The information on this page is taken from our booklet 'How To Take Care of Your Artwork', which is sent along with all artwork sold by Eyetstorm.

Below you will find some helpful advice and information about caring for your artwork.

We are always here to help, so please contact us if you have any further questions.

To go to the Eyestorm home page, click here

When handling your artwork please be careful, preferably using clean cotton gloves, which are available from any art store. It is important not to touch the print directly as oils from your hands can damage the artwork in the longer term.

To ensure the integrity of the artwork and your investment, it is vital that prints are kept in a low-light and in a non-humid environment until framed. If you know it might be stored for some time, we advise you keep it in the orginal Eyestorm packaging.

Every artwork is special and displaying it the right way will ensure you get the most pleasure from it.

The following pages contain information for ensuring your artwork will remain in good condition for as long as possible.

If you bought your artwork including framing, please contact us if you have any questions about to how hang it. As a guideline, if your frame has a cord, then you can consider it safe to hang using the cord. If no cord has been attached, then you should use the hooks, as hanging directly on the hooks is always safer as it supports more weight.

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 harm. 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 discolorationt.

Eyestorm would recommend that artificial lights are kept at an absolute minimum distance of 12” / 30 cm from any artwork surface.

Humidity
Prints on paper and photographic prints will be affected by overly humid conditions and will be damaged by water, potentially causing an uneven print surface and discoloration. In view of this, bathrooms with high humidity 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 piece is not displayed in close proximity to any heated surfaces such as radiators or placed in direct sunlight.

Glass
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 spacer or an air gap between the print surface and the 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.

Mount board / Matt board
Paper and photographic prints are sensitive to acidity levels which may be 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
Never use standard sticky tape, blu-tack or regular masking tape for holding your print in place. These will deteriorate with age, may leave sticky marks on your artwork or damage it when removed and have high levels of acidity, which will affect the quality of your print in time. Acid free framing tapes are widely available and should be used by your chosen framer.

The Certificate of Authenticity is a unique document which verifies the artwork as authentic. Together with the receipt of purchase, the certificate acts as a warranty for the buyer should you wish to sell your artwork in the future, either privately or through an auction house.

For insurance purposes the Certificate of Authenticity is not enclosed with your piece, but instead posted after you have received your artwork.

We will send you an email on the day we dispatch the documents so you can keep an eye out for them.