Topic: framing question

[formica]

when having 8x12 frames done is it standard to give them a matted border or just have the picture come straight to the edge of  the frame? i'm having some 8x12s framed for my next show and i'm not exactly sure how i should frame them as i've just done square pictures in the past.

                         william

[Phil Bebbington]

I guess it all comes down to personal preference - I have only ever had one exhibition and those were matted and of course images I have in the house are matted.

[formica]

for the rectangular ones how much of a matted border did you give them?

            william

[Phil Bebbington]

Those prints are in Crete and my memory fails me for now, but, I have measured stuff I have on the wall here and those vary from 2-3 inches depending on the size of the print - most are closer to 3 - sorry I'm an old imperial kind of guy! 5-7cm ish.

[Heather]

2-3inches is the standard. When I had do my own mounting (even though I pleaded with my art teacher that it sucked ), we'd do 2 inches on the top and sides and 3 inches at the bottom. This is some sort of standard, it's suppose to "weigh" the picture and I guess it makes anything abstract more obvious as to which way up it is. You'd probably scale that up or down depending on the size of the work. Sometimes 2-3 inches would look silly on a smaller or larger piece (I'd say 2-3 is about right for 8x10 size so probably the same for 8x12, that's only a difference of one inch on either side).

If you're having them done, though, aren't you talking to a competent framer who can advise you as to what will look best?  I quite like framers because it's another person to bounce presentation ideas off, if nothing else and they're quite good at picking the best off-white to show off work etc.

[Francois]

I usually start from the frame and make the mat accordingly. I too use the visual center instead of the frame center. This means same distance left-right-top. I cut my opening a bit smaller to make sure the image doesn't pop out.

[Phil Bebbington]

If you're having them done, though, aren't you talking to a competent framer who can advise you as to what will look best?  I quite like framers because it's another person to bounce presentation ideas off, if nothing else and they're quite good at picking the best off-white to show off work etc.

Sometimes the competent framer might have taste that is questionable! I respect my local framers ability, but, very quickly began to question his taste, or at least realised our taste differed quite drastically when he started telling me stuff would like good in dark red overlays. I do agree with you though, Heather, if you know and trust him then you ought to be able to get good advice.

[Heather]

Sometimes the competent framer might have taste that is questionable! I respect my local framers ability, but, very quickly began to question his taste, or at least realised our taste differed quite drastically when he started telling me stuff would like good in dark red overlays. I do agree with you though, Heather, if you know and trust him then you ought to be able to get good advice.

That's quite true but you can ask anyone's opinion; you don't have to accept it I somewhat question my local framers's ability after I requested a float mount and had the framed print hanging on my wall for less than 20 hours when the picture de-floated and fell down within the frame. The custom built frame itself is lovely and they did fix it and it seems okay after several months.
Not sure I want to go back to them though when they looked at the beautiful pure platinum print my friend gave me and sort of sniffed and muttered digital print (!) and then they wanted to know the difference. Sigh.  (Wait, why do I always have these crummy stories?)

[Francois]

I know framing horror stories are always crummy and expensive...
And the little corner of frame doesn't always tell the whole story. What looks good in a 4 inch triangle won't necessarily look good in full.
That's why I tend to DIY more often than not...

[formica]

thanks for the suggestions everyone!

If you're having them done, though, aren't you talking to a competent framer who can advise you as to what will look best?  I quite like framers because it's another person to bounce presentation ideas off, if nothing else and they're quite good at picking the best off-white to show off work etc.

    well, i'm working through a bit of a language barrier. so it's best if i can just say what i want instead of asking for suggestions which may lead to further confusion.

              william