The following are some recommendations we at The Cartoon Factory have compiled for you regarding the handling and framing of your animation art purchase.

• If your cel is unframed, please handle the cel as little as possible, preferably not at all. Of course, human nature being what it is, you will want to look at your cel, and we realize this. When handling your cel, it would be best to use clean cloth gloves. With or without gloves, cels are best handled by the edges. We would recommend framing any unframed cels as quickly as possible, to protect the art, and so that you can enjoy it!
  
  
• To store your unframed cel, we recommend storing it upright, in a cool room, away from sources of direct heat or sunlight. Cels tend to like moderate humidity: not too dry and not too moist. (Do NOT store in a bathroom!)
  
  
• Framed cels should be hung in much the same manner: room humidity should be 50-60% with temperatures from 60 to 80 degrees. What is comfortable to you is generally good for the artwork. Swamp coolers in the summer provide a good amount of moisture to the air. If you run air conditioning, especially in dry climates, you may want to get a humidifier to add moisture to the air. One overlooked contributor to cel decay is heaters used during the winter in the East. When it is below freezing outside, there is no humidity and heaters dry the air more. Pay close attention to your humidity levels during these conditions! Do not take any cel, whether framed or not, rapidly between widely contrasting conditions. Rapid temperature changes can cause condensation inside framed pieces. Please, to not hang artwork where direct sunlight can cross it- and watch for hot-spots reflected from glass coffee tables and the like; it can be just as devastating as direct sunlight. If there is a high amount of reflected sunlight, you will want to make sure your cel is framed with a UV-reflective material (glass or Plexi. We recommend Plexi for reasons explained below.)
  
  
• If you have own a vintage (pre-1965) cels, you need to be much more cognizant of the condition of your cel, and it's environment. The paints used during this period, gum-arabic based paints, are much more delicate, and are easily affected by humidity. Try to stay to the centers of the ranges quoted above. Inspect the cel daily, or more often if there is a major change in your home's climate. You will want to watch for separation of paint from the back of the cel, a series of jagged "breaks" or "tears" in the paint, and/or any portion of paint, from a small chip to an entire section, which has separated completely from the cel. If you notice any change in the appearance of your cel, contact us or an animation art restoration expert immediately. (We recommend Steve Worth at Vintage Ink and Paint- call us for a referral) All bets are off if you have a nitrate cel- please contact us directly for more info on this type of cel.
  
  
• DO NOT, under any circumstances, attempt to clean a cel yourself. Your framer can remove minor smudges and other imperfections, and they should do so with extreme care. Unless you want to risk loosing your cel, this is something best left to professionals.
  
  
• Framing. All art shipped from The Cartoon Factory will be framed with acid-free matts and backing, and will have Plexiglas over the cel. (We Will Not Ship Glass!). This is the format we recommend for all framing. If you choose to frame your cel with your local framer, these are some tips. Always frame your art with the highest quality materials. This means you will pay a little more, but in the long run, it will pay off by protecting your art better. Always use acid-free matts and backing, especially for framing drawings or other, paper based artwork. While it is a generally accepted practice to "hinge" the art from the top of the matt with acid-free tape, we have found an equally protective method to fix cels and drawings into matts in a way that does not use tape: acid free corners. Ask your framer about these, you may like them! (Do not use corners with Nitrate cels...)
  
  
• Glass or Plexiglas? We prefer Plexiglas over glass in framing cels because Plexi will not break, and gives an added degree of protection to your cel because of this quality. The down-side of Plexi is that it does scratch easily, and care must be taken in cleaning Plexiglas. (Always use a clean cloth, and clean with just water.) Glass will not scratch, but will break easily. Use a UV-resistant of whatever type you prefer, if needed. But really, the choice is yours.
  
  
• Finally, just use common-sense when handling and displaying your cel. Regarding framing, remember the adage: "You get what you pay for." For the most part, that is true here, too. When you have a question, ask yourself if you would do that to the Mona Lisa- the answer should guide your actions appropriately! If you would like any specific questions answered, or wish a referral to a professional animation art conservator, please contact us by phone or e-mail!

Please keep in mind these are general guidelines only, the specific type and condition of each piece of art may require other or different handling. While all of the above are generally accepted practices in the Animation Art industry, The Cartoon Factory, Inc. and it's employees make no warranties based on these recommendations, and only presents them here as guidelines to the proper handling of animation art.