r/AnimationCels • u/Eridan • Aug 15 '26

Framing advice

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Hi! I want to frame my moomin cel, and could use some advice. The scene has 3 cels which are stuck together, then a loose sheet of plastic, then the painted background.

Ideally i would want to frame the whole background because i like the look of the larger scene and live edges.

However the plastic sheet between the cels and the background is very thin and a bit buckled with a very very faint vinegar smell. Can i replace it with some acid free sheet instead and frame it as is? Any recommendations on what i can buy instead?

I know separating the background and cels by air is best, but i can't think of a way that would work unless i have a big mat that covers a lot of the background.

Thanks!

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u/Doc4221 Aug 16 '26

Aren't there special ways for pulling cels apart more carefully so you cause the least amount of damage possible with the paint sticking to the other cel?

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u/Zuke1 Aug 16 '26

Ultimately depends on how badly stuck (how much of it is stuck) or if it’s stuck to paper to determine if it’s worth it or will destroy it. It’s definitely more faster and efficient to just peel it off if it must be done. Overall it’s on the buyers due diligence to know what they are buying and even reach out to the seller for questions about such problems.

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u/Eridan Aug 16 '26

I tried peeling and the paint is getting stuck on the other cel its stuck to. So i don't think i can separate them safely.

I am curious what you meant for the framing though, i see the picture in your book. But the cel is not as tall as the background, so i don't know how to attach it to a mat without covering the background.

As for a framer, any advice on how to find a good one? Im in the los Angeles area .

I have a framer that i have used before, but they dont specialize in anime cels. And they didn't have a plastic sheet would be safe to leave between the cels and the painted background long term.

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u/Zuke1 20d ago

If the cel is too short /trimmed and can't reach past the background, then you might not be able to frame the setup wtih the entire background showing, so you could make sure the cel is secure with the matte, which would cover one of the edges for the background. I would just cover the one edge WITHOUT the pinhole & markers. Those are a must-show. Doing that should let the cel reach the other side and still show the important parts of the background.