An EXPOSED piece isn't a normal print, and it doesn't behave like one on your wall. Because the image lives inside the medical imaging film rather than sitting on top of a surface, light passing through it (not just reflecting off it) is what brings out its depth. A few small choices in framing and placement make a real difference.
Framing
Float it, don't bury it. A float-mount frame with a slim border lets light reach the edges of the film and keeps the translucent quality visible, rather than sealing it behind heavy matting.
Go simple. Because the film itself carries so much visual density — deep blacks, fine internal structure — an ornate or heavy frame competes with it. A slim black, white, or natural wood frame tends to let the piece do the work.
Protect it, but don't kill the translucency. Standard glazing is fine for most placements. If the piece will get strong direct light for long periods, UV-filtering glazing helps protect it long-term without meaningfully affecting how the translucency reads.
Lighting: this is the part that matters most
Because the material responds to light passing through it, placement relative to light sources changes the piece more than almost any other artwork you own.
- Near a window, but not in direct sun. Diffused daylight from the side is ideal — it lets the film's translucency shift through the day without risking long-term fading from direct UV exposure.
- Backlighting, if you can. A picture light or LED strip positioned to graze the piece — or genuinely spot-lit at an angle rather than flat-on — will bring out density contrast that flat overhead lighting flattens out.
- Avoid pure flat, even lighting. A single harsh overhead spot straight-on will read the piece more like an ordinary print and mute the effect that makes it interesting.
Where it works best
Hallways and stairwells with shifting natural light through the day tend to be favourite placements for EXPOSED pieces, precisely because the piece looks slightly different depending on when you walk past it. A reading nook or office with a side window works well for the same reason. Avoid bathrooms or anywhere with sustained high humidity, which isn't ideal for any framed work on film.
Care
Keep the piece out of direct, sustained sunlight to protect the film's tonal range over time. Dust the frame and glazing with a dry, soft cloth — avoid spray cleaners directly on the glazing near the edges, where they can seep in.
Every EXPOSED piece ships with a Certificate of Authenticity — worth storing safely, separate from the piece itself, in case you ever want to verify or insure it.
Have a specific space in mind? Get in touch — we're happy to talk through placement for a particular piece.