So much time, money, and energy went into pursuing your college degree. And now’s the time to protect and show off your hard-earned diploma by framing it. But how do you go about choosing the right diploma frame for your home or office? Church Hill Classics is the trusted leader in the diploma frame industry. So we know a thing or two about safeguarding and showcasing that priceless piece of paper to its best advantage.
What to Consider When Selecting a Diploma Frame
Your diploma represents years of hard work and dedication, so purchasing a frame for it requires careful consideration. Keep these key factors in mind when evaluating your options:
- What materials will your frame be built with? What type of wood moulding will it have? What colors will the mats be?
- Where will you display it? Make sure to choose a frame that complements your decor while highlighting your diploma as the focal point.
- Do you need to frame multiple degrees? Do you want to frame them in a double diploma frame, or display them separately?
- Will your frame have your official school seal and name on it? Is it officially licensed?
- How long do you plan to preserve and display your degree for? For long-term framing, choose a diploma frame built with document protection in mind.
Document Protection Is Key
You’ll want a graduation frame that protects your diploma and will prevent yellowing, brittleness, or cracking. Museum-quality document protection, a feature of our premium frames, offers conservation-quality matting, backing, and mounting materials.
One of the most important factors in choosing the best diploma frame is UV light protection. We know how harmful UVA and UVB rays can be to documents. That’s why the right degree frames start with glass that will protect your diploma from sun damage. We carry different glazing UV exposure options. Whether digital documents or expensive parchment paper, cheap hobby shop frame glass will not protect against time in the sun.
We also use lignin-free archival materials. This term means the matting will not become acidic over time. This is the way to go. All of our graduation frames feature acid-free matting and backing boards. We’ve all seen how old newspapers can turn yellow, become brittle, and crack over time. Be sure your diploma is safely encased in acid-free and lignin-free materials. This will ensure you avoid the same fate for your valuable diploma.
Each frame comes with standard glass, but there are glass upgrade options available for added document protection:
- reflection control
- conservation UV protection
- conservation UV and reflection control
You choose the glass that meets your needs. For frames with documents larger than 12″x16″, we recommend Plexiglass. It’s more expensive than standard glass because it offers better damage-free protection when being shipped. Best of all, it offers high-end protection from harmful UV rays.
Choosing the Right Mat for Your Frame
You’ll find that most frames are crafted using three different types of mats: standard, suede, or linen. All mats are archival-quality and will help safely protect your diploma from damage. At Church Hill Classics, we have many different mat colors available.
Don’t see your favorite mat color on one of our featured frames? Check out our Create-A-Frame tools to design the diploma frame of your dreams from start to finish. You can try out different mat colors and textures, wood finishes, and medallion, engraved nameplate, and embossing styles. Best of all, you can visualize every possible design feature before you buy. Our online framing tools allow you to build your own diploma frame and tailor the matting and moulding styles to suit your home or office decor.
Pick High-Quality Frame Mouldings
Do you prefer a traditional look or a more contemporary style? Do you like shine, or is non-glossy your preference? And what type of finish would you like—black, cherry, chestnut, espresso, mahogany, walnut, bronze, gold, or silver? We offer a wide array of solid hardwood frame mouldings. And we carry 100% recycled American wood frames, which have the look, feel, and presentation of our hardwood frame mouldings.
Showcase Your School Seal
When we get permission from a school to use its seal, we enhance the diploma frame in compliance with licensing rights. We create ornate medallions and elegant embossed versions of the school seal. Our frame styles with medallions include the Masterpiece, Gold Engraved, Silver Engraved, or Spirit.
- Embossing – Using the finest gold and silver foils, we press your school insignia and name onto a matboard to create a raised impression.
- Medallions – Medallions are three-dimensional die-struck brass or pewter emblems that are mounted within the mat opening of the frame. We offer engraved or handpainted color enamel options. Medallions provide a bold, elevated look and serve as a focal point of pride for your frame.
- Engraving – A step up from embossing, we sell frames with silver or gold engraved school seals set into the mat opening of a frame. Or using our Create-A-Frame tool, you can add your name or graduation year to an engraved plate below your degree.
Embossing choices include the traditional and popular gold or silver foil. For more colorful school seals, our line of modern diploma frames feature a state-of-the-art printing process. This printing technology creates raised logos and wordmarks for vibrant pops of color.
Browse Popular Diploma Frame Types
So, by framing your diploma with conservation-quality matting and backing materials, you will protect it. Plus, our custom medallions and precision embossing means you’ll have a standout frame to showcase your diploma in your style.
Know that when choosing a frame moulding, we carry solid hardwood or 100% recycled wood options. Most importantly, we source our raw materials from vendors who practice reforestation efforts. Eco-friendly materials and processes are critical to our USA-made frames.
Now, you just need to search for your college or university to view a variety of different styles and choose the perfect diploma frame. Need assistance from our Customer Service team? Talk to our operators live and feel free to ask questions about our products. They’ll help you select the right graduation frame for your home or office.
