How to Frame a Diploma or Certificate | DeSola
A diploma, degree, professional certification, or award represents something you worked to achieve. Framing it properly turns the document into a finished display while also providing protection for the original.
Although diplomas and certificates are relatively simple objects compared with jerseys or memorabilia, there are still important decisions to make about frame size, matting, glazing, mounting, and preservation.
Should a Diploma Be Custom Framed?
A ready-made frame can work when the document is a standard size and you're satisfied with the available design.
Custom framing provides considerably more flexibility.
The frame can be made to the exact dimensions of the diploma, and the proportions of the mat can be designed around the document rather than trying to make it fit a predetermined opening.
This can be particularly useful because diploma and certificate dimensions aren't always standard picture-frame sizes.
Custom framing also gives you control over the materials used around the original document.
Choosing a Frame for a Diploma
Diploma frames are often traditional, but they don't have to be.
Dark woods can create a classic academic appearance, while black, metallic, or cleaner wood profiles can create a more contemporary presentation.
Consider where the diploma will eventually be displayed.
A traditional frame may look appropriate in a professional office, while a simple contemporary profile could work particularly well in a modern home office.
The frame should give the document enough visual presence without overwhelming it.
Should You Mat a Diploma?
Matting is one of the easiest ways to give a diploma or certificate a more finished appearance.
It creates visual space between the document and frame while allowing the proportions of the completed piece to be adjusted.
A single neutral mat can create a clean presentation. Multiple mats can introduce additional depth or a subtle accent color.
School or corporate colors can sometimes be incorporated, but they don't need to dominate the design. A restrained accent is often more effective than trying to reproduce every color associated with the institution.
Protecting the Original Document
Diplomas and certificates are generally intended to last.
That makes the materials inside the frame worth considering.
Paper can change over time due to light exposure, environmental conditions, and contact with unsuitable materials. If the original document is important or difficult to replace, preservation-focused framing can be worthwhile.
Our guide to archival framing and conservation framing explains how matting, mounting, backing, and glazing can become part of protecting important works on paper.
Does a Diploma Need UV-Protective Glass?
If the document will remain displayed for many years, UV protection is worth considering.
Ultraviolet exposure can contribute to fading and deterioration of paper and printed materials over time.
UV-protective glazing can reduce that exposure, although it doesn't eliminate every cause of fading.
Where the diploma is displayed still matters. Prolonged direct sunlight should generally be avoided for important documents even when protective glazing is used.
For more information about the different considerations, see our guide to UV-protective glass for picture frames.
Can You Frame More Than the Diploma?
Yes.
Some displays incorporate additional items associated with the achievement.
Depending on the occasion, that might include a photograph, professional credential, medal, award, or another related document.
The challenge is keeping the design balanced.
The diploma should usually remain the focal point rather than becoming one small element inside an overcrowded display.
When several dimensional objects need to be incorporated, the project may become closer to custom memorabilia framing than a conventional diploma frame.
Framing Professional Certificates and Awards
The same principles apply beyond university and college diplomas.
Professional certifications, licenses, awards, recognition certificates, military documents, and other important paperwork can all benefit from custom framing.
For professionals displaying multiple credentials, using related frame styles can create a consistent presentation without requiring every frame to be identical.
Matching frame profiles and matting across several certificates can work particularly well in an office, reception area, or professional workspace.
Custom Diploma and Certificate Framing in Spring, Texas
Whether you're framing a new diploma, an older family degree, a professional certification, or an important award, the framing can be designed around the actual document and how you want to display it.
DeSola Glass, Art, & Frame Gallery provides diploma and certificate framing in Spring, Texas.
Bring the original document with you so the DeSola team can help you compare frame styles, matting, glazing, and preservation options appropriate for the piece.
