A2 / A3 frame advice

[TH2012]

Hi,

I'd like to get this frame&mount look for my prints

However Im struggling to find the right wood frames im after. I can only find cheap aluminium ones, or super-expensive wood ones.

Can anyone recommend somewhere i can get a good quality (and reasonably priced) large wood frames to match above?

Thanks in advance

PS. This may sound like a stupid question, but can anyone hazard a guess as to the dimensions of the linked image - you think they look like a3/a3+ prints in an a2 frame? - or are slightly different dimensions?

[RustBeltRaw]

I'd like to get this frame&mount look for my prints

However Im struggling to find the right wood frames im after. I can only find cheap aluminium ones, or super-expensive wood ones.

I saw that exhibit when it was at the DIA (a few miles from my house). I believe the frames were black-anodized aluminum. Wood frames are inherently more expensive. Frequently three times as much. That's just the nature of the material and the required production and assembly labor. Done right (as above), aluminum frames are classy and clean. Wood can work, but I don't think it's a requirement.

...can anyone hazard a guess as to the dimensions of the linked image - you think they look like a3/a3+ prints in an a2 frame?

Pardon my primitive Imperial measurements, but those look like they're printed on 13x19in or larger stock with the images at about 12x16in. The white area (the mat) looks about 3in thick with a 0.5in black frame. Pretty classic presentation. The good news is that there should be pre-cut frame kits at those sizes, which will save you a lot of custom labor charges at the framer's. The best way to save money is to pick an off-the-shelf size, and fit your photos and mats to it.

[TH2012]

I saw that exhibit when it was at the DIA (a few miles from my house). I believe the frames were black-anodized aluminum. Wood frames are inherently more expensive. Frequently three times as much. That's just the nature of the material and the required production and assembly labor. Done right (as above), aluminum frames are classy and clean. Wood can work, but I don't think it's a requirement.

Pardon my primitive Imperial measurements, but those look like they're printed on 13x19in or larger stock with the images at about 12x16in. The white area (the mat) looks about 3in thick with a 0.5in black frame. Pretty classic presentation. The good news is that there should be pre-cut frame kits at those sizes, which will save you a lot of custom labor charges at the framer's. The best way to save money is to pick an off-the-shelf size, and fit your photos and mats to it.

Excellent, just what i needed. Thanks a lot, much appreciated.

[jcuknz]

Looking at the side picture frames what struck me was the depth of the mounting which would make mounting the aluminium[ black] frame easier. I got the impression that half by one inch angle was used and a mitre board would help if you are a DIYer and used to, capable of, accurate cutting ... you also have to work out the cardboard frame which is on top of the board the photo is mounted on. It might be easier to organise wide white borders for the prints.

The assembly might be photo, small mount board, frame board and packing [ partical board, MFD ] to fill out to the one inch sides.

Tailoring your print size to suit frames you can get would save you a lot of work if that is acceptable.

A second look at those of the side wall makes me think they are wood and cross section like this

[Polar01]

They appear to be similar to the frames I use, about 1-1/8" by 1-3/8" deep. They are wooden, this is the most produced rail that they make, and as such it also happens to be the cheapest one of that design. I usually print my finished images out at 12" x 18" with a 3" wide matting that makes the hole size 18" x 24" which is a standard size. Now if I give my framer a printed images on 16" x 20" paper, to cut foam backing board, a matt with a 12" x 18" hole, mount image to board, mount matt over image, make frame to size, cut glass to size will set me back about $125.00 Canadian taxes in. Now I use a high end glass over all my images, of the total cost about $35.00 is glass alone, the cost of the foam board and the matting with markup is not that great, same as with the rails, her time and labour to produce the finished image is I would estimate $40.00. Now the images that you linked to have been double matted that is all simple process just another matt cut a different size. Images submitted to be judged are usually single matted so as to not take away from the image, however if put in a show such as this are usually double matted as it is more pleasing on the eye.
Now you can get a very cheap frame of a standard size that has been brought in from offshore and sells for 15-20 dollars, however you are getting cheap, no material will be acid free and the glass if a wind were to hit it would break, it will not stop UV damage or glare and the construction of the rails well I will not go there. You get what you pay for.
Now one thing I do is before my framer builds the frame I take the wooden rails home and route a groove in them, this groove is used to hold 4 wide wooden slates that hold the foam backer, image and matting in place, it also allows me to easily remove them as one unit and replace with another unit with a different image. One frame will now allow me to show different shots when I tire of one I simply replace with another.
Hope this was of some help.

Cheers:

Allan