Cels Forum

It depends on where you go and what options you choose. I'm
not really familiar with framing cels, but I do counted-cross-stitch
and I have *ALL* my pieces custom framed. As a matter of
fact, I'm thinking of framing one of my cels (a first for
me) and will most likely take it to the lady that does my
needlework. You will have choices like:

Matting or no matting? More than one mat? Which color mat?
     More than one color mat?
Non-glare or regular glass? Or UV protective glass? Plexi?
What type of frame - wood or plastic? Wide or thin?
     Elaborate or simple? (the lady I go to has a
     modest selection of about four hundred - in a good,
     well-stocked store be prepared to sit and take some
     time with this)

The downside is that for a good job, done using all acid-free
components, you need to expect to pay. The couple pieces
I've stitched that are about cel-sized cost around $80-$90
each to frame (acid free, with mats and non-glare glass -
UV glass, that is recommended for cels, would cost extra).

I very HIGHLY recommend going to a private framer with a
project like this. . . DO NOT go to some chain framing
store in the local mall - they don't know how to treat
delicate framing jobs, usually are staffed by high-school
kids looking for play money, and aren't known for their
careful work. Even worse, their solution for how to get
something to lay flat in a frame is to *GLUE* it to a
pasteboard inside the frame. (I found this out while
investigating having a very old movie poster framed.
They said they would "adhere" it to pasteboard as "a
protective measure against wrinkling". I told them exactly
where they could put their pasteboard and went elsewhere.
*smirk* But I digress.) I didn't find that out the hard
way, but I have a friend who did. (*shiver*)

So good luck! And if you happen to be in the Boston area
and want a really excellent framer, let me know - I'll send
you my framer's number and an avid recommendation for her!  :)

Many Sharp Smiles,
--Drac