How to Frame and Care for Cels

A client/friend asked for a new educational series on "Housekeeping", framing and taking care of cels. So here it is, for your educational pleasure. Please call us if you have other questions or an series to suggest...

[@QuetzalToon005]

can you actually show a demonstration on how to put a cel in a frame

[@QuetzalToon005]

please do a step by step demonstration on how to put the cels on the frames, also where to put the sketch art if its included with a cel

[@artinsights]

@obscenenewg hi. yes, you can worry about the paint touching the background, but the alternative is raising the cel and leaving space, which is a bad idea, because depending on how much paint is on there, it can make it crack. on an original bkgd you def want to leave it, but lots of folks put a cel in between cel and bkgd. (still might get stuck to that cel tho) lots of stuck cels from disneyland mat era. inherent to the era. and those were on cheap litho bkgds...

[@tsubasa1988]

my city is very hot, and i'm planing to have one of mi cels display in a air conditioned room. Is this going to affect the cel??

[@artinsights]

it really depends on when they are from...and how many. Lella of the ARL at Disney would say to buy archival boxes, and separate the cels between layers of acid free paper, keeping them in a controlled environment in terms of tempurature. and that's the best for older cels. newer ones, ones painted with acrylic, they are far less fragile. but they will still stick together...

[@TheRussquatch]

now I've been collecting some cels from the 80's mostly filmation stuff from he man and blackstar ... now these are pretty cheap cels and I have a hard time paying too much for frame jobs, so I buy wood frames that cost about $15 from walmart and then the pre cut acid free double mats from walmart also so about $20 frame job. and for the background I use acid free drawing paper ... is this kind of set up good enough ... if from a more rare cartoon I would splurge on pro frame job

[@stanz7193]

Where can you find the proper frames ?

[@artinsights]

sounds fine, honestly. if there is a cel that you want to make sure stays in good shape, "acid free" isn't enough, and the cel should be further distanced from the glass if possible--but for inexpensive cels i'm sure it's fine. as you know the outline is on the front, so just make sure it isn't touching the glass!

[@unnecessaryexprmnt]

How do you feel about the “official” seals that can often be found embossed or adhered to many cels? I’m asking the curators who received the crates of cells from the studio to please not ruin them with their added seal. In my opinion, the seal does not reflect what the original artist did, or represent the time period. What’s your opinion?

[@ihectorrodriguez6136]

Hello, I have a cell that I love but it has vinegar syndrome 😌 I don't know how to take care of it or who can help me repair it, any recommendations on how to take care of it or where to take it alive in Chicago 🙏

[@knowledgeispowerrr]

TLDR version:

[@penelopeviolete4664]

This is wonderful information thank you!

[@buzzdog5431]

Thanks for the information. Very helpful.

[@AmeAnimation]

Whoa thanks for such a fast reply or any reply at all! I really appreciate the answer:)

[@Iacolucci]

Great video. I've just started collecting cels. I'm thinking of designing some custom wood mats to compliment my cels. I was debating whether or not to have them professionally framed, or try to do it myself. Any suggestions on where to find the materials to self-frame? (i.e. alpha mat, uv plexiglass, etc.)

[@Iacolucci]

I'm a pyrographer (burn images into wood). Currently, just a hobby. I really like to muck around with cartoon images. I've got some ideas for burning images into wood mats to compliment cels. Many of the cels available for reasonable prices aren't that fantastic, but placing an image on a thin wood mat might add to the overall presentation. I'll likely offset the cel so it shares centre space with the burnt image. This project is still a month off. Currently wroking on a large sign/pic.

[@AmeAnimation]

Great video! Quick question though. Can you tell me how I should go about storing a bunch of cels?

[@artinsights]

@TheRealRussG just museum tape (the clear kind) and only a small piece. i've seen lots of framers put it all across the top which is a very bad idea. keep a small piece of tape to adhere the cels that belong together--just two on the top. that's my partner's suggestion.

[@TheRussquatch]

@artinsights many thanks :)

[@arfilm.]

Hello!I want to take time to ask you about something considering you´re an expert on this. I have some of my He-Man animation cels that are starting to wrinkle and I have found some of years completely destroyed. It is also strange than my Smurf and Disney cels are completely intact after years. Only Masters of the Universe show this. How can I take good care of them to avoid this? Can you help me? Thanks in advance!