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This is my wall of cels. These are probably the only cels I will ever frame. I did them myself, using store bought frames, conservation clear glass and pre-cut acid-free matting. Materials for all six frames came out to about $130, roughly what it would cost to have a professional framer set up one cel the same way. Below are a few things I've learned, as well as links to the places where I purchased the items I used.

1. Use conservation glass- I prefer glass over plexiglass because it looks better, doesn't scratch and reduces static electricity and dust build-up. You can purchase this glass at your local framing store for anywhere from $10-15 a pane for 11x14 size frames. Or, you can go to Perfection Distributing. They carry coservation glass in all sizes and charge a fraction of what the stores do. I got six panes of Tru-Vue conservation clear glass for $35.

2. Always use acid-free matting- You can get pre-cut matting at any Aaron Brothers or Wal-Mart store to fit 11x14 frames. They can run anywhere from $2-$5 each. I suggest getting one double matted setup, and one single mat for each cel. Use acid free tape(you can also use mounting corners, but they can be a royal pain sometimes) and tape the top two corners to the single mat. Then place the double matting over the cel, kinda like a mat and cel sandwich. Then, place the background in back of the single mat that the cel is taped to. This creates a cool floating effect for your cel and keeps the background from touching the cel. The double mat also keeps the cel away from the glass.

3. Buy a frame- Buy whatever you like. I use metal frames because they look nice and dont scratch very easily. If you buy wood, make sure it is unfinished or unpainted wood. I went to Aaron Brothers and bought six frames for $35 at their "Penny Frame Sale." A neat trick for backing the frame is to use acid free paper and tape it to the inside of the cardboard back with acid-free tape. This serves as a barrier between the cardboard and the background. Hang your cel securely and you've got it. It took me about 10 minutes for each frame job.

4. My best advice- You should never frame a cel yourself unless you are confident you can do so without damaging it. If you have a $4000 Mononoke Hime cel and want to frame it, have it done professionally. When I framed my cels, I consulted with friends and family who were knowledgable in the field of conservation. In other words, if you're not confident in your abilities, don't try this at home.

For more info on cel framing, please check out the Anime Cel Info Place. It is the best place I have seen yet for straight-forward advice on cel-framing.

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