Toronto Photography Meetup Group

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?

Thanks

Is this a test?

nope

Where will it be displayed? How much are you willing to spend for it?

I was thinking that since I am not selling, I really only need about 3 8X10 sized frames and 3 13X19 sized frames. For personal use. Then , when I want to frame a new print, I would simply remove and store the old print and reuse the frame. I don't want to start a collection of frames.

Then go for Ikea or the art store variety. Bear in mind that frames like those do not use quality matboards and the acid will affect the photo.

If quality is of concern, go to a pro framer but insist non cold or dry mounting. This method sticks the print to the matboard permanently. You can change prints easily then but with an excellent frame.

This ^^^

Then I don't understand the point of the question. You don't know what you value? Are you looking to be told what to think? Seriously. Not trying to be an ass here... Is there something fundamental I'm missing here?

Is it a math problem? Best value? From your options is Ikea. It's the cheapest and achieves the desired result - a framed print. Thus, you have achieved the minimum result for the least amount of money.

Or maybe it's have a framer do it. Their expertise and workmanship is what you value. The extra cost is justified by the value you attach to that.

Oh, no, it's 3. You value the learning experience the most. Sure it will take time to figure it all out but you want to learn. That's where the value is. And the process of doing it, that's valuable to you too. It won't turn out as well as having the pro do it, or maybe even as well as the simple mass made product from Ikea, but you made it yourself; there's value in that.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the- ... d294540619

Episode 50

He uses a cheap frame from Ikea for this demo. I think his key is the acid-free paper he uses to mount the print.

Maybe the rule of thumb is that the price of the framing should be proportional to the price of the print?

the other aspect to the question, is 'aspect' ratio. It's possible that I may want a certain aspect ratio for my print. This means that I can't just buy something off of the store shelf. I have looked at Ikea, but none of their frames would fit and I would have to do a lot of cropping.

A 4th way just for today.

If your budget only allows frames with mattes from Ikea, the mattes can still be modified by you if you purchase a matte cutter.

I've typically bought frames from Deserres and have occasionally had them do custom mat cuts, to fit said frames.

I haven't been to a craft store in a long while. I will have to go into a loomis & toles (if they still exist) or one of the other many craft stores that sell this stuff and see what my options are there.

Buying mat cutting equipment may not be cost effective just to have 5 or 6 frames.

Oh looks like Deserres bought loomis...will have to check them too. Thanks


The other question is about the glass. Has to be UV protected. An acrylic covering would not do.

I would suggest you invest in some good gallery quality frames (low profile metal), and have your first set of prints custom framed. You will then own the frames, and when you want to swap them out - just bring the frame to the framer, and have them mount the new print into a new matt - that way you can deal with custom aspect ratio's, and you will get the desired look. It shouldn't cost you much more than $50 per frame for an 11x14 frame, or if you go for something bigger like a 16x20 frame - around $75

I use Incurrable Collector for framing in the beach area.

just use ikea ready made stuff, it's not like somebody is going to appreciate your photos in a 100 years

Seriously though -- IKEA frames suck! even for crap I didn't care about - I would rather spend a few bucks more on a crappy frame from Blacks then ever go through an IKEA experience again.

Thanks for the framer suggestion. THe last thing I would want is to go through all the trouble of taking a nice image and then framing it in a generic frame. Been there. I will look into a few framers around and see what I come up with in terms of price. As I said I am not selling, but going to keep them on my wall in my darkroom or at the office. I think I want the best.Forget what I said about value.

So far I have been using the simple glass frames from Henry's. Simple black frame that sandwiches you work between to panes of glass. You have the option of using the wall colour to surround your print or place your print on another piece of paper.

you need space between your print and the glass!

speak for yourself

Depends on what your use for it is, and how much you want to spend on it. Is it just something to hang in your own house, a gallery, club competition (will be tossed/recycled afterwards), or do you intend to sell it?

After answering that, you can decide on prefab, DIY, or go to someone who does this custom every day.

I thought I was

wolfits at queen and dufferin has some pretty good frames at great prices... matting too..and a cutting kit for 30 bucks or so.. not bad to look into if you are planning on framing a few pieces

My suggestion apply for the an scenario, where you are looking to display for personal or business use, and intend to reuse your frame to rotate your various sizes photographic prints.

- I recommend having sturdy good quality frames made by a custom framer, at least 6 inches larger than your average print size
- Make sure to ask for acid free backing and flex points or turn buttons (to easily replace artwork, I prefer the turn buttons option)

Once you have the frame, you can easily have just the matboards cut to fit the frame and place them inside.
For instance if you mostly have 8"x12" prints, get a 14"x18" frame; not only you will have a nice 3" matboard floating your photograph, but also that frame will give you enough allowance to use the same frame for larger sizes; while having only to replace the matboard.
I hope that makes sense

really good points gerardo. Thank you.

I buy the frames and cut the matt myself.

I just bought 2 18 X 24 inch frames from wolfits art store. I went to michaels, but they really didn't have nice frames at that size and the did not even have any mattes for it ;( This isn't the high quality frame made of wood. But I did go the art n frames store. I would have to wait until the matte cutter returned on monday and I would have to bring in my image and leave it and then come back for it etc etc. I did not want to wait. They would have given me a nice wood frame though.

So the art store was best. I then bought the matte and hopped over across the street to the framing store which cut the mattes for me. I decided on a double matte for my architectural image. I have to let my print dry, but I tested it with the matte and it looks fantastic.

All in all, I had a successful weekend.

thanks for all the suggestions in regards to the sizes to select. Indeed the 18 X 24 frame is best for a 3 inch matte. in the future though I will ask the matte cutter to cut the opening just under 13 X 19 instead of 12 X 18 to give me as much print as possible. Even thoought that might redcue the size of the 3 inch matte.

Thanks again to all above for the suggestions.