Unless it is a special presentation piece or something like that, I mat
and frame all my own prints. Back when I was trying to do the art fairs
etc, I quickly relized that there was just no way you could pay someone
to mat and frame your work and still sell it at a competitive price.
But then, I was doing large quantities of matted prints. I more or less
quit doing galleries and shows a few years ago, but almost everything
that I did in those venues I framed myself - again, the economics drives
the decision.
It took a class and some practice but it is not hard to cut simple
rectangular mats. I use a mid sized Logan mat cutter and it works fine
for up to 30 inch mats. It can handle up to 48 inch mats but you have to
remove some of the guides (and be very careful.)
If you are going to do quantity do it yourself - but give yourself ample
time to learn how to do it. Like plan on a few dozen practice mat cuts
that will go in the waste bin.Get some cheap mat board and start
cutting. After that, you should be able to get more keepers than
tossers, and after a few hundred mat cuts the tossers should be few.
It's like riding a bike - once you know how to do it, you won't forget.
So in the long run it is a worthwhile skill for anyone interested in
exhibiting prints.
I frame with simple black or silver metal or pre-cut wood frames.
Back in the day I bought mat board from documounts.com and frames in
bulk from lightimpressions.com, but I have no idea what current vendors
are out there. At my present rate of consumption I have years worth of
mats and frames on hand, and I just run to Hobby Lobby when I need
something I don't have. The frames from Light Impressions were of much
much better quality than what I get form Hobby Lobby these days, but
cost more. FWIY.
But if I really like a print for my own use I still go to a local frame
shop.
MCC
On 6/25/2012 8:29 PM, Ed Keeney wrote:
Now that the latest PDML book has been published (and it looks great;
mine was ordered today), I have a question for the masses.
In 2010 my print was hung in the DANK haus gallery with many of the
other entries. I still have that print hanging on my wall here at
home. Last year, I had my entry printed, mounted and framed by MPIX.
They did a really nice job.
This year I was thinking of handling the matting and framing myself.
Nothing fancy or out of the ordinary, but possibly working with my
local Blicks to get it together. I am thinking of going 16x20 for the
print with a 2" border for the mat. This would make the frame 20x24.
I have a ton of questions. But I think I can work out most of them
with the team at Blicks.
For those who do their own matting and framing, is it worth the
effort? I'm thinking if this works out well, I might print, frame and
hang more shots. Is there a simple step-by-step process you follow?
To start with, my local Craigslist has 2 Logan mat cutters listed for
around $50 so the initial investment shouldn't be too much. I'll need
the print, the mat and then the frame itself (this is probably the
largest expense). Overall, I'm expecting it to be less than the cost
of getting it printed and framed somewhere else.
What do you think?
Thanks!
Ed
http://picasaweb.google.com/ewkphoto
http://www.flickr.com/photos/edkeeney/
--
PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List
[email protected]
http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow
the directions.
