Tools:
tape measure
simple laser level
masking tape
pen/pencil
straight edge
hammer nails/screws (depending on the weight of your artwork)
Steps:
Depending on on wether you own the artwork already, or if you are planing to purchase artwork the following steps can be used either way. If you are planing to beautify that wall over you couch or bed using masking tape to outline what looks proportionate is very helpful.
If you already have the artwork and want to make sure it hangs just perfect use masking tape to outline the position on your wall. Play with the outline to get ideas of how it will look when you walk into the room or how the light will interact with your art.
Once you establish your favorite spot you can use the masking tape to hang the works precisely. With two inch masking tape you have enough room to eyeball the overall position and then measure and mark the final nail/screw spot. In my sample pictures I am hanging a group of 9 minis square 8"x 8" frames. I laid the frames out on the floor as a square to get a feel of the best spacing between the frames. Then I measured the length and hight of that layout. Using a tape measure I cut the masking tape to length.
(If you are not centering your art ignore the next step.) To center my work I measure the length of the wall. After deducting the the length of my horizontal tape outline from the length of the wall measurement, I divide the resulting figure and establish the starting point of my outline. To make sure my first and most important line (the upper masking tape line) is level I measure the tape line on either end from the floor If the floor is not level use a simple suction cup laser level. ($20 at Home Depot/Lowes/ACE/neighborhood hardware store) Use the laser level also to insure that the vertical tape lines are perpendicular to your upper tape line. You can use your horizontal bottom tape line to verify that your layout is square (or rectangular depending on your art work).
After finishing my outline I step back to make sure I like the hight and overall position. Turning two frames still laid out on the floor on their backs I measure the space between their centers (hanging points). Using that measurement I mark the centers of the frames onto my top masking tape. Now I run masking tape vertically along those center marks (use your laser level again to ensure squareness). Applying the same measurements that I used horizontally, I mark the vertical spacing (this being a square layout).
Having nine marks for nine frames I drive my nails through the tape marks. Pull the tape off with nails in place. I hang the frames and enjoy my new artwork.
Sources:
artwork at moderneditions.com
the laser level from home depot has an electric vacuum pump that uses suction and will not damage the wall
Thanks, Rainer!
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I am just about to this. I have the pictures ready and I have been it putting off because I dreaded not having the lines even. Worry no more! This is fantastic!
What about art with picture wires?
Here's a neat trick I have been using for years. If you are hanging a picture with a wire or many pictures with potentially different wire lengths, and want to be precise about where to put the picture hook simply remove the backing, picture, mount and glass leaving the hanging wire attached. You can then position just the frame on the wall. Position the hook by reaching through the frame, and mark its position. Combine this with the above method for perfect pictures every time.
For a long row of pictures, I use string. Measure the height from the floor at each end of the wall, and then tape a piece of string that runs the length of the wall, from one mark to another. You still need to check your work with a level, but this saves a lot of time on measuring and marking, because you only have to worry about the horizontal spacing.
Try removing the wire and adding Wall Buddies...
http://www.wallbuddies.com/
for vertical leveling, hang string with washers/a bolt tied to the other end from the top to the bottom of the wall. turn your fan off so they don't sway.
look at the wall and make a mark on your string where you want the top of the top-most frame. take your strings down, lay them out next to each other and make equal marks on all of them. add an inch or two to the height of the frame and measure that out on your string. make more marks on the strings for guidelines. put them back up.
for horizontal leveling, make your own with a perfume sampler tube and some water. measure it into thirds (just the tube part where there's water, not including the cap) against a ruler and use it for leveling your frames after they're on the wall.
Jonny Two Guns, you're a genius.
Brilliant. I'm totally doing this when we finally get around to hanging those photographs over our bed.
ABreadADay.com
what is the brand and colour name of this green paint. exquisite!