Framing - where to go, costs, what to look for

Mike Danger

I recently got my hands on some limited edition art prints from Mondo. As soon as they arrive, I'm planning on getting these framed. From what I've heard, the big chain stores like Joann's or Michael's aren't good for this stuff because the materials they use don't last and can damage the thing you're framing. I've looked around and there do seem to be some places in my area that do custom framing.

Is there a particular type of frame I should be looking for? I tried to find information about what the prints are printed on but didn't really find anything.

khain

I've had good luck grabbing a groupon or the equivalent at whatever custom framing shop is offering one. Doesn't seem to be a large difference between different shops in my experience.

Skeith

The main thing affecting cost, apart from the size of the prints, is the material the frame is constructed from. A metal frame is probably going to be the cheaper option.

wrong_button

Acid-free backing and matboard are probably things you want to make sure they use. Discount framing will cheap out on that, and not using acid-free will make you print age faster than it should. Glass is the other area that you usually run into options. Basic glass isn't UV protected, so if you're in a room with sunlight, that light will damage both paper and inks. There's a few different options for glass and it can be expensive when you move into full UV blocking, so just make sure you read/understand before you pick it out so you don't hang it somewhere it could take more damage than necessary.

The frame itself you can check out by construction. You want clean, tight seams at the joints (whether it's wood or metal, you want good cuts), look at the hardware at the back that holds it together at the corners (reinforcement is good), the spacers (you pretty much never want the art to touch the glass directly) and the hardware that holds the backing on (is it removable? Is it secure?). You want the frame to be the support structure, not have it rely on the glass to be rigid, so if you can look at the frames without glass you can feel pretty quickly how solid they are.

That's probably more info than you need, but hopefully you can pick and choose a few things out of there. Framing can get expensive really fast, so a lot of times you have to figure out what's important to what you're framing and prioritize your costs that way.

Fantasma

Hi,

I am not sure what material have been used to produce these prints, so don't take very seriously what I am typing. Depending upon the size of your prints, you could probably go with Wood frames, they add visual value, the cost could be a little higher for something custom made. It is not necessary to put the art behind glass if the material can be varnished. Keep in mind that glass does not protect against UV light, or the effect of changing weather on the material.

However, do not even try to apply varnish to paper, unless the paper is water resistant. If you decide to protect your art with glass, make sure the backside is sealed with a protective (removal material) to keep dirt and insects out of the print.

These products have not been tested by me, it is just an example of what can be used, I use a variant for my drawings on paper:

http://www.amazon.com/Krylon-6-Ounce-Crystal-Acrylic-Coating/dp/B001K65K26/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1417621698&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=protective+drawing+spray+varnish

http://www.amazon.com/Krylon-Gallery-11-Ounce-Archival-Varnish/dp/B003VWMM4G/ref=sr_1_1?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1417621605&sr=1-1&keywords=spray+varnish+for+fine+art

EggyToast

A local framing place will be best if you care about quality of framing, and I'd suggest them over (as you mentioned) a place like Joanns or Michaels, as they are typically the same price for lower quality. I got a Penny Arcade print framed at Michaels and it was over a hundred bucks simply for a metal frame and glass.

Some tips:
1. You can find high quality frames of various sizes on Amazon. Being sold via Amazon ensures that you'll get good customer service if anything goes weird.
2. If you want to save on weight AND cost, you can get VERY cheap plexiglass cut at Lowes. Fresh plexiglass is, in my opinion, 90% as nice as glass in most framing applications, and in some situations better.

Separately, a nice frame will last as long as the picture. Don't hesitate to wait a while while you get, or save up for, the frame that you feel is right.