Just as dust, dirt, fumes, cigarette smoke, etc., can damage us as human beings, they can also damage art. Sulfur dioxide, for instance, causes paper to discolor, become brittle, and eventually disintegrate. And some pollutants interact with chemicals in certain artists' pigments. Carbon monoxide and other chemicals in the air can erode artworks, and soot and dirt particles contribute to discoloring and deterioration. Custom framing can protect your art against these hazards.

Light:
Not only the light we see, but the light we don't see, can damage artwork. The ultraviolet portion of the spectrum, which is invisible to the human eye, is considered the most destructive type of light. Sunlight, direct or reflected, contains the full spectrum of light waves. It's also usually more intense than interior lighting, so is a greater threat. But you have to watch out for interior lighting, too. Most fluorescent lights emit ultraviolet waves, and although they're not as intense as sunlight, the potential for damage is significant.

Most homes have incandescent lighting, which is safer for your art than fluorescent lights or sunlight. And if you have a picture lamp affixed to the top of your framed artwork, remember to keep it at a safe distance so that the light spreads and no 'hot spot' is created. The best rule to follow with light and artwork is: "the less light, the better."

The medium which is perhaps most vulnerable to light is watercolor, but oil paints are also affected by light over time. Color limited-edition prints are often quite vulnerable to light, too, depending on the type of inks used. Acrylic paint is one of the most durable of media, and if you have a preferred display spot that receives a lot of light, an acrylic work is the best choice.


Heat:
Heat accelerates the deterioration of paper, and it contributes to the discoloration and deterioration of paintings as well. In most paintings there is a combination of various types of pigments and mediums. Heat forces the different pigments and mediums, as well as the canvas it's on, to expand, often at different rates. This can create cracks. Remember, artwork should be hung well away from fireplaces, radiators, heat registers and spotlights.

Humidity:
Humidity is hard on artwork, but even worse when combined with heat. Heat and humidity encourage mold and mildew growth. Mold and mildew may invade a canvas, eventually pushing up the paint and disintegrating the canvas itself. Since paper starts as 99% water, it's even more vulnerable to humidity. Humidity has a lifelong effect on paper, causing it to expand and contract. Art on paper may show some waviness in its surface, which will change from time to time corresponding to the changes in environmental humidity. Proper framing can protect your art against most of the effects of humidity.

Insects:
Insects can nest in the back of a picture frame. If the frame isn't removed from the wall every few months and dusted and checked for bugs, insects can make their home there and actually bore through the wood, the backing, and sometimes through the art itself--looking for a warm dark place to lay their eggs. Then, naturally enough, the eggs hatch, and then you have larvae eating their way out. Right through your two-thousand-dollar painting. So take that picture down and clean the back of it every six months!

Bad Cleaning Practices:
Never spray water or Windex or anything like it on the glass itself, when the picture is hanging on the wall. The liquid can run down the glass and seep under it, and that moisture causes mold to form on the mat (and sometimes the art)--and the moisture can also warp the mat. Remember, paper loves moisture and you have to keep all moisture far away from it. Instead, spray a paper towel or rag and use it to clean the glass.