Toronto Photography Meetup Group

Hi Everyone,

Going to be printing a bunch of images for the house to display and wanted to know where most of you get your frames. Most images I will print on 13 x 19 and I am specifically looking for mid to high-end frames. if the frames are a little smaller, I have a paper cutter so no issues there. I just can't seem to find a decent frame without having to go to the custom frame stores. been to henrys, vistek, Currys, Deserres, dept. stores, Blacks, etc... any suggestions? Thanks!

Michael's has some nice frames, but they're very pricey. I tend to use their 16"x20" (white matted to 11"x14") Gallery Frames for my 11"x14" prints. Some locations have an unmatted version of this frame in 13"x19". They occasionally go on sale for 40% off, but even then they're about $32.00 each.

http://www.michaels.com/art/online/disp ... yid=106145

*EDIT* They also do custom framing.

I get all my frames from Michaels but I wait for the 50% off deals they have most of the time.

Go to Deserres Art Stores instead of Michaels. Same and more stuff for a LOT cheaper. Also they have custom framing. For example the 16x20 frame with an 11x4 mat opening is regular price 29.00 and currently there is a sale for 20% off all in stock prefab frames and 25% off all custom framing.

printing and framing in the same place call Steve at The Framing Depot (416) 445.5559, also you`ll avoid having to crop your images to fit lab fix image sixe or stock frames.

cheers

I checked on the Michael's website, and at least at the location near me in Peterborough.. a number of the types of frames are 40-50% off this week and custom framing is 50% off till Friday.

what timing... thanks everyone!

Even if they don't have the 50% off sales all that you have to do is buy something small the week before, then you'll frequently get a 40-50% off coupon for a regular priced item that you buy the next week.

Victor Gallery
636 Queen St. W (west of Bathurst)

I have never been into any other "art" or "craft" store that has more frames than this place.

They're not "cheap" but the quality of the frames and the selection (which is huge imho) is excellent.

Dave

With respect, Victor's frames are crap.

I second The Framing Depot.

Steve at The Framing Depot always does an excellent job for me.

Where can you get the carboard frames for 8x12s? you see them on those street art pictures downtown

perhaps you meant "Cardboard" Now are you talking about cardboard, or matt board?

Mat board...

not matt (person's name), or matte (a finish).

Yeah those lol forgive my horrible typing job lol, Mat board.. Where might I find those?

You can get mat boards at art supply stores like Deserres & Curry's
While most places will sell both conservation(archival) and non, you may need to actually request to see the conservation ones.

Standard stock sizes are 32" x 40" while certain styles are available in a 40" x 60" stock size.
Depending on the demographics of the store location, they may also sell 1/4 sheets of 16" x 20", but those are usually non-archival(acid buffered only).

I need 8 x 12 ones lol

Most of the shops will cut board on the spot for you, from stock down to rabbet size (outer-most dimension of the mat).
However if you want the board cut with an opening, stores like Deserres that have internal framing departments (therefore have mat cutters) will usually ask for a few days minimum to have this order done, as you go to their custom order queue.

If you are getting custom cuts, I'd suggest waiting until after the holidays for the best reception. You don't want to be known as "that last minute guy".

But if you think you'll do this kinda thing often, you may consider buying a mat cutter(system) for home use. These days, labour charges are not cheap.
At the very least, do your own stock 90degree cuts and buy whole sheets.

For example, let's assume your 8" x 12" requested size is the outer mat dimension. From a 32" x 40" stock board size, you can get 13qty 8" x 12".
However, at let's say $1 per cut(every time the blade comes down), you're looking at coincidentally 13 cuts. If you buy a non-archival quality board, they're about $7... you've essentially tripled your mat board cost.

In contrast, an archival(acid free, not merely buffered) custom cut mat (to size with opening) of 8" x 12" I believe is around $11 each. (or about $5@ for a non archival)

Mounting cost scenarios:
- buy mat board have cut down to size = $20 (13qty)
- buy mat board cut down yourself = $7 (13qty)

Matting cost scenario:
- buy custom mats = $143 (13qty)
- buy mat board and cut completely by yourself = $7 (13qty)
- buy mat board and have cut down to size = $20 (13qty)
- buy mat board, buy mat cutter system, cut by yourself = $150* (13qty)

*Logan 301s system is the best quality for your money at about $140 retail... don't buy cheaper plastic or other sub $1500 metal systems.

hope this helps your search...

Yeah that def helps!, I was looking for the ones that they use to put those celebrity "drawn" photos on like queen those street artists use .. with the plastic over the actual picture and the cardboard framing

any suggestions on places downtown for custom work?

I sent someone to the framing depot last week because of he couldn't find what he was looking for at Victor's.

Also Up In Frames Yonge just north of Lawrence does excellent custom work, to get the good prices you should let him know that you are a photographer and can't pay retail.

woah...

"photographer" = can't pay retail?

that's about as much of an oxymoron as "a starving artist".


You don't go to a job interview in flipflops and jeans twice your size such that the cuffs are fashionably worn from sweeping the sidewalks... with any actual hope of getting hired

lol i hope you don't take ryan seriously as his sarcasm is hard to catch online. i'm sure he means negotiating is an option there... right? ... RIGHT?

While I've never tried The Framing Depot - they're in my "hood" - I'll see if they have any ready made frames.

Out of curiosity Sean, seeing as how you stated it, comment please on why Victor Gallery's frames are "crap".

I've used many of them and haven't had issue but perhaps you know something I don't know.

Thank you,
Dave

agree on victor gallery frames being crap - the joints are held together with staples... the finishes scratch easily and can't be refinished...

if you want high quality frames, check out elevator digital or akau framing.. both do custom work using solid wood mouldings and offer a range of hand finishes that can be refinished or repaired...

I'm looking for frames that I can use to frame my own stuff Ken - I don't need to have someone frame them for me - i.e. I cut my own matte etc.

So, will these folks have the same type of stuff or can I just walk in and say to them that I want a 24x30" frame and they'll have one ready for me?

I'm really curious about this because most places that do custom work that I've been into usually means I have to place an order and wait for a day or longer to get it.

Thanks,
Dave

No, I don't think Akau or Elevator stock a wide range of sizes - but rather offer custom frames that are built to order. The depth of the moulding, type of stain/finish, choice of glass, mounting materials and methods (reversible), etc. can be chosen. It depends if you want a budget 'standard' frame to hang something in or a conservation quality mount/frame that will play an important role in preserving/protecting the print. I'm speaking from personal experience since I've gone down the budget framing route as well as invested in custom frames and professional mounting and since I only have a handful of prints I want to hang/exhibit, I now opt for quality over price.

I suspect that for frames larger than 8x10 or 11x14 prints, few places outside of victor gallery, woolfits and ikea stock a wide selection of larger frames. Most are made to order rather than offer the shelf.

It continues to surprise me how so many photographers spend thousands of dollars and the 'best' camera gear but then cut corners when it comes to prints and presentation.

How do you mount your prints? I found it's worth spending the money to pay someone experienced and skilled in mounting and framing to do my finishing. Inevitably, I save some money doing it myself but I waste a lot of time.YMMV.

i googled akau and it shows them on 1186 queen west. a quick live view shows it as an animal clinic.

access to Akau is off a side street - not Queen street west...can't remember the street but you can't miss it if you look for the sign on the west side of the street (north of Queen)...

[quote="Tuzi"]woah...

"photographer" = can't pay retail?

that's about as much of an oxymoron as "a starving artist".


You don't go to a job interview in flipflops and jeans twice your size such that the cuffs are fashionably worn from sweeping the sidewalks... with any actual hope of getting hired