Posted by Chad Merrell on June 22, 2011 at 12:28 PM
How many of you do your own matting and framing? Printing an image doesn't cost much but the matting and framing runs $250 each or on up. At what volume does doing your own matting and framing become cost effective? Where do you buy your supplies and equippment
To put an A3 in a 16x20 frame should run about $25.00 after the initial investment in a mat cutter. This gets you foam core backing, a ragboard mat, uv glass and a metal frame. You can spend more but I cannot see why you should. Buy mounting board and matting in 25 sheet lots from several vendors for about the same price. Dick Blick comes to mind. The glass can be a problem. UV glass is better than plexi and cheaper, but is hard to get shipped, is breakable, and is heavy. Either is popular. AR glass puts you in the $250.00 range in a hurry and is hard to work with. I like UV glass which can be very affordable if you live near a vendor that won't soak you for it. 16x20 is good because there is no waste of board material from a 32x40 inch sheet and the windows are large enough to use for additional small mats.
Even if you don't cut your own mats, it's considerably cheaper to put all this together yourself. You could buy online a pre-cut double mat, backing/gator board, acrylic AND a frame for less than $100 total for a 16x20" frame. So to answer your direct question, I only think it takes a volume of 1 to make it cost effective. ;-) Even an entry level Logan mat cutter you can get for $100 or so. It does take practice. Honestly though, if you stick to some standard sizes you can get pre-cut mats pretty cheap too.
I've used a number of places online and there are tons of them. I won't make the links active, you can just cut-n-paste (I'm too lazy at this point.) ;-)
Dick Blick already mentioned
Framedestination.com (I recommend highly)
Americanframe.com
contemporaryframe.com
You'll also need to practice with your measurements, learn about print hanging (on the foam backing,) border spaces, etc. etc. But in the end, it makes ZERO sense to pay a framer. As you noted, it's outrageously expensive.
Chad, this topic hits home for me. I just finished a class at my local community college on matting and framing. For 6 weeks we learned how to cut mats, single and double, how to frame and how to finish a framed piece. It was well worth the class fee. I now mat and frame all my own photographs. It allows me to be more creative and at a lot less cost.
I purchased a Logan Mat Cutter-Model 450 which retailed at $250 at my local A.C. Moore craft store (similar to Michael's crafts). I watched for their 50% off coupon and then purchased the mat cutter for $125. It comes with a video and great instructions but having taken the class, it made a lot more sense. I purchase all my mat board, archival foam board and frames from a local framing supply place here in Hendersonville, North Carolina, but I believe they ship as well. I love using the aluminum frames for my photos, plus they are a lot easier to work with than the wood frames, i.e. no backing paper to use, etc.
Their website is: www.framingsupplies.com
If you print standard size photos, you can purchase pre-cut mats very reasonably, but I seem to print odd sizes as I don't want my images skewed to fit an 8 x 10 or 9 x 12. If you start to mat and frame your own prints I think you will find it to be a huge savings. And if you can find a local frame shop that will guide you in the process, then that's even better. Good luck, let us know if we can help.
I don't have room for a mat cutter so I purchase pre-cut mats in small bulk volume roughly once a year from the place Barbara mentioned--framingsupplies.com. (They do ship and they're extremely reasonable, easy to work with and completely reliable.) I print in four sizes and have the mats cut to meet the standards of stock frame sizes. About half of what I sell is unframed and this allows people to purchase inexpensive frames off the rack, if they like, to avoid frame shop prices. For frames, when I need them, I wait for sales (which happen at least once a month) at Michael's and/or Hobby Lobby. I mat the prints myself. I can put a 12x18 print in an 18x24" frame for about $25 using this approach; smaller sizes are significantly cheaper (e.g. an 8x10 print in an 11x14" frame would run about $13).
I'm sure that per unit pricing would run even less if I did cut my own mats (once the price of the mat cutter was absorbed), but as I mentioned at the outset, I really don't have room for the setup. In any case, as Lon mentioned above, there's no question at all that it's possible to bring matting/framing costs down to a level that's a small fraction of what a frame shop charges.
We offer the service in our studio, but make no bones that we're "fronting" for a frame shop down the street. We do the handling and such as a service to our clients, but there's no intent on our part to make a buck on it or devote the time and effort to doing it ourselves. And yeah, it's spendyashell. We keep 30-40 framed prints on the wall for display, changing them out at least 6 times a year with the seasons. Do the math, and we have a heck of an investment in mats and frames for our own displays, much less for customers. And think about the space required to store all those large prints when they're not on the wall.
Over and above the cost of tools and materials, when you're leaving the color and style up to the customer you also get into storage and display issues, as well as keeping up with all the latest styles when stocking the corner samples. Waaaaay too much hassle for us on top of running a studio. In your shoes, if you limit your choices in colors and styles of frame and mats, or even don't offer any options, your life will be lots easier and you'll save even more because you don't have to stock a bunch of stuff that will only sell once or twice a year.
In my opinion, one of the most imporant things in presenting a photograph is the fit and finish of the final product, which as far as this discussion is concerned is the framed piece. You won't believe the number of times I have been to a gallery and saw shoddy framing jobs, where either the low material cost or poor workmanship put a damper on otherwise beautiful prints. Therefore, if you are doing the matting/framing yourself, my advice is to be very particular and careful about both the material used and your workmanship. Sometimes going too cheap is not a good thing.
I use Light Impressions to get custom cut mats and backing boards. I mount the prints at home myself. I then use the services of a local framing shop to get the rest of the work done. After having worked with them for a long time, I often get good discounts that lessens the burden somewhat. The final quality of the finished piece is very important to me and although this process may not be the cheapest I am happy with it. So are the folks who purchase framed prints from me.
Anil really hits on a sore spot for me. I too see so many people in galleries who seem to put no thought or concern into the final presentation and I just have to shake my head. Why go to the trouble & expense of printing top quality prints and then skimp on the matting and framing? I don't think it matters whether you do it yourself and have it done in a shop, just take the time to do it to the same standards you require for your prints.
Very important points by Anil and Bill, I agree totally. Please don't equate DIY, ordering online and cheap all in the same vane. I take pride in my work all the way through the finished frame, as does Anil and others. You can and should produce a quality finished product. You will still save some money if you take all the unfinished pieces to a frame shop and have them assemble it professionally, rather than just going down there with a loose print and have them do everything. You'll be paying for design, labor, labor, and yes, labor and large markups.
Anil's approach works too if you have a local frame shop where you can develop a relationship. I have that here locally and occasionally buy full mat sheets or a frame from him. But he knows I'm not going to give him the whole job. If I order a frame from him I still want him to make his margins, but he will also cut me a break or discount too.
Lon
Posted by Chad Merrell on June 24, 2011 at 9:38 AM
Thanks to all for your advice and info. You have given me much to think about here.
Also consider many frameless options available - no one told you that you have to matt and frame.
For museum/gallery, the framed pieces are probably prefered, but I do see that is changing fast.
In my opinion, frameless options looks more stylish and contemporary and they are also economical (depends) and easy to carry/ship
Posted by Ron Pederson on July 19, 2011 at 8:02 AM
Chad - Lots of ways to go about this, and lots of good advice above. I used to mat and frame my own work, and still do occasionally...but you can order online and make the process much less tedious with better quality than I can usually produce - getting those corner cuts precise takes lots of practice. I've used some of the same companies that Lon mentioned above, but I found myself returning more often to Frame Destination - and give them high marks for being very professional.
As an example, my last order was to frame an 8" x 12" print, and two 12" x 18" prints. All had a metal frame (w/ hangers & wire), acid free foam core backing (3/16"), archival single mats (3 1/2" all sides), with acrylic. They send you all the components assembled...you take out 2 screws, remove the pieces, take the protective covering off the acrylic, mount your print and reassemble then attach the wire. The total cost was $160 including the shipping. These were custom sizes, standard sizes are slightly less. You can also order glass if you prefer. They have lots of choices for mats and frames (I use Neilsen Profile 15), and the website is user friendly.
All you need is a clean work space and some acid free tape to mount the print. Takes about 10-minutes. PS: No sales tax unless you live in Texas, and if I order on the weekend I'll have the frames before the end of the week (in NY). Also, you can establish an account and have access to all the details of your past orders.
I have a local Art Gallery that I have been doing business with for some time. They also do custom framing and give outstanding deals to artists.
For example, I had a 20x30 print (pink on the right) custom wood framed to 28x38 with backing, mat, glass, ready to hang for $86.
The black and white is a 16x24 custom wood frame too and it ran me around $65.
It pays to call around and to build a relationship with local framers/galleries.
After a couple years of bringing my work in and the owner seeing it, I am now in that gallery, which is a nice feeling.
Discussion
12 repliesEven if you don't cut your own mats, it's considerably cheaper to put all this together yourself. You could buy online a pre-cut double mat, backing/gator board, acrylic AND a frame for less than $100 total for a 16x20" frame. So to answer your direct question, I only think it takes a volume of 1 to make it cost effective. ;-) Even an entry level Logan mat cutter you can get for $100 or so. It does take practice. Honestly though, if you stick to some standard sizes you can get pre-cut mats pretty cheap too.
I've used a number of places online and there are tons of them. I won't make the links active, you can just cut-n-paste (I'm too lazy at this point.) ;-)
Dick Blick already mentioned
Framedestination.com (I recommend highly)
Americanframe.com
contemporaryframe.com
You'll also need to practice with your measurements, learn about print hanging (on the foam backing,) border spaces, etc. etc. But in the end, it makes ZERO sense to pay a framer. As you noted, it's outrageously expensive.
Have fun!
Lon
I purchased a Logan Mat Cutter-Model 450 which retailed at $250 at my local A.C. Moore craft store (similar to Michael's crafts). I watched for their 50% off coupon and then purchased the mat cutter for $125. It comes with a video and great instructions but having taken the class, it made a lot more sense. I purchase all my mat board, archival foam board and frames from a local framing supply place here in Hendersonville, North Carolina, but I believe they ship as well. I love using the aluminum frames for my photos, plus they are a lot easier to work with than the wood frames, i.e. no backing paper to use, etc.
Their website is: www.framingsupplies.com
If you print standard size photos, you can purchase pre-cut mats very reasonably, but I seem to print odd sizes as I don't want my images skewed to fit an 8 x 10 or 9 x 12. If you start to mat and frame your own prints I think you will find it to be a huge savings. And if you can find a local frame shop that will guide you in the process, then that's even better. Good luck, let us know if we can help.
I'm sure that per unit pricing would run even less if I did cut my own mats (once the price of the mat cutter was absorbed), but as I mentioned at the outset, I really don't have room for the setup. In any case, as Lon mentioned above, there's no question at all that it's possible to bring matting/framing costs down to a level that's a small fraction of what a frame shop charges.
Over and above the cost of tools and materials, when you're leaving the color and style up to the customer you also get into storage and display issues, as well as keeping up with all the latest styles when stocking the corner samples. Waaaaay too much hassle for us on top of running a studio. In your shoes, if you limit your choices in colors and styles of frame and mats, or even don't offer any options, your life will be lots easier and you'll save even more because you don't have to stock a bunch of stuff that will only sell once or twice a year.
I use Light Impressions to get custom cut mats and backing boards. I mount the prints at home myself. I then use the services of a local framing shop to get the rest of the work done. After having worked with them for a long time, I often get good discounts that lessens the burden somewhat. The final quality of the finished piece is very important to me and although this process may not be the cheapest I am happy with it. So are the folks who purchase framed prints from me.
Anil's approach works too if you have a local frame shop where you can develop a relationship. I have that here locally and occasionally buy full mat sheets or a frame from him. But he knows I'm not going to give him the whole job. If I order a frame from him I still want him to make his margins, but he will also cut me a break or discount too.
Lon
For museum/gallery, the framed pieces are probably prefered, but I do see that is changing fast.
In my opinion, frameless options looks more stylish and contemporary and they are also economical (depends) and easy to carry/ship
As an example, my last order was to frame an 8" x 12" print, and two 12" x 18" prints. All had a metal frame (w/ hangers & wire), acid free foam core backing (3/16"), archival single mats (3 1/2" all sides), with acrylic. They send you all the components assembled...you take out 2 screws, remove the pieces, take the protective covering off the acrylic, mount your print and reassemble then attach the wire. The total cost was $160 including the shipping. These were custom sizes, standard sizes are slightly less. You can also order glass if you prefer. They have lots of choices for mats and frames (I use Neilsen Profile 15), and the website is user friendly.
All you need is a clean work space and some acid free tape to mount the print. Takes about 10-minutes. PS: No sales tax unless you live in Texas, and if I order on the weekend I'll have the frames before the end of the week (in NY). Also, you can establish an account and have access to all the details of your past orders.
For example, I had a 20x30 print (pink on the right) custom wood framed to 28x38 with backing, mat, glass, ready to hang for $86.
The black and white is a 16x24 custom wood frame too and it ran me around $65.
It pays to call around and to build a relationship with local framers/galleries.
After a couple years of bringing my work in and the owner seeing it, I am now in that gallery, which is a nice feeling.