What way is the best value when framing your prints?

[Aristoc]

What way is the best value when framing your prints?

1. Go to a store like ikea and buy pre-made frames with matte?

2. Go to a framer and have them custom made for you?

3. By the frames and matte and matte cutter seperately and make the whole thing by yourself?

[neile]

What is your volume of images to be framed, what value do you put on your personal time, and how important is control over the final aspect ratio of your image to you?

Assuming you do a low volume, your personal time is important to you, and you don't care about aspect ratio, then your best option is a pre-made frame, pre-cut high-quality mat, and then you assemble it yourself. Downside is you are limited to standard window opening dimensions.

Assuming you do a low volume, personal time is important to you, and you care about aspect ratio, then your best option is a pre-made frame, custom cut high-quality mat done by someone else, and then you assemble it yourself. Downside is higher cost.

Assuming you do a medium volume and/or you don't care about personal time, and you care about aspect ratio, then your best option is to use pre-cut frames, buy a reasonable quality mat cutter (not the $99 Logan crap one that you always see!), learn how to cut your own mats, cut them, and assemble yourself.

Assuming you want the most expensive option, but that requires the least amount of your personal time, get a full custom frame job from a framing store. A good store will do an awesome job. For a slightly cheaper option if you don't value your time too highly, get a custom frame and custom glass from a framing supplier, cut your mat yourself, and assemble yourself.

Assuming you do high volume and have a consistent aspect ratio, pre-order a whole stack of pre-cut mats and frames from a mat supplier, like www.framedestination.con. When an order comes in assemble yourself and sell.

I could go on but I'm sure others (like farmah) will chime in

Neil

[langier]

On line, if you can wait a few days for delivery.

For years, I cut my own by hand or with a mat cutter. I'd always would mangle a mat or two each session, then I'd have to have a stockpile of stuff.

A few years back, a client wanted large prints to hang in their restaurant, 20x30s and 24x36. I didn't want to even think of cutting a mat that size. So I went to the net and started looking.

What I found for me is FrameDestinations.com in Dallas, TX.

Any size, including custom, Neilsen frames and wood, Alphamat, Alpharag, colors, 4 and 8 ply, acid-free mounts, UV, glass and plexi glazing, inexpensive custom cuts, fully assembled, properly packaged and delivered when said.

Prices are not much more than I can buy the parts myself and all I have to do is mount the print, string the wire and deliver. So easy I don't want to do any more cutting if I can avoid it! Sure is a lot more convenient.

Since most of my work is printed in about 4-5 sizes consistently and I use the same frame size increments, this works fine for me. If you crop your images and each print is a different size/aspect ratio, it may not work well for you and you've got to go full-custom.
 

[Aristoc]

OK i am not selling anything right now. I really only need 3 or 4  13X19 sized frames. I do care about aspect ratio from time to time.  Also, I need 3 or 4  8X10 sized frames with mats. That's it. Just to display my stuff at home and work and then if I want to frame a new print, I would remove the old print and put in the new one. I dont need to stockpile frames!

Thanks

[sertsa]

I am in pretty much the same situation, want something for home use and to present in an occasional coffee shop, club, community show, etc, rotating prints in and out of a few good frames.

Assuming you can find something you like, it is far away cheaper to buy a premade frame at a store.  8x10's are obviously everywhere, however I've yet to find 13x19 premade (or really anything larger than 4x6 in the standard SLR 2x3 aspect ratio, what's up with that?).  If you can do the assembly seems like getting the mat cut and frame made from an internet firm and sourcing the glass and backing locally is cheapest.

[chez]

I am in pretty much the same situation, want something for home use and to present in an occasional coffee shop, club, community show, etc, rotating prints in and out of a few good frames.

Assuming you can find something you like, it is far away cheaper to buy a premade frame at a store.  8x10's are obviously everywhere, however I've yet to find 13x19 premade (or really anything larger than 4x6 in the standard SLR 2x3 aspect ratio, what's up with that?).  If you can do the assembly seems like getting the mat cut and frame made from an internet firm and sourcing the glass and backing locally is cheapest.

If you want to frame a 13x19 print, then a 18x24 frame with a mat really looks good. The 18x24 frames are pretty standard.

[Aristoc]

Thanks for the suggestions..anyway I thought about it and since I am going to put these images up on my wall at home or at the office, I want the best. Forget what I said about value.

[sertsa]

If you want to frame a 13x19 print, then a 18x24 frame with a mat really looks good. The 18x24 frames are pretty standard.

Thanks Chez, will look out for these.  Good luck Aristoc.

[Christopher Sanderson]

Aristoc, since I see that you may be in Toronto, I can highly recommend a framer called Art N Pictures at 110 Tycos Drive (W off Dufferin between Eglinton & Lawrence).

They have a great selection of frames, have great taste and suggestions and their prices are remarkably economical. Michael has also used them.

[welder]

I have always been a fan of americanframe.com. You can customize your order to specify the exact size of the frame, matt, plexiglass, and backing board. They also have plenty of selection and reasonable prices (I always use the simple metal frames). Assembly is quite easy. I still order my frames from them but since have moved on to cutting my own matts.

If you are only framing a few pictures for yourself, then probably ordering your stuff from americanframe or a similar internet business will be the best value. Deterimine your photo size, order a matt window that is 1/4 or so smaller than that, and then decide how wide you want the matt border to be (3 inches on each side is my rule of thumb, and adjust from there).

If you really want to save a few more bucks you can forgo ordering the plexiglass along with the frames, and just head down to your local home depot or lowes and they can custom cut plexiglass for you as well.

(note: you'll still need to mount your picture to the backing board...just head down to your local art supply store and pick up some adhesive photo corners or archival mounting tape).

[Aristoc]

Aristoc, since I see that you may be in Toronto, I can highly recommend a framer called Art N Pictures at 110 Tycos Drive (W off Dufferin between Eglinton & Lawrence).

They have a great selection of frames, have great taste and suggestions and their prices are remarkably economical. Michael has also used them.

hope they open on the weekend. thanks

[Christopher Sanderson]

hope they open on the weekend. thanks

I am almost certain they are. Call them: (416) 244-4696

[Aristoc]

I did check into Michaels, but they had a very limited selection of off the shelf 18 X 24 and NO mattes that size. I ended up getting off the shelf frames at another local  art store. Off the shelf are not as good quality as the custom made frames made of wood. But, I didn't want to return to the framer a couple of more times with my art , drop it off and then return again. I would if I was extremely picky about my first framed prints.

The off the shelf were more than acceptable. I also got acid free matte. I then brought the matte to the matte cutter store across the street and they cut a double matte for my architectural print. The frame was 18 X 25 with a 12X 18 opening. I also bought acid free foam board to put behind the print and got rid of the card board.

It's a whole new world doing your own framing. At least putting it all together. Very satisfying and the images look fantastic framed.

I was still wondering about what was the difference between acid free matte and archival matte?


Also, I bought acid free tape to hold the print against the matte, but how do you make sure the print does not bend away from the middle, away from the foam core backing? Double sided acid free tape perhaps?

Thanks

[neile]

There's essentially three grades of matboard out there:

1) Crap, also known as "paper mat" or "decorative mat". This is made from wood pulp and is treated to try and neutralize the acidity. Don't use it.
2) Better stuff, sometimes known as "alphamat", "select", and a few other names. This is made from alpha cellulose and is also treated. Most importantly it doesn't have any lignin in it. This is a very reasonable option to use for framing, and is barely more expensive than #1 above.
3) The best, sometimes known as "ragmat", "museum", or "rag". This is made from 100% cotton and is treated to neutralize the acidity.

If what you bought was just labeled "acid free" there's a good chance it was #1 above. The big difference between the crap and the other grades is wood pulp vs. alpha cellulose/rag. Frame Destination also has a reasonable writeup of this at http://www.framedestination.com/matboard_selection.html.

As for bending prints, there's really not much you can do other than de-curl it prior to framing. If you are t-hinging and the paper is curly to begin with it will still be when you're done. You can always drymount to the backboard, but then you can't get the print off later. More on mounting techniques at http://www.framedestination.com/picture_frame_mounting.html.

I'm sure Farmah will chime in and correct any of my errors above

Neil

[Aristoc]

OHhhhhhh Shid! I bought matte that said Acid Free and I really didn't look enough to see if it was labelled anything else ! Didn't do enough research on it. I did phone the art store and they said it was 4 ply white rag.

My frames are Q brand. Not UV glass, but for me it doesn't matter that much right now.

Looks like I'll be T hinging. I want to be able to remove the print , a few months into the future and replace it with something else.

Thanks

[neile]

If it was Maidstorm Museum then you're set 100% cotton!

Neil

[robgo2]

On line, if you can wait a few days for delivery.

For years, I cut my own by hand or with a mat cutter. I'd always would mangle a mat or two each session, then I'd have to have a stockpile of stuff.

A few years back, a client wanted large prints to hang in their restaurant, 20x30s and 24x36. I didn't want to even think of cutting a mat that size. So I went to the net and started looking.

What I found for me is FrameDestinations.com in Dallas, TX.

Any size, including custom, Neilsen frames and wood, Alphamat, Alpharag, colors, 4 and 8 ply, acid-free mounts, UV, glass and plexi glazing, inexpensive custom cuts, fully assembled, properly packaged and delivered when said.

Prices are not much more than I can buy the parts myself and all I have to do is mount the print, string the wire and deliver. So easy I don't want to do any more cutting if I can avoid it! Sure is a lot more convenient.

Since most of my work is printed in about 4-5 sizes consistently and I use the same frame size increments, this works fine for me. If you crop your images and each print is a different size/aspect ratio, it may not work well for you and you've got to go full-custom.
 

I also use Frame Destination.  Their products, service and prices are excellent.

Rob

[Aristoc]

If it was Maidstorm Museum then you're set 100% cotton!

Neil

Yes It's maidstone and this is where I bought my stuff.
http://www.woolfitts.com/fulfill/pdf/winter_bts_2011_small.pdf