The art of framing has been around as long as art itself.

There's good reason for that, says Terry Hill, the manager of The Art Store in Kamloops.

"An old quote used to be, if something is well framed, it can hang anywhere. (Framing) can make or break any piece of art," he said.

Hill has been in the framing business since 1976 and has learned virtually anything, of any size, can be framed. And once framed, many objects become works of art in their own right.

Photographs and paintings are the most traditional frame-worthy subjects, but more and more people are choosing to frame their personal memorabilia.

"Memory boxes" give people the chance to highlight and preserve their family's personal history in a way that showcases it for others to see.

Hill said he's handled everything from family heirloom antique needlepoints to first pay stubs and military medals. He's seen arrowheads and button collections come through his shop. One of the biggest objects Hill has handled was a four- by eight-foot papyrus scroll someone brought back from a trip to Egypt.

He noted there is an artistic process to framing — it sometimes takes a great deal of thought and creativity to figure out how best to assemble, mount, protect and enhance a group of objects.

"That's what boggles people; they put their piece of art down and they don't know where to start," he said.

Artwork — be it personal or otherwise — should be framed in a way that complements the art itself, with a mind to the interior environment where it will hang. Framing and matting a piece in colours that complement the art but clash with a room leads to dissatisfaction.

He likes big mats around pieces, as they create viewing room and draw a person's eye in. Many of the commercially available "big-box" frames have mats too small for the art.

The old 8x10-inch mat in the 11x14 frame is a good example. Such a frame is virtually a stock standard in most stores, but the fact is many photographs will be better served by more mat. Try a 16x20 frame with an 8x10-inch opening instead.

Hill said getting custom mats cut to fit photographs is one of the most cost-effective ways to give personal artwork more impact.

Many photographs, for example, don't fit the traditional picture sizes and suffer compositionally when cropped into the standard sizes. Custom cut mats can be popped into frames you already own, giving a room a quick new look.

When in doubt about mat and frame colours, go simple, he said. It's hard to beat the "neutrals" — the off-whites, simple creams and beiges. As well, a plain black frame will always complement art and interior decors.

"Black acts as an anchor to a room," he said. "It draws your eyes right in."

Framing also helps to protect objects from environmental deterioration, mostly from exposure to UV light that causes fading.

Special UV glass can significantly cut back on the amount of UV light that hits photographs or other objects, keeping colour vibrant well into the future. Archival acid-free backings, mats and glues will also preserve art pieces and keep them from yellowing.

Jonathon Pallett, the owner of Access Picture Framing, says people need to consider the importance of a piece of art when making the decision to frame it. If something has value — either as a collectible item or as a personal memento — quality framing makes sense.

Likewise if the piece is large and will serve as a room's centrepiece.

When people come to a framer, they should have a sense of colour and style in mind, he suggested. For example, is there a preference for particular colors, textures, and shapes? Will the framed piece be hung by itself or as part of a grouping?

Good frame shops will have examples of their work on display and wide varieties of materials to choose from, said Pallett. Some places also offer computer software programs that help people visualize what their art will look like when framed.

Both framers agreed that people should shop around and talk with those who will do the framing. Striking up an ongoing relationship with a framer is the best way to ensure everyone is pleased with final results.