Nielsen Metal Frames: How Those Finishes Happen

Nielsen metal frames come with two types of finishes:

Paint
Anodized

For either finish, nuanced aesthetics result in a wide variety of design options, including primary colors; sleek, contemporary blacks; and elegant metallic patinas.

The first step in preparing Nielsen aluminum frames for finishing is brushing or polishing. Brushing creates a linear pattern, or non-directional texturing. Polishing buffs and smooths the surface of the aluminum to a high shine. Both actions also serve to eliminate any roughness created in the extrusion process.

Finish #1: Paint

Through a customized electrostatic system, Nielsen paints are applied for full coverage and superior durability. Nielsen Colorwave colors are traditional opaque hues that come in a full assortment of primary shades that are ideal for presenting posters, sports imagery, and photography. The Nielsen translucent Vivids paints highlight the sheen of silver aluminum while offering a variety of softened, contemporized colors. Frames in these colors complement modern art particularly well.

"Colorwave paints yield a traditional opaque finish, while Vivids translucent paints allow a pop of silver aluminum show through."

Finish #2: Anodized

Anodizing is an electrochemical process that creates a bond between the aluminum moulding and the anodizing color. Brushing and polishing the metal first is especially important since anodizing serves to highlight and enhance the inherent texture of the aluminum, not hide it. With anodization, the metal moulding is bathed in a dye formula that establishes the color and level of shine–matte, frosted, or glossy. Elegant anodized mouldings are a wonderful aesthetic for traditional and contemporary home décor.