Re: mounting/framing pans

[Robert Erickson <cirkut8@xxxxxxxxx>]

The only way to do framing cheap is to do it yourself.
This is not a difficult task. The big savings will be
worth the effort.

Framing material comes in 10 foot lengths. You can buy
it and cut it with a miter box and hack saw...or have
it cut by the supply house. Check out Graphik
Dimensions at http://www.pictureframes.com Their 48"
precut "Standard" metal style is available in your
choice of 8 colors for just $11.10 per pair! Custom
cut pair of 8 footers would be just $23. A two foot by
8 foot custom cut "Standard" frame is just $29.10.
This price includes hangers, spring clips, wall savers
and wire.

Often large framed photographic prints are not
protected at all. Some use lamination. I have found
that prints that have plexyglass or glass are prefered
by my customers and worth the effort. Plexyglass is
available at Home Depot in 4x8 foot sheets. You can
easily saw it with a hand circular power saw. (I have
a table saw which can rip the plexy and precision cut
the framing material too)If you prefer glass take your
completed frame to a glass shop. Have them cut the
glass and drop into your frame.

Mat board is a little more difficult. The best
solution is to use a two layer two color frame to get
the mat board look. The second layer of the frame
provides the border in front of the glass instead of
behind it! Graphic Dimensions has several styles to
pick from. If you must have mat board you will need to
special order a full sheet that is 8 feet long. I have
seen home made bevel cutters, but I prefer to settle
for a 90 degree cut. IMHO - forget using a mat board
for longer than 40 inch prints. Instead, produce the
print with a large white border around the image to
simulate the matte board look. I have found that my
customers don't give a darn if I use mat board or
simply provide a white border for really big prints.
If you must have a mat then this would be the time to
leave it to the professional. Graphic Dimensions
charges $2.50 per square foot plus $3 per cut. IMHO-
do not use a mat, print with a white border and/or buy
the frame with a border instead.

For cheap cardboard for the backing check out behind
your local appliance store. There you will often find
6 foot refigerator boxes. I often use pieces of
cardboaard and with a few cents worth of white glue
build up backing cardboard in a couple of overlaping
layers.

A two foot by eight foot frame job including
plexyglass or even glass should cost you somewhere in
the $50-$60 range. Framing shops would charge $250 to
$400.

:-)
Bob Erickson



--- "M. Denis Hill" <denis@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> I recently had a 72" print made from an XPan neg.
> Then I needed to have it
> made ready for presentation in a hurry. I went to a
> local framer who does
> good work, but is not cheap. The results were OK,
> but not spectacular and
> too expensive. This is partly because the print
> exceeded the size of matte
> board. Of course the frame (aluminum) and plexi were
> not cheap, either.
> 
> Has anyone come up with a way to present large
> prints that does not end up
> costing out-of-proportion to the cost of the print?
> In this instance, the
> framing was nearly 4X the cost of the print.
> 
> I was wondering about mounting on gatorboard then
> somehow finishing the
> edges. That, with lamination, should make a nice
> presentation. But what
> would work for the edges? Any ideas about this or
> other low-cost mounting
> methods?
> 
> M. Denis Hill
> Area 360 Communications
> http://www.area360.com
> 360.678.8351
> 
> Have you visited the discussion forums at
> http://www.colorfulcoupeville.com?
> 


=====
Robert Erickson, cirkut8@xxxxxxxxx
The Panoramic Network: http://www.panoramic.net
Panoramic Images for sale: http://www.panoramic.net/panstore

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