How to frame and hang a Chinese calligraphy print

A calligraphy name piece usually arrives as a digital file, and the last steps, printing, framing and hanging, decide how it looks on the wall. None of them are difficult, but a few choices made early save a reprint later. This guide covers prints of calligraphy and name work. Mounting an ink-on-paper original is a different specialist job, touched on in our note on keeping paper work.

Print on the right paper

Matte fine-art paper suits ink work far better than glossy photo paper, which adds glare and makes black ink look plastic. A warm white or natural tone sits closer to the feel of traditional paper than a bright blue-white. Some print shops offer textured papers that resemble xuan paper; ask for a small test strip before committing to a large print.

Ask for pigment inks if they are available, as they generally resist fading better than dye inks. Check the red of any seal mark on the test strip, because reds shift more than black between screen and print. Print at the size agreed for the file so the margins in the layout stay as designed.

Frame or hanging scroll

Traditional hanging scrolls are mounted on layers of paper and silk, with a wooden rod at the bottom. It is a skilled craft, and a scroll-mounted print can look lovely, but few general framers offer it and the result is more exposed to dust and handling. For most homes, a simple frame is easier to find and protects a print better.

Choose a frame that stays quiet: thin black, dark walnut or natural wood. Wide, ornate gold frames tend to overpower ink. For a tall vertical work, a narrow profile keeps the proportions elegant.

Mat, margins and glazing

A mat, the card border between artwork and frame, gives the ink space and keeps the print from touching the glazing. A border of roughly 5 to 8 cm suits most medium pieces; larger works can take more. For a vertical piece, many framers make the bottom border slightly wider than the top, which stops the work from looking as if it is sliding down.

Use acid-free mat board and backing so the paper does not yellow over time. For glazing, acrylic is lighter and safer than glass on a large frame, and UV-filtering versions slow fading. Anti-reflective glazing is worth the extra cost if the piece faces a window.

Another option is a float mount, where the print sits on a backing board with all its edges visible, raised slightly on a spacer. It suits work printed on textured or deckle-edged paper, where the edge of the sheet is part of the look.

Where and how high to hang it

Keep the piece out of direct sunlight, away from radiators and heaters, and out of bathrooms and kitchens where humidity changes quickly. A hallway or living-room wall with indirect light is ideal.

A common gallery convention places the centre of the artwork around 145 to 155 cm from the floor. Over a sofa or desk, leave about 20 to 25 cm between the furniture and the bottom of the frame. Tall vertical works suit narrow walls beside a door or bookcase; horizontal pieces suit the space above furniture.

Check the orientation before you hang

This is the mistake people who do not read Chinese make most often. Vertical text must hang vertically, and the piece must not be turned on its side or upside down to fit a wall. Use the proof file as your reference. In a traditional vertical layout, the smaller inscription column usually sits to the left of the main text and ends with the signature and seal, which helps you find the bottom. If in doubt, ask someone who reads Chinese before you put a nail in the wall.

You may have seen the character fu hung upside down on doors at New Year. That is a play on words specific to that one character and season, and it does not apply to names or other text.

Care over time

Dust the frame with a dry, soft cloth. Spray any cleaner onto the cloth, never directly onto acrylic or glass, so liquid does not seep under the frame. If the frame hangs on an outside wall, check the back every year or two for damp or insects.

Keep the original digital file safe. If a print fades or is damaged, you can reprint it at the same size under the licence. Our name works are delivered as files prepared to an agreed print size; printing and framing are arranged locally, and this guide is general advice rather than a framing service.