corflute:  A synthetic, corrugated plastic which has been used as a backing board in recent times-this is a trademark/brand name.

Corner rounder:  A device for rounding the corners of paper mountboard and polyester sheets. Used to remove the corner points of polyester, which is used in encapsulation, in order to avoid damage to materials during storage.

Corrosion:  Gradual deterioration of a solid-especially a metal or alloy-due to chemical processes such as oxidation or the action of a chemical agent. Some corrosion products, like patinas, can be protective; however others, like rust, can be harmful to metals. See also Galvanic corrosion; Patina; Rust; Tarnish.

Crosslinking:  The formation of side bonds between different polymer strands which leads to a change in the physical properties of the material, such as loss of flexibility and colour change.

Cultural heritage:  A tradition, habit, skill, art form or institution which is passed from one generation to the next. See also Significance.

Cyanotype:  A photographic process that produces an image with a characteristic blue colour, also called blue-print process or Prussian-blue process. It is called cyanotype because the paper is sensitised with an iron/cyanide solution. Cyanotypes were produced from the 1840s, but became popular between 1885 and 1910. They are highly sensitive to alkalis and should not be placed in contact with alkaline-buffered storage papers.

D

D-rings:  Hanging devices in which metal straps secure a D-shaped ring. This is a very secure method of hanging, as the straps are secured into the frame with screws.

Dacron:  A strong, crease-resistant polyester fibre-this is a trademark/brand name. See also Polyester.

Daguerreotype:  A photographic process in which a positive image formed by mercury vapour is produced on a copper plate coated with a highly-polished layer of silver. The daguerreotype has a mirror-like surface and is usually in its own decorative and protective case. Popular from 1839 to the 1860s.

Deaccession:  The process by which objects in a collection are removed, other documentation is amended and the item is made ready for disposal.

Deacidification:  A common term for a chemical treatment that neutralises acid in a material such as paper, and that may deposit an alkaline buffer to counteract future acid attack. While deacidification may increase the chemical stability of paper it does not restore strength or flexibility to brittle paper.

Dehumidifier:  A machine which reduces the humidity in the atmosphere by using refrigerant coils, desiccants or absorbent drying agents.

Deionised water:  A substitute for distilled water in photographic and some conservation processes. Deionised water is a solvent from which ionic impurities-or free radicals-have been removed by passing it through anions and cation exchange columns. Anions such as chloride and sulphate and cations such as sodium, calcium and magnesium are removed.

Denier:  A unit of weight used to indicate the fineness of silk, nylon, etc. The lower the denier, the finer the fabric.

Desorption:  The removal of materials by breaking chemical bonds from the surface of a solid so that they become gaseous. The reverse of adsorption. See also Adsorb, adsorption.

Developing-out paper, DOP:  A sensitised photographic paper which uses a chemical developing stage for producing the image either as a contact print or an enlargement, as opposed to printing-out paper which requires no chemical development. See also Printing-out paper.

Digital:  Digital means by numbers. A digital watch displays the current time as a set of numbers which change abruptly at regular intervals; whereas an analogue watch models the passage of time by hands which move smoothly around its face. See also Analogue.

Disaster kit, disaster bin:  A basic, portable set of supplies needed for coping with minor disasters-more extensive supplies are kept in a disaster store. Disaster kits can be mobile or static, but they should be easily accessible and able to be moved quickly and safely. In addition to basic materials and equipment, they should contain a checklist of procedures or emergency information sheets and a list of emergency contacts.

Disaster preparedness:  Being prepared to implement practices which will speed the reaction and recovery phases after a disaster. More generally, disaster preparedness refers to the entire process of planning and equipping for a disaster. It includes anticipating the sorts of disasters which could occur and having procedures in place to deal with them: usually in the form of a counter-disaster or disaster control plan. See also Counter-disaster plan; Hazard assessment.

Disaster store:  A room dedicated to holding an extensive range of equipment and supplies for disaster recovery, including stocks to replenish disaster kits or bins.

Disinfest:  To get rid of vermin, especially lice or rats.

Dispersing agent:  A substance that increases the stability of a suspension of powdered particles in a liquid medium by separating the individual, suspended particles.

Documentation:  In museum cataloguing, the process of record-keeping for each object in a collection. Documentation includes records on details of the object, provenance data and any subsequent museum use of the object. Written records of information and decisions about the operation of an organisation and the objects in its collection. In museums, galleries and libraries this can include policies, plans, condition reports and collection surveys.

Dropback box:  Another name for a Clamshell box. See also Solander box.

Dry rot:  A fungal disease which attacks seasoned timbers, often causing the wood to be reduced to a dry, crumbly texture and to collapse.

Dust:  Particulate material which is or has been airborne and which is a specific size. See also Particulate matter.

Dust jacket:  For books, a paper covering folded around the cover for protective and advertising purposes. Also called a book jacket, dust wrapper, or jacket cover. For small, three-dimensional objects, any protective covering made of cloth or paper which will protect the object from dust and dirt.

Dye:  A material employed for giving colour to textiles, paper, leather, wood or other products. Dyes can be natural or artificial. Many chemicals will stain and colour other materials, but a product is not considered a dye unless it imparts a distinct permanent colour to textiles. Dyes dissolve completely in their binding solution-unlike pigments, which remain suspended. See also Aniline dye; Pigments.

E

Electromagnetic radiation:  Radiation consisting of particles or waves of energy associated with electric and magnetic fields, produced by the acceleration of an electric charge. Electromagnetic radiation is emitted by matter in discrete quantities of energy called photons. The type of electromagnetic radiation-whether it be infrared, radio or visible light-depends upon its frequency. The types of electromagnetic radiation of most concern in conservation are light and ultraviolet radiation. These form part of the electromagnetic spectrum. See also Electromagnetic spectrum; Frequency; Wavelength.

Electromagnetic spectrum:  The range of frequencies over which electromagnetic radiations are propagated. The lowest frequencies are radio waves; increases of frequency produce infrared radiation, light, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays and gamma rays. See also Electromagnetic radiation; Frequency; Light; UV radiation; Visible spectrum.

Electronic media:  Media which depend upon the use of electrical means to store, transmit and reproduce data or information. Electronic information may be accessed through the use of a storage device such as a sound cassette, CD-ROM or floppy disk and an electronic device for reading, processing and displaying the information such as a computer.

Electroplating:  The application of a metallic coating to a surface by electrolytic action; that is, by depositing metal from a solution of one of its salts onto the surface, using an electrical current. The principal function of electroplating is to make a cheaper metal look like silver. It is used widely for domestic cutlery and plate.

Electrostatic:  A material which is electrically charged so that particulate matter is attracted to it and held by the charge.

Emulsion:  In photography, the word emulsion refers to the layer of binder containing the light-sensitive materials. The most common emulsion has been gelatine, but albumen and collodion were also used. In scientific terms an emulsion is a suspension of one liquid in another. When referring to paints and adhesives, emulsion means a liquid-usually water-containing small particles of synthetic materials and other chemicals. The materials and chemicals undergo chemical changes as the water dries off, and a tough, insoluble, continuous film of paint or adhesive is formed.

Encapsulation:  A form of protective enclosure for paper and other flat objects. It involves placing the item between two sheets of transparent polyester film and sealing some or all of the edges. The object is thus physically supported and protected from the atmosphere and during handling. Because the object is not fixed to the polyester, it can be removed by cutting one or more edges of the polyester. Note: The object may continue to deteriorate in the capsule.

Enclosures:  A general term for various types of protective containers constructed for temporary or permanent storage of fragile materials; also known as wrappers. Encapsulation is a form of protective enclosure, as are Solander and other boxes, dust jackets, envelopes and mounts. See also Clamshell boxes; Dust jacket; Encapsulation; Solander boxes; Mats, mounts.

Environmental control:  The maintenance of safe levels of light exposure, humidity, temperature, air pollution, air movement, and dirt inside a building.

Equilibrium moisture content:  A term applied to wood which indicates the moisture content at which the wood neither loses nor gains moisture from the surrounding atmosphere-it has reached equilibrium with the environment.

Extraction unit:  A piece of equipment designed to extract noxious fumes or gases from an area, often consisting of a fume hood/cupboard and a ventilation unit.

F

Facsimile:  a) a copy of an original, reproducing its exact form and style. b) electronically generated images-text or graphics-transmitted over telephone lines, commonly referred to as faxes.

Fading:  Most light rays, especially the daylight ones, will fade a picture with the worst being the ultraviolet "UV" rays. Nomal, clear picture framing float glass blocks about 60% of the "UV" light but this is not enough to conserve colours or avoid fast fading. To greatly retard fading, since total prevention is impossible, consider asking your framer to glaze your artwork with "UV" filtering glass.

While this type of glazing is dearer, it's been proven to block over 97% of the harmful "UV" rays. Here in Melbourne, Australia, picture framing glass is generally available as clear, non-reflective (glass etched on one side to reduce reflection),"UV" filtering clear, and museum quality.

Ferromagnetic:  The metals iron, cobalt and nickel, and certain alloys are vastly more magnetic than any other known substance; these metals are said to be ferromagnetic. They possess magnetic properties in the absence of a magnetic field.

Filler:  Chalk clay or similar minerals added to paper pulp to extend the pulp, make it less porous, increase the smoothness of the paper and create a better printing surface; also called loadings. Finial:  A decoratively turned or carved vertical ornament which ends a post, corner or edge on a piece of furniture.

Fluorescence:  A form of luminescence in which substances are capable of absorbing light of one wavelength or colour and, in its place, emitting light of another wavelength or colour. This forms the basis for fluorescent lighting. Fluorescent lighting:  Light sources in which electric current is passed through a gas causing electron excitation in the phosphor atoms composing the coating on the inner wall of the luminaire.

Foam Core:  A composite board consisting of outer layers of paper and an inner layer of polystyrene. It comes in various grades, some of which contain acid-free paper-this is a trademark/brand name.

Folding box board:  A multi-ply board specifically manufactured for folding into boxes.

Foredge, fore edge:  The outer front edge of a book; the side opposite the spine. Also spelt fore-edge.

Foxing:  Discolouration of paper, usually in the form of random rust-coloured spots. Believed to be caused by one or more of the following: fungus or mould, impurities in manufacture, high humidity or dampness, and airborne acids. The removal of foxing is generally not recommended as the treatment methods used usually result in weakening of the paper.

Frass:  The dust-like debris or excrement left behind by wood-eating larvae and boring insects.

Freeze drying (vacuum):  A method of removing water from wet books or other materials. The material is first frozen and then placed in a high vacuum, so that the water, in the form of ice, vaporises in the vacuum without passing through the liquid state.

Freezing:  In conservation work, freezing is used for a number of purposes: Some objects can be frozen to kill insects at all stages of their life cycle. This is a non-chemical disinfestation method. In a disaster, particularly one which involves water damage, freezing can be used to minimise or prevent further deterioration to objects until they can be dealt with adequately. Under these conditions freezing is not a drying technique; and although it will stop mould from growing, it will not kill existing mould spores. It simply stabilises the materials in the condition in which they were found to allow time for priorities, treatment methods and disposal/replacement programs to be established. frequency The number of cycles, oscillations or vibrations of a wave motion or oscillation in a unit of time, usually one second. This term is used in connection with the electromagnetic spectrum, to indicate the amount of energy transmitted by various parts of the spectrum. The more frequent the waves, the more energy they carry and the greater their potential to damage objects. Frequencies in the visible light range are lower than those in the ultraviolet range. See also Electromagnetic radiation; Electromagnetic spectrum.

Friable media:  Those materials used to create works of art which, if the binding agent is not strong enough, can separate from their supports and easily crumble into a powdery form, for example, charcoal and pastels.

Fruiting bodies:  The structures which produce the spores for the reproduction of fungi. In larger species of fungi, the fruiting bodies are known as toadstools and mushrooms. See also Spores.

Fumigation:  The process of exposing objects, often in a vacuum or air-tight chamber, to poisonous gases or vapour: to destroy insects, mildew or other life forms that may endanger them. The chemicals used in fumigation are often highly dangerous to humans.

Fungicide:  A substance which can kill or prevent the growth of fungi. Many fungicides are highly chlorinated substances which remain active for long periods. While stable enough for most normal use, care should be taken that they are used in low concentrations. While the breakdown of fungicides is normally slow, if they are accelerated by contact with some metals they can produce hydrochloric acid. See also Pesticide.

Fungus/fungi/mould:  Fungi are simple microscopic plants which contain no chlorophyll. They are at least 100,000 different species of fungi. Their spores or reproductive bodies are everywhere and await only proper conditions of moisture and temperature to germinate, grow and reproduce. Fungi cause staining and weakening of many types of materials. The best way to control the growth of mould is to maintain relative humidity below 70-80% and to provide good air movement.

Furnish:  A papermaker's term meaning the mixture of pulp, chemicals, sizing, fillers, dyes and other additives which form the ingredients of a paper.

G

Glazing: (without spacers) At times, and mostly as a cost-cutting measure, Customers may request that their pictures be glazed directly on the the artwork without mats, mounts, spacers or fillets. This is an inadvisable practice that may cause or promote fogging, condensation and even the sticking of the actual image to the glass.

Just as temperature fluctuations can cause your car to fog up on the inside, so can the same thing happen inside a picture frame. This fogging, or condensation, can easily damage your artwork by bleeding inks, smudging a gouache or watercolour, soften photographic emulsions ( the image part of a photogarph )causing them and other paper-borne art to stick to the glass.

It can also promote discolouration or even "fox" (the small brown spots commonly seen on old prints and papers) any paper art. To avoid most if not all of the above, we suggest framing all artwork with either a mat or mount or, if the artwork is large, spacers that are special plastic strips placed under the lip of the frame between the glazing and the artwork.

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Matboard:  The American name for the coloured cardboard one often sees immediately under the glass of a framed picture and surrounding the image. Also called a mountboard in England and passepartout in Europe. Matboards mostly fall into three categories: Regular, Conservation and Museum. Regular boards are made out of unbleached wood pulp containing harmful lignin, have a core that will progressively yellow, are not fade-proof, become more acidic with time and may damage your artwork.

Conservation boards are made out of bleached wood pulp with lignin removed, have a bright white core, are totally acid-free, with fade-resistant colours using pigments instead of fugitive dyes, and will not damage your artwork. Museum boards have the all the qualities of Conservation Boards and, additionally, are made out of higher-quality cotton rag instead of wood pulp.

The quality of board to be used in a particular picture framing job is decided in consultation with the Customer since not all prints are created equal. An inexpensive, commercial print or poster would not warrant the extra expense of Museum or Conservation materials whereas a fine art limited edition, etching or watercolour most probably would.

Mildew:  Mildew is caused by a number of fungi species and causes brownish spots (foxing)to occur on mostly paper-borne artwork. On watercolours, the fungi digests the sizing almost invisibly and this results in dark spots appearing after the painting is complete. The fungi's activities can result in serious and unsightly damage to the fibres on papers, canvases, as well as discolouring matboards and a host of allied problems.

These undesirable fungi prefer dark, dank or damp areas, where there is a water leakage, moisture source, high humidity and the damage is usually, but not always, irreversible. An Art Restorer or Conservator, usually found in your local Yellow Pages directory should be consulted for assessment, treatment and possible restoration. Ideally, all artwork, paper and matting boards should be stored in an area with 50% relative humidity at 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Mountboard   See matboard

Passepartout   See matboard

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Picture Framing: with or without acid-free materials It is an inescapable fact of commercial life that acid-free materials are dearer than standard, run-of-the-mill, acidic ones and that picture framers will charge more to frame to a conservation standard. However, a substantial proportion, if not the majority, of artwork framed by picture framers nowadays consists of inexpensive, commercial reproductions, prints and posters printed with ephemeral inks on acidic paper and thus seldom warranting expensive framing. However, a professional picture framer will always give you the first option of choosing and selecting the quality, stable, non-harmful,acid-free materials used in conservation framing.

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Sizing:  ( Alum rosin ) This is used in the papermaking process to size boards and papers. Since rosin does not easily attach itself to paper, papermakers use alum-aluminium sulphate to bind paper and rosin. Alum rosin sizing has been in most machine-made papers since the 19th century. It's a major source of acid in paper and causes to become brittle with age.

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Wet mounting:  Paper fibres tend to expand and contract with temperature and humidity changes which can result in the buckling or waving of your artwork. The only way to guarantee that your artwork will be perfectly flat all year around is to have it mounted, stuck down or glued to a backing board. This involves coating the back of the art with an adhesive and permanently adhering it to the backing material.

However, since this process is not easily reversible it is not recommended to be used with valuable artwork or something that you may want to frame differently in the future. In these cases you would have the artwork "hinged" using acid-free, pH-neutral hinges or held in place with photo corners. This is the non-damaging, reversible conservation mounting method. You can expect the artwork to have a little "waviness" to it with this process, particularly with most watercolours, other wet media, stamped or pressed prints.

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