Feel free to visit our showroom Monday thru Friday 11am to 6pm, and Saturday 11am to 5pm or call 312-881-5200.

Our professional designers will show you samples of picture frames, silks and linens from around the world and a whole array of mats from Crescent & Bainbridge.

We frame mirrors as small as 1" x 1" to as large as 10' x 10'.

Silver Cloud Galleries is considered a top specialist in oversized framing, regularly handling vintage billboard-sized posters and original works up to 5' x 9'.

We invite your inquiries:

Please call 800-924-4480 or email us at info@silvercloudgalleries.com.

For our showroom call 312-881-5200.

Glass

There are many different glass options with different benefits, all offering protection. Not all glass is right for every project. Outlined below are some benefits of the different types of glass. When you bring your custom order in our designers will recommend the best glazing solution for you.

Premium Clear Glass

For orders without concerns about damage or exposure to UV radiation or a distracting reflection, use Premium Clear Glass.

UV Glass

To protect your artwork from ultraviolet radiation, use UV Glass. Our UV glass will filter approximately 98% of damaging UV radiation. Exposure to UV radiation will cause fading colors, yellowing, and brittleness in your art work. These effects are permanent changes. Remember anything framed with UV glass still should not be hung in direct sunlight.

Non Glare Glass

When dealing with annoying reflections the use of Non Glare Glass is desired. Non Glare Glass works by diffusing light. However by diffusing light, resolution is also diffused.

UV Non Glare Glass

When concerned with reflection and protection from damaging ultraviolet radiation use UV Non Glare Glass. The Non Glare will diffuse the glare, while the UV protection will filter approximately 98% of UV radiation. Exposure to UV light will cause fading colors, yellowing, and brittleness in your art work. These effects are permanent changes. Remember anything framed with UV glass should still not be hung in direct sunlight.

Antireflective Glass

To enhance clarity of your framed work and to eliminate most reflection, use Antireflective Glass. Antireflective Glass has a unique coating, the same coating as used on the lens of a camera. This coating absorbs the glare providing an almost glare free view. This glass is perfect to use in a office setting or environment which there is a lot of ambient light (large windows). Antireflective Glass will reduce UV radiation by approximately 75 percent.

Museum Glass

The highest UV rated antireflective coated glass available to preserve your artwork is Museum Glass. The UV protection will filter approximately 98% of damaging UV radiation. The antireflective coating absorbs glare without distorting color and detail, much like High Definition Television. Exposure to UV radiation will cause fading colors, yellowing, and brittleness in your art work. These effects are permanent changes. Remember even a picture framed with UV glass still should not be hung in direct sunlight.

Plexi Glass

Plexi Glass is recommended for framing over 36”x48“, shipping, and any time breakage is a concern. Available in clear, non glare, scratch resistant, and conservation varieties. Contrary to popular belief Plexi Glass is a high quality glazing option for many situations. The only difference between Plexi Glass and Regular Glass is that you care for it differently. Clean Plexi with a soft cloth and a Plexi cleaner to prevent scratching while cleaning.

Mats

Adding matting to your custom framing solution serves not only an aesthetic purpose, but a protective purpose as well. Matting will enhance your artwork and give your eye a spot to rest between the image and the frame, giving the illusion of opening the picture up. The mat protects your art by providing a buffer between your art and the glazing which helps to prevent damage from moisture and other transfers.

Regular Mats

Regular mats are used for framing when archival materials are not needed nor desired. The surface, core, and backing paper are buffered with calcium carbonate to help neutralize the chemicals in mat board. Exposure to acid and lignin will cause yellowing and brittleness in your artwork.

Archival Mats

Archival mats are for use when maximum protection is required or desired. Archival mats are acid and lignin free so they will protect your art from ravages of time.

Hand Wrapped Fabric Mats

For something more elegant using, a custom linen or silk wrapped mat is the perfect accent for your artwork. Our hand wrapped mats have a dramatic bevel and have no exposed cut edges as would be visible with the use cheaper linen or silk mat boards.

Not only are there different types of mats, but there are different mat designs as well. Virtually anything is possible. We can create everything from single opening mats to multi-opening mats, single mats to multi mats.

Float & French Float

To accent artwork that has a beautiful edge, a float mount is ideal. Floating is a means of securing artwork on top of a mat so all of the edges of the artwork are visible. A French Float merely adds an additional mat around the float.

Multi-Opening

Multi-Opening mats are a perfect way to incorporate multiple items into one frame. For example frame your wedding invitation along side some of your favorite photographs. Any number of openings with any combinations of sizes is possible. If you can think it up we can cut it!

Oval & Circle Opening

We can cut your oval or circle mat opening to your size specifications.

A liner is very similar to matting, but it is a solid wooden structure which does not require any form of glazing. Liners are typically used around canvases. Our liners come in a variety of shapes and widths and are wrapped seamlessly in the fabric of your choice. This means we hand wrap the liner with one piece of fabric, eliminating distracting seams in the corners where the liner is joined together. Also seams cannot shrink like cheaper cut and joined liners can.

A shadowbox is a unique way to preserve and enjoy your favorite objects and collectables. Sports jerseys, plates, scrolls, and any object can be framed in a deep shadowbox. Protected with archival materials and mounting, your item will be safe from dirt, fading, and discoloration over time.

In our showroom we are ready to assist you with over 5,000 samples. We have a large selection of ornate, traditional, contemporary, rustic, and unusual frames. If you still can’t find what you are looking for, we will find it for you.

A fillet is an additional decorative accent that can be placed within the edge of the mat or frame. Available in a variety of patterns and widths, a fillet will add more dimension to your framing design.

Brighten up your artwork with a picture light. Our picture lights come in many different styles, finishes and lengths for the best fit for your work.