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Terminology.
Certificates, also known as degrees, awards & diplomas, are generally A4 documents that certify a persons credentials or accomplishments.
Longevity.
While some certificates are replaceable, it is a good idea in general to frame them in such a way that is conservationally kind. In other words, don't glue them down, & where possible, use a mat to keep them off the glass.
Some certificates have wax seals pressed onto them. It is very important that if they are proper wax, that they do not touch the glass. Use a spacer or a mat or two to provide this clearance.
Style.
Basically there are two main routes you can go down when framing certificates in terms of style. You must decide whether you want to frame it quite simply or go a little more over the top. In many cases the type of certificate you are having framed will impact on this decision as much as your preconceived ideas.
Many of the modern university & TAFE certificates that are coming out at the moment are very low on fuss. There are a few embellishments apart from a small coat of arms & the type is usually out of a printer in a no nonsense font. Something like this is predisposed to having a simple black frame, occasionally with a gold line & a simple paper colour mat.
If you have one of the elaborate & large diplomas coming out of the USA at the moment, then the story could be quite different. Something like this could benefit from 2 or 3 mats with inlays & a gold frame or two. Of course if you were to have several of these hanging behind your desk, it could be quite difficult for anyone to take them or you seriously.
Ready made.
Because so many certificates are of standard A4 size, you can easily find something that has been pre made at a fraction of the cost. have a look around framing, furniture & department stores as well as some office suppliers & photo shops. Especially if you have had a long academic career & have a lot of certificates to frame, this can be an economical solution.
Availability.
Because there are usually several years between any one person getting certificates, it is sometimes advisable to get a frame that has a good chance of being available for a long time.
The best bet for getting the same frame made 5 years after your first one, is to choose something that has already been available for a long time. These are mostly going to be the simple black frames, though your framer should be able to advise on what they think is a ongoing possibility.
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