Posted by Jim Zablotny on January 27, 2015 at 6:49 PM
Hi,
I am interested in DuraPlaq photo mounting for my digital images. I spent a small fortune building frames, purchasing mats and glass and the expense is way too much for a do it yourself project. How do you like the end results and how durable are these prints? I print from an Epson 2200 and would like to send finished prints off to DuraPlaq for mounting. Thanks for the help..................Jim
Posted by Bob Maynard on January 28, 2015 at 9:31 AM
I've been with DuraPlaq since forever. They are the only plaque producer whose entire system is archival. Their finished product has a protective laminate over it making them quite durable. I suggest you let them do your printing. Chances are their prints cost less than doing your own.
I just visited the DuraPlaq site, and am interested. But...I cannot seem to find any kind of a price list. If they have a product or service to sell, seems to me they need to list prices, and have them easy to find.
Posted by Jim Zablotny on January 28, 2015 at 2:27 PM
DuraPlaq will send you a price list if you start an account on their website. The prices are quite reasonable--cheaper than standard framing........................Jim
Posted by Mark Seaver on January 28, 2015 at 3:39 PM
Jim, I feel your pain on the labor and cost of doing your own mounting, matting, and framing, much less handing those tasks off to a frame shop. That's why my last two prints have been on metal. Even with the extra cost, it's cheaper than me doing the mounting, matting, and framing. They look great and mount easily...can't speak to longevity, since I've only had mine on the wall for a year or less. DuraPlaq sounds interesting also...I'll check them out.
Posted by Gary Minish on January 28, 2015 at 11:07 PM
Hi Jim;
I have done a lot of Duraplaqs and am extremely happy with their product. I have sent them my prints and I have had them do the printing (especially on the large prints). When I have them print I usually will send them a small print so that they can match the colors, contrast and brightness. They have done an excellent job so far. The cost is significantly less than the cost of good framing and the product is definitely more durable (which is especially beneficial when you're shipping them to Alaska). Their customer service is excellent also. The first batch of 4 plaqs that I had shipped to me were damaged because their shipping container (which was a wood box, screwed together and taped) came mostly apart and the loose plaqs banged against each other and chipped the corners on 3 out of 4. When I told them what happened they had me send new prints and they made new plaqs for me and shipped them to me at no cost (plaqs or shipping). They also devised a more reliable packaging system and agreed to send them via USPS rather than FedEx which is faster and gentler and cheaper to Valdez, Alaska.
They are also very willing to do custom plaqs and will help work out solutions for your ideas. My favorite set of plaqs was a pair of salmon shaped cutouts with pictures of a family and their fishing boat imprinted on them. I built a print with their pictures layered on top of the jumping salmon silhouettes, sent it to Duraplaq and they mounted it on the board and then cut out the salmon shapes. Each of the two salmon had the french cleat mounts so that they floated about 3/4" out from the wall and they really looked cool! Needless to say, they can do circles, ovals or almost any other shape you can draw. Try that with matting and a frame! I have one in the works right now for a friend's photo that I'm anxious to see. It's an eagle photo mounted on an aluminum plate which is floating on a polished aluminum backing plate which will be floating on the wall. I did a conceptual image for a reference and they are building it to my specs. Another fun project was a set of 60 coasters, each with a different photo, which sold out almost immediately at a local fund raiser. They have done some very large plaqs for me including a few panoramas that were over 7 ft. long. One of those I shipped to Germany and it survived the trip (a tourist couple saw the plaq at a lodge I had sold it to and had to have one).
Tim Emerson, the owner, and all of his staff are very friendly and a pleasure to work with. I am confident that you will enjoy the quality of the product, the reasonable price and the excellent service. I recommend you give it a try, and don't hesitate to call them for questions and advice.
Gary
Posted by Jim Zablotny on January 29, 2015 at 9:40 PM
Hi,
I ordered up a print of my latest tree sparrow shot. Great customer service as they helped me set up everything. I can't wait to see the final print.................Jim
Discussion
7 repliesI am interested in DuraPlaq photo mounting for my digital images. I spent a small fortune building frames, purchasing mats and glass and the expense is way too much for a do it yourself project. How do you like the end results and how durable are these prints? I print from an Epson 2200 and would like to send finished prints off to DuraPlaq for mounting. Thanks for the help..................Jim
Here's their home page: Dura Plaq
--P
I have done a lot of Duraplaqs and am extremely happy with their product. I have sent them my prints and I have had them do the printing (especially on the large prints). When I have them print I usually will send them a small print so that they can match the colors, contrast and brightness. They have done an excellent job so far. The cost is significantly less than the cost of good framing and the product is definitely more durable (which is especially beneficial when you're shipping them to Alaska). Their customer service is excellent also. The first batch of 4 plaqs that I had shipped to me were damaged because their shipping container (which was a wood box, screwed together and taped) came mostly apart and the loose plaqs banged against each other and chipped the corners on 3 out of 4. When I told them what happened they had me send new prints and they made new plaqs for me and shipped them to me at no cost (plaqs or shipping). They also devised a more reliable packaging system and agreed to send them via USPS rather than FedEx which is faster and gentler and cheaper to Valdez, Alaska.
They are also very willing to do custom plaqs and will help work out solutions for your ideas. My favorite set of plaqs was a pair of salmon shaped cutouts with pictures of a family and their fishing boat imprinted on them. I built a print with their pictures layered on top of the jumping salmon silhouettes, sent it to Duraplaq and they mounted it on the board and then cut out the salmon shapes. Each of the two salmon had the french cleat mounts so that they floated about 3/4" out from the wall and they really looked cool! Needless to say, they can do circles, ovals or almost any other shape you can draw. Try that with matting and a frame! I have one in the works right now for a friend's photo that I'm anxious to see. It's an eagle photo mounted on an aluminum plate which is floating on a polished aluminum backing plate which will be floating on the wall. I did a conceptual image for a reference and they are building it to my specs. Another fun project was a set of 60 coasters, each with a different photo, which sold out almost immediately at a local fund raiser. They have done some very large plaqs for me including a few panoramas that were over 7 ft. long. One of those I shipped to Germany and it survived the trip (a tourist couple saw the plaq at a lodge I had sold it to and had to have one).
Tim Emerson, the owner, and all of his staff are very friendly and a pleasure to work with. I am confident that you will enjoy the quality of the product, the reasonable price and the excellent service. I recommend you give it a try, and don't hesitate to call them for questions and advice.
Gary
I ordered up a print of my latest tree sparrow shot. Great customer service as they helped me set up everything. I can't wait to see the final print.................Jim