If you’ve ever pulled a favorite photo out of an old frame only to find it faded, yellowed, or stuck to the glass, you already know why the right framing choices matter. At Middle Village Frame Shoppe, we see this all the time — and it’s almost always preventable with the right glass and mounting.
Why UV Light Is Your Artwork’s Biggest Enemy
Sunlight and even indoor lighting emit UV rays that break down pigments and paper fibers over time. Photographs lose their color. Watercolors fade. Newsprint and old documents turn brittle and yellow. The damage happens slowly, which is exactly why it’s easy to miss until it’s already done.
The fix is choosing the right glass. We stock several options, each suited to different needs:
- Regular glass — a solid, affordable choice for pieces displayed away from direct light.
- UV-protective glass — blocks up to 99% of harmful UV rays, ideal for anything with sentimental or lasting value.
- Non-glare glass — cuts down reflections for art displayed in bright rooms, though it doesn’t offer UV protection on its own.
- Museum glass — the gold standard, combining anti-reflective clarity with full UV protection. It’s nearly invisible once installed and gives artwork a true, gallery-quality presentation.
Mounting Matters Just as Much as Glass
Glass protects from the front, but how a piece is mounted determines whether it survives handling and humidity from behind. We use acid-free mats, boards, and hinging techniques designed to hold artwork securely without damaging it — no gluing directly onto photographs or documents. For irreplaceable pieces, we always recommend fully reversible mounting methods, so nothing is permanently altered.
This matters most for:
- Family photographs and heirlooms
- Diplomas, certificates, and military documents
- Needlework and fabric art
- Anything you’d never want to see damaged or devalued
A Real Example
A customer recently brought in a set of 1940s family photos that had been stored loose in a drawer for decades. Several had started to curl and crack at the edges. We mounted them using acid-free photo corners and museum glass, which let us frame them without any adhesive touching the originals — fully reversible, fully protected, and ready to display for the next generation.
Bring In Your Piece — We’ll Recommend the Right Setup
Every piece is different, and the “right” glass or mounting depends on the artwork, the room it’ll hang in, and how much light it gets. Stop by Middle Village Frame Shoppe at 75-19 68th Ave, and our team will walk you through the options in person — no guesswork required.
Visit our shop to protect your artwork at Middle Village Frame Shoppe 75-19 68th Ave, Middle Village, NY 11379 (718) 326-5721 Open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10:30am–5:30pm, Saturday 10:30am–2:30pm