Surface Finish Sprayed

A sprayed finish transforms a raw frame into something seamless. Applied in a controlled spray booth, layers of primer, colour, and clear lacquer build up a surface so smooth that the joins between frame sections disappear entirely. It is our most requested finish, and for good reason.

What a Sprayed Finish Looks Like

Clean, uniform, and quietly impressive. A sprayed frame has the kind of flawless surface you see in galleries and museums, no brush marks, no visible grain, no corner lines. The colour wraps around the entire profile as if the frame were carved from a single block of material. Depending on the sheen you choose, the effect ranges from a soft velvety matte through to a deep reflective gloss, with satin sitting comfortably between the two.

What really sets a sprayed finish apart is the way it handles corners. On a traditionally finished frame, the mitred joints where four pieces meet can be visible, especially after seasonal movement in the wood. With spraying, primer and paint fill and bridge those joints, creating a monolithic appearance that holds up over time.

How a Sprayed Finish Is Applied

The process is methodical and unhurried. Each stage needs to cure properly before the next coat goes on, so a sprayed frame typically takes longer than you might expect, but the result justifies the patience.

Preparation. The raw moulding is sanded smooth and any imperfections are filled. On wood frames, this means addressing grain, knots, and joint lines. On metal, it means degreasing and keying the surface so the primer bonds properly.

Primer. A high-build primer coat goes on first, creating an even base layer that helps the colour sit uniformly. This coat is lightly sanded once cured to remove any texture.

Colour coats. Two or more coats of colour are applied. We can match virtually any shade, RAL Classic (215 standardised colours), NCS, and Pantone references all work. If you have a swatch, a paint tin, or even a fabric sample, we can colour-match from that too.

Clear lacquer topcoat. The final coat seals everything in. This is where you choose your sheen level, matte, satin, or gloss. It also provides a durable protective layer against scuffs and handling marks.

Where a Sprayed Finish Works Best

Sprayed frames suit an enormous range of settings and artworks. Their clean lines and even colour make them a natural choice for contemporary interiors, but a carefully chosen shade, a warm off-white, a deep charcoal, a period green, works equally well in traditional spaces.

They are especially popular for:

• Gallery and exhibition framing, where the frame needs to support the artwork without competing with it

• Interior design projects, colour-matched to walls, furniture, or a wider scheme

• Photography and print, the smooth surface does not distract from fine detail in the image

• Large-scale and oversized pieces, invisible joins are even more important when the frame is substantial

Compatible Materials

Spraying works on both wood and metal frames. Wood mouldings receive the full preparation treatment (filling, sanding, priming) before colour coats. Metal frames, whether aluminium, brass, or steel, are degreased and primed with a metal-specific primer for proper adhesion. The end result looks the same on both: a smooth, consistent surface with no trace of the material beneath.

Durability and Care

A properly applied sprayed finish is robust. The clear lacquer topcoat protects the colour from fading, scuffing, and moisture. For day-to-day care, a soft dry cloth is all you need, avoid solvents or abrasive cleaners, which can dull the surface over time.

Matte and satin finishes tend to be more forgiving of fingerprints and dust than high-gloss options, which show handling marks more readily. If you are framing for a high-traffic area, a hallway, a commercial space, a children's room, satin is usually the most practical choice.

Cost and Commissioning

The cost of a sprayed finish depends on the frame size, profile complexity, and the number of colour coats required. Metallic or pearlescent colours may require additional coats. As a guide, spraying typically adds from around 30 to 50 percent to the cost of the raw frame, though this varies with the project.

Production lead time is typically two to three weeks, which allows for proper curing between coats. If you need a colour sample before committing, we can produce a sprayed sample piece within five to seven working days.

Get in touch with your artwork dimensions and preferred colour for a free, no-obligation quote. If you are not sure which colour to go for, we are happy to advise, we have matched frames to everything from Farrow & Ball paint cards to wedding invitation envelopes.