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There is such a thing as UV-protective glass (and plexiglass). I get almost everything framed with that now. It might be worth considering replacing the glass of your most valuable or most fragile items.

I also use light-filtering cellular shades on my windows, especially during the summer months when the sun hits the long wall with all my art, records, etc.

Hi all - I have a very long hallway like this as well and am really struggling with what to hang on it. I thought about a bunch of b&w photos, or all different mirrors (the hall is fifteen feet long)...so any other suggestions on what to do on a wall like this???

Ok here we go...

UV light can and will damage works of art. The most vulnerable are works on paper and textiles then acrylic and finally oil paintings.

UV light will cause paper to yellow, ink to fade, paint to discolor and harden, varnish to crosslink and discolor, canvas to break down and fabric to fade and become brittle.

There are many ways of addressing UV light exposure and mitigating any damage.

For works on paper, small textiles and photographs the works can be framed and protected with UV filtering glass (commonly known as DEN glass) There is a plexi/lexan alternative but the UV filtering properties are less effective and there is a higher probability of distortion in the material. DEN is great as it prevents all UV light from passing through the glass and it almost entirely eliminates glare. The drawback is that it's rather expensive at $40 per square foot. Not bad for a small picture but consider that the cost will rise exponentially as it gets larger as the glass needs to be thicker. Alsto take into consideration that a 6' x 4' piece of 1/4" glass will weigh quite a bit.

There are a few comapnies that make a film to stick on windows to cut down the UV light though their efficiency is questionable. This may be the best stop-gap for folk who are unable or unwiling to invest in a proper solution.

For paintings (which NEVER go under glass) the issue is either bigger or smaller. These works must be completely removed form direct UV light, period. I had a client who had a vary valuable American Impressionist painting hanging on his wall near a window fore nearly 3 decades. Over time half the paintign was exposed to the daily rising sun. He brought the work to us to have it conserved (I'm a conservator) and after cleaning the work we discovered that the part of the work that was sun-drenched had been bleached and was not several shades lighter than the rest of the paintign thus ruining it. The alternative to boarding up one's windows or storing the work in a gallery is to have the works properly conserved. Conservators (myself included) have access to a wide range of synthetic varnishes with UV filtering properties. Here at my work I use a synthetic hydrogenated hydrocarbon styrene and methyl styrene varnsh with a Tinuvin stabilizer that prevents UV pass-through. This varnish is also stable and impervious to cross-linking and discoloring for up to 100 years. Simply put, this varnish will do more to protect one's paintings that placing them in a vault. It sheilds the paintfilm from UV light, grime, etc... and is removable with mild solvent.

To have a painting cleaned and re-varnished will varry in cost depending on the particulars of the work, and the conservator.

Shameless self promotion: you can click on my name to view my website. IT's a family business and you'll see a photo of my pop who has been practicing conservation for over 25 years...

Melissa,

I'm struggling with the same thing and looking for inspiration.

The one thing I can offer is a hallway of snapshots I designed for an UES apartment a few years ago. Click on my name for the photo.

Unfortunately, I don't have the money to replicate it in my own hallway...

i bought uv film on a roll, to put on the window on the side of my car that the dog rides on (he gets hot in the sun) and it works, but is UGLY no matter how you slice it.

Melissa and Eliza -

It seems to me that a long hallway would be perfect for this stuff that AT featured a whlie back which is still in the Top Ten Wallpapers portion of the Product Guide here. Click on my name in this post to see it. It's made to be able to sort of morph as it goes along the wall, and I think it would be a wonderful way to make a hallway less boring, without having to actually hang pictures.

is it necessary to use a glass or plastic that blocks UV light in your picture frames if you block the UV light from your windows and fluorescent lights?

UV light even when blocked by curtains or VU-blocking window film will get into the space and bounce around until it eventually lands on the artworks. And it's all relative- it may not make sense to spend $400 to protect a $20 photo from a small small amount of UV light...

nuts... so far i am not hearing any elegant or cheap solutions. (yes, i did know about UV-protected glass when framing my artwork, but had opted not to do this in light of all the stuff i had to frame.)

foo :(

I don't know about UV, but I love your horizontal assembly. I wouldn't change it. If I ever get a long wall ike that I will try something similar.

I'm a textile collector with huge, south facing windows that are covered with 97% UV filtering shades. Prices depend upon the size of your window and are not overly expensive. If you want to preserve your view, buy them in a darker color - but don't count on them for privacy. They'll protect your upholstery and carpeting too. Smith + Noble sells them, as do many other vendors. http://www.smithandnoble.com/sn/product_detail.jsp?prod_oid=253279&nav_cat=-18002&sch_cat=Solar%20Roller%20Shades

There is also UV protective film for windows but the good stuff gets pricey.

Unless your prints are valuable, getting protective glass, etc. will be expensive.

Also, if you DO care about your prints, read up a bit about archival materials for matting and adhesives - it is worth the little bit more to have things framed with archival materials, or to buy them for things you frame yourself, so that they don't get ruined that way.

Here's a good article that offers other solutions.
You may just want to use those "Picture Shields inserts" they talk about. There pretty cheap and you just slide them into the existing frame.

If it’s worth framing,
It’s worth protecting
Have you ever had an autograph literally fade away and disappear? How about an important card or picture yellow? Ever seen brilliant colors fade? Of coarse all of these not only affect you emotionally, but also can be felt in your wallet! If it’s worth framing, then it’s worth protecting! You have heard about conservation glass and UV acrylics, but now there is an easier and less expensive alternative with the new Picture Shields UV inserts.
Let’s start with the basics. There are four main causes for fading over time.
Number 1 is Ultraviolet (UV) light from direct and indirect sunlight. This invisible band of light is the same type which causes your sunburn. It accounts for almost half of the fading.
Number 2 is heat. Again, primarily from the sun, but also other heat sources like fireplaces and heat ducts.
Number 3 is visible light. Most visible light contains some UV, particularly those florescent bulbs that are becoming so popular. They produce many times more UV than an incandescent bulb.
Number 4 is a potpourri of things like dust, grease in the air, and humidity. Even oxygen over time helps fuel the decay of the organic composition in the pigments and papers.
So the first step is to minimize the damage from these sources.
• Do not place your valuable pieces in direct sunlight
• Keep them away from direct heat sources
• Use incandescent bulbs to light them, and with the lowest possible setting.
• Cover the item in a frame to keep it as clean as possible. Be careful of having the piece directly against the glass as items like older photos could actually attach themselves to the glass and when removed will stick to the glass and become damaged. Use an acid free mat to separate.

The next step is to add protection to limit the UV damage. There are several commercial products that have been developed over the years to help reduce the amount of fading. No product will eliminate fading. It is important to select a product that will reduce at least 95% of the ultraviolet radiation but preferably 99%. Each has its own strengths, and weaknesses. Cost, percentage of protection, ease of use, scratch resistance, glare control, and cleaning are all important considerations.
Let’s look at the most popular options.
Conservation glass-
There are basically three types of conservation glass. First is the “Conservation clear glass”. It blocks 97% of the UV, and has a slightly greener tint to it than regular glass. These tints tend to disappear when placed in the frame and is generally unnoticeable except to the trained eye. Next is the same glass but with “reflection control”. This glass has an etched surface that helps diffuse the light so there is less glare. It is more expensive that the standard conservation clear glass. The best glass available is “Museum glass”. It is extraordinarily clear, blocks 97% of the UV, has a non reflective surface superior to non-glare glass, and is also extraordinarily expensive. This is the ultimate product and best used for those pieces of high value. All frame stores carry and promote these types of glass. Some do not even offer standard pane glass anymore for framing.
UV Filtering Plexiglas-
This product has multiple attributes that many admire. They block 99% of the damaging UV, are half the cost of conservation clear glass, and maybe best of all, is very difficult to break. People with young children should consider this type of product to help “childproof” the frame. The downside is that it can be easily scratched, and needs a special cleaner with soft cloth. Even a paper towel will easily scratch this surface. The Plexiglas is a standard stocked item at virtually all custom frame stores.
Spray on Acrylic-
These include products like the Krylon protecting spray. It is inexpensive and was designed primarily for digital prints. Many scrapbooking enthusiasts love this product but you may not want to be the one experimenting on your professional printed photos or other types of materials such as trading cards or documents. It is considered a soft product and can be easily scratched. Some have mentioned it is difficult to get an even coating, but overall does a great job if used as intended. The spray can be found at many Craft and Scrapbooking stores.
Picture Shields inserts-
This is a brand new product suitable for any glass framed object. They are a 7 mil tri-laminate that comes in precut 8X10 or 5X7 sheets. The product can be custom cut up to 20 inches or customized yourself by simply using scissors. They block 99% of the UV, are scratch resistant, and are half again the cost of Plexiglas. They also have a matt finish for glare control. One other nice feature of the product is that you can place the insert on the inside of the glass to protect the framed object if the glass should break, or you can place it between the frame and glass to help retain the shattered glass if broken and “childproof” the frame. By far this is the most protection for the best value in the vast majority of cases. It’s been long overdue and worth trying. Unlike the green tint of the conservation glass, the UV coating has a yellow tint. As with the conservation glass the yellow tint seems to visually fade away when placed into the frame against the glass. The inserts and custom cuts can be purchased at the company website pictureshields.com.
Ultimately you must ask yourself
Can this picture or item be replaced?
Do I have a lot invested in this piece?
Do I want to maintain the value, the colors?
Am I going to display this item for many years?
Does it have great sentimental value?

Once you have decided to frame that new treasure or upgrade an existing framed piece, you will want to protect it so that you may enjoy it for many years to come. Consider the cost or rarity of the item. It may be a piece you have invested a good sum of money or time on and wish the absolute best protection, or it may be a color drawing your child did in Kindergarten. Both have a special value and need protecting. You may have dozens of photos in your home that you will be viewing for many years or hand down to your children but you may not want to spend the money to put each behind museum glass. It may be an autographed picture, sport card display, or a watercolor you have always loved. Will it need glare control where it’s placed? If the glass breaks will the picture or a child be at risk? What about cost?
You now know the options, and with the new Picture Shields the cost has come down far enough to protect many of your most important possessions.




Final Consideration
Have you ever noticed on the news what people rush to collect if placed in a position of a quick evacuation such as a flood or fire? First are their family members, then their important papers, and then when interviewed they always mention their photo’s or an heirloom. In fact, what is it on the bedside of those dear souls in Hospice or other care facilities? I’ll bet it’s in a 5X7 or 8X10 frame. Truth is they are some of the few items we literally carry with us through our entire lives and hold most dear. If it was worth framing, it was and is worth protecting.

Here is a very interesting controlled experiment on sun damage using both UV and regular glass. Their conclusion was basically that sun is death to artwork. Keep your art out of sun exposure whenever possible. Hope this is useful- I was impressed that the gallery really sacrificed a genuine shin hanga print to this study!!
http://www.ukiyoe-gallery.com/sunfade.htm