I am going to display some 11x14 enlargements (framed and nonframed) at a small art event and am trying to figure if I should have some of them matted or not (I have a few mattes with 8x10 openings). I'm leaning towards displaying both whether they are framed or in the display books. I have some plastic gloves for handling those that are unframed. I personally like to have as much of an image visible as possible, but people are so different in their tastes it seems impossible to peg a "best" way to present pictures. Also, is 30.00 too cheap for a framed 11x14? Some people say I'm underselling my work, but this is the South and the economy is horrible (or so we're told). Any suggestions?
It's all subjective, isn't it? I like mattes, so much I'm toying with investing in my own matte cutter. +1 for mattes from me!
As far as price, your artwork it one of a kind, all of ours is. It has value, regardless of economy. Those who are even in the market for fine art prints are not that affected by the economy and will pay for value. In fact, it's sort of an instant gratification to bring home a beautiful print and people are still willing to pay for that. We look for sales on Cheerios (especially with teens in the house, lol) but not valued art. If you price a framed print at only $30, you'll be thought of in that range which is hard to climb out of. Sign your prints to add value, and get the framed 11x14's up above $150 where they belong. You can always discount later.
In the horrible event of a house burning down, people grab their photos long before boxes of cereal.
Hi Shirley. Presentation is a big factor in selling which means a finished product that is framed. Have several samples professionally framed and matted, and all the rest matted with backing. If someone can't afford the $150 for the 16 x 20 framed print, they feel more comfortable getting the 11x14 $50/$75 matted one and framing it themselves. Get a sling or plastic box where customers can leaf through the matted 11x14s or 8x10 to their hearts content. Put them in sleeves if you have the time to order them so they are protected from dirty hands because they will get damaged otherwise.
I do have some presentation triangles and all my other prints are in those. I matted some of the shots in there and left the rest unmatted. I don't have any backing, though. I thought of using posterboard but don't know if it's acidic or not. I have gloves to get the prints out and I have stiff mailer envelopes to put them in. I'll get some small bags for the framed shots today.
Why does a matte border cost so much? Is it because of the paper it's made from. I see places on the web offering 25 for around 50.00--am I stuck in a pricing timewarp or what?
I will also go for the matte and pretty much everything that the prior commenters have said, especially Patricia's detailed response. ALL my prints are matted, framed or not. I show a combination of framed prints and then have matted, backed and wrapped copies of those prints and much more at all my shows. 75% of sales are the unframed prints. They are more affordable and easier to carry away. Put the best possible presentation on your work. If someone asks 'How much without the matte?" do NOT change the price. These people are not going to buy anyway. I tell them the price is the same either way, the matte is 'free'.
Another argument I've heard is that the matte provides a space between the print surface and glass, which serves to protect the print from contact and reacting with the glass surface. The matte will pay for itself right there.
Like many opinions here I have no problem stating the opposite, I have never been a big fan of matted prints. On the very rare occasion I may see a matted print that looks good but typically the matte is either to big, to small, to white, wrong color and in general does not enhance the image at all. I have all my work professionally framed with high quality material (I have paid over $200 for a 16x24 frame including the dry mounting and actual framing and that's with a price break from my framer) using black spacers between glass and print and no matte, I think they look way better than having a colored piece of paper around them.
Well, I must say that I never understood the matte element, either. I want to buy a shot that fills the whole frame and not have it obscured by a border, but to each his own. You can't figger people--which is why I've decided to play to both crowds wether framed or unframed. I will say this--B&W does look better in some cases with a white matte if the frame is black. I don't care for it with color, though. It just doesn't do anything for me.
Thanks to all for the input. I'm new at this marketing thing (hence, not very good at it) and can't figure why I have an interest in something so subjective that there's no way to say anything definitive at all about what would sell best. Before I do anything else, I read the last two pages in any fiction book I buy just to know that somewhere something worked for somebody at some time. How did I get into the exact opposite scenario where marketing is concerned? I must hate myself.
Matt is functional - it's for providing the spacing between glass and the print. Period.
Many finds that it enhances the presence, but that's personal preference
I matt my smaller prints 8x12 and 12x18 for shows - the bigger size prints are backed by a board and inside a plastic clearbag. I put matted prints in clearbags too - absolutely essential for protection
I have thought of using posterboard as backing--does anyone know if it's acidic or not?
Lately I've been using bubble wrap. I don't know if it helps or not. I don't have a steady humidity level in my house because there's no central heat system, so some of my framed prints are crinkled up and some are flat as everything--I can't figure it out since it's all the same paper. Does anyone else have this problem?
Discussion
11 repliesAs far as price, your artwork it one of a kind, all of ours is. It has value, regardless of economy. Those who are even in the market for fine art prints are not that affected by the economy and will pay for value. In fact, it's sort of an instant gratification to bring home a beautiful print and people are still willing to pay for that. We look for sales on Cheerios (especially with teens in the house, lol) but not valued art. If you price a framed print at only $30, you'll be thought of in that range which is hard to climb out of. Sign your prints to add value, and get the framed 11x14's up above $150 where they belong. You can always discount later.
In the horrible event of a house burning down, people grab their photos long before boxes of cereal.
If we want peoiple to value our work, WE have to value it too!
Sandy
Good luck!
Why does a matte border cost so much? Is it because of the paper it's made from. I see places on the web offering 25 for around 50.00--am I stuck in a pricing timewarp or what?
Another argument I've heard is that the matte provides a space between the print surface and glass, which serves to protect the print from contact and reacting with the glass surface. The matte will pay for itself right there.
Thanks to all for the input. I'm new at this marketing thing (hence, not very good at it) and can't figure why I have an interest in something so subjective that there's no way to say anything definitive at all about what would sell best. Before I do anything else, I read the last two pages in any fiction book I buy just to know that somewhere something worked for somebody at some time. How did I get into the exact opposite scenario where marketing is concerned? I must hate myself.
Can someone give a quick description on how you back your images?
Many finds that it enhances the presence, but that's personal preference
I matt my smaller prints 8x12 and 12x18 for shows - the bigger size prints are backed by a board and inside a plastic clearbag. I put matted prints in clearbags too - absolutely essential for protection
Lately I've been using bubble wrap. I don't know if it helps or not. I don't have a steady humidity level in my house because there's no central heat system, so some of my framed prints are crinkled up and some are flat as everything--I can't figure it out since it's all the same paper. Does anyone else have this problem?