Framing and display ideas for "The Manhattan Skyline" panoramas of New York City

The prints framed behind glass and illuminated with track lights are a spectacular addition to any home or commercial space. The panoramas will attract equal attention secured with tape or pushpins to the wall of your office cubicle, family room, or dormitory room.

Should you decide to exhibit The Manhattan Skyline, how you display it is a question of wall space and your budget. Refer to FRAMING OPTIONS TO CONSIDER in the next column for a full list of framing approaches. If finding a place to display the skyline is an issue, we offer several ideas you may not have thought of in ENJOY NEW YORK CITY ANYWHERE. Or consider showing only your favorite neighborhoods of Manhattan in STUCK FOR A PLACE TO DISPLAY?, which explains how you can get two or more framed prints of more modest size from one skyline portrait.
The Manhattan Skyline portraits capture New York City at an apex in its storied history. Like a family photograph that becomes more cherished with time, these commemorative portraits of one of the world’s great urban centers can be kept as a memento, stored in their colorful protective tubes until another look is desired or to show to your family or friends. The Manhattan Skyline — An East River Portrait decorating the space above a sunny window in a breakfast nook. An image describing the dimensions of the poster panorama entitled 'The Manhattan Skyline — A Hudson River Portrait' and 'The Manhattan Skyline — An East River Portrait,' depicting the New York skyline, also known as the Manhattan skyline. The panoramas are grand images, a necessity for artwork showing 6.5 miles of detailed skyline. Each portrait is 75-inches wide. That's 6 feet, 3 inches, or 190.5 cm. Their relatively short vertical measurements, 18.5 in., or 47 cm, means the amount of material needed to frame The Manhattan Skyline exceeds a 30 X 40 inch print (76 X 102 cm) by only 15 percent in glass, one third in frame stock.
The Skyline in the home. Consider these locations for hanging these cityscapes:
Often overlooked walls make perfect spaces for the skyline of Manhattan. Here, An East River Portrait enhances an entryway.
• Above a piece of furniture of medium height, such as a sideboard, headboard or piano
• Anywhere in a family room, exercise room, or entertainment space
• Above a fireplace mantel
• In a bedroom
• In a study or home office
• Breakfast nook or kitchen
• Stairway or staircase landing
• Hallway
• Large walk-in closet
• Mud room or laundry room
• Foyer or entry (front or back)
• Wood shop, sewing room or craft space
• Heated garage.

The Skyline in a business location: The possibilities are legion. Offices spaces, whether private or public, enjoy new prestige with the Skyline on display. The Manhattan Skylines, hanging in a waiting area, will pleasantly divert your valued customers or clients. This also goes for lingering areas in restrooms.

Please note: Good illumination and open space makes viewing the details easier, but avoid placement in direct sunlight, as the inks will fade. (This holds true for all printed color.)
You can create smaller works of art from the skyline panoramas by selecting your favorite areas of the city for framing. For instance, Midtown Manhattan in a metal frame without a mat runs as small as 7 inches high by 28 inches wide. The Financial District fits in a similarly-sized presentation. How many sections you wish to frame is up to you. Your favorite frame shop can easily perform this transformation.

. Image showing how to make the two-deck poster into a single deck panorama depicting the New York City Skyline, also known as the Manhattan Skyline. The Manhattan Skyline is designed to be reconfigured into the original single-deck image should you decide to do so. By cutting the two decks out of the gray background and splicing the ends together, a finished image measuring 7-inches by 12-feet (18 cm X 366 cm) can be created. (If you leave a half-inch gray border around each section, it measures 8 inches high, or 20 cm.) Although unframeable, this artwork should fit over the doors and windows of most rooms. Your framer should be able to neatly do the splice for you.

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The Manhattan Skyline — A Hudson River Portrait on display above a fireplace mantle. The following seven options are presented as a starting point, but do finish by consulting your framer. All but the last option (number 7) requires the art to be mounted to a backing material such as foamcore board or masonite. The list is presented in descending order of expense and durability.

1. Framed, behind Plexiglas: Although the most expensive option, shatter-resistant Plexiglas weighs less than glass. Plexiglas will scratch, so it must be cleaned carefully.
2. Framed, behind glass: Glass is scratch resistant and easiest to clean. Disadvantages include weight and fragility.
3. Framed, an encapsulated lamination: Least expensive and lightest in weight, lamination permanently sandwiches the print between two plastic sheets (the same process encases your driver’s license). Some laminating materials will darken the image slightly.
4. Framed, a single-sided lamination: The print is sandwiched between foamcore and a single sheet of plastic. Some of these plastic materials will not darken the image.
5. Laminated, no frame: Foamcore is extremely light in weight, but also vulnerable to impact damage. Other materials such as masonite offer slightly more rigidity and protection. All are subject to slight warping with changes in humidity.
6. Mounted to backing material, no protection: Makes a nice presentation, but the print is exposed to all hazards.
7. Display it as is: The least expensive option and suitable in many situations.
Both views of the Manhattan Skyline can make a home office more interesting and inviting. Picture hook image At least two hooks are required to safely hang The Manhattan Skyline panoramas in a frame and to keep them stable.
Double-nail picture hook image Heavy-duty hooks with extra long nails are recommended, particularly for framed prints behind glass or Plexiglas. Especially secure are hooks with holes for two nails. See your framer or hardware store.

Most frame shops can protect and enhance a print the size of The Manhattan Skyline. Just in case, telephone before making a trip to your favorite frame store. The following shops are equipped to frame your panorama:

• Amity Studio, 377 Grand St. (near Norfolk), 212-673-6055
• Big Apple Art Gallery, 1456 Second Ave. (at 76th), 212-570-5710
• Columbus Art Gallery, 588 Columbus Ave. (near 89th), 212-875-1678
• Eastside Art Gallery, 1239 First Ave. (near 67th), 212-327-2540
• Jacks Art Gallery, 2855 Broadway (near 111th), 212--749-5554
• KOH Art Gallery, 66 W. Broadway (at Murray), 212-619-2180
• Museum Art & Framing, 1279 First Ave. (near 69th), 212-879-5254
• Nations Art, 810 Second Ave. (near 43rd), 212-687-1786
• Omega Art, 439 Third Ave. (near 31st), 212-889-7929
• 2nd Ave. Art Expo, Inc., 980 2nd Ave. (near 54th), 212-223-9095
• Yorkville Art Gallery and Framing, 1687 Third Ave. (near 95th), 212-423-0604

• Art & Frame Outlet, 1941 Perth Amboy Ave., Whiting, NJ, 732-919-0037
• Artventure Gallery, 202 E. Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood, NJ, 201-652-1166
• Brooklyn Art, 7709 Fifth Ave., Brooklyn, NY, 718-745-7734
• CPN Art Company, Inc., 58-A Hobart St., Hackensack, NJ, 201-487-0304
• Perfect Corner Custom Framing, 345 Smith St., Brooklyn, NY, 718-237-2760
• Revelation Gallery, 26 Broadway, Denville, NJ, 973-627-6558

ALEXANDRIA, VA—
• Deco Art & Framing, 6424 Landsdowne Center, 703-339-4104
BOULDER, CO—
• Art Source International, 1237 Pearl St., 303-444-4080
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO—
• Gallery of Frames, 310 A S. 8th St., 719-473-3497
• Novis Frame and Art, 206 1/2 N. Tejon St., 719-633-6903
HARTFORD, CT—
• J & M Image Works, 237 Hamilton St., 860-951-7997

Are you a professional framer looking for hints on framing The Manhattan Skyline Portraits? Go to our MORE HELP FOR FRAMERS page.

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