Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with framing

What malleable substance can be shaped like clay for craft projects but turns out lighter like styrofoam once hardened and dried?

kookoobirdz — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:39:10 -0800

Does this substance exist? Arts & crafts people or hardware store people: for a craft project, I want a material that is malleable like clay but winds up lighter-weight like styrofoam/polystyrene once it has set and hardened. Maybe it it's dispensed from a tube or can? I want to make some creative and whimsical frames for some irregularly sized/shaped art, which is too fun for regular frames. I'm looking for a material that is malleable like clay that I can form into fun shapes, which then dries and hardens and is lightweight like something approaching styrofoam, or at least a lot lighter than clay.

Have you ever seen somebody make a frame out of clay spirals? They roll the clay into long thin tubes or strips and then roll those up in to sweetroll spirals. Then they glue those spirals to a backing and/or to each other so that a border of those spirals squished tightly side by side goes all the way around whatever they're framing. Often they paint them and glue on other stuff.

I want to do that, but I don't want something as heavy as clay. I want something that is maybe sprayed out of a can or probably something thicker that is squeezed out of a tube like toothpaste or like caulk from a caulk gun. I want to aim and twist and prod and shape that stuff into various shapes and designs, the spirals are one example, maybe with some wavy tentacles to go along with them, and then leave it to set or dry. At the end of it I want something that is rigid and lightweight and holds its shape. Ideally the finished product would be lightweight like styrofoam and have a smooth surface that accepts paint nicely. A bit heavier than styrofoam is fine, particularly if it's stronger than styrofoam.

I understand that thanks to silly old physics, I may have to give up one or more of those qualities to get the others, but just shoot for the closest thing you can think of. It doesn't have to squirt out of a can or tube, that's just how I was thinking I might get a material that's lightweight.

I've found Versi-Foam, but it's more like spray insulation and requires a framework and special equipment and then sculpting and sanding. I'm looking more for something that can be dispensed in a more limited and controlled way that will stay in its toothpaste-like tube shape if I do nothing else to it. It's hard to imagine, but if it could be not so sticky like caulk, that would allow me to do other things with it than leave it in the tube shape. Basically I want something with the malleable properties of clay that winds up very lightweight.

Arts and crafts people in the house, or even hardware store materials people, what substance am I looking for?

ISO sized poster frames in the US?

jake — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:58:14 -0800

Where can I buy an A0 (1189 x 841 mm) sized poster frame domestically? I am fortunate enough to have two of these bad boys hanging on my wall:
http://shop.eboy.com/collections/poster

There seems to be a baffling scarcity of North American suppliers who deal in ISO sizes. International shipping from .uk and .au stores, or having it custom-framed locally, are both stupidly expensive.

I'm looking for a run-of-the-mill snap poster frame, the kind with a backing, plastic sheet over top, and thin metal / plastic brackets that slide or snap on. Nothing fancy, just need to take it off pushpins to prevent further damage.

How to inexpensively hang posters?

grouse — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:12:48 -0800

I have some posters that I would like to hang up, but they have been damaged through poor handling in the past. Are there inexpensive yet non-tacky (no pun intended) ways of hanging them up? It seems like a shame to spend a lot of money to frame posters which are themselves damaged. And they'll probably get damaged further next time I move. On the other hand, I'd rather not turn my apartment into an overgrown dorm room by using thumb tacks or Blu-Tack to hang them up (which would, of course damage the artwork further). And I'm also tired at staring at bare walls.

One of the posters is 20 in × 27 in, and the other is 11 in × 17 in.

I would prefer to avoid solutions that require the use of fine motor control in a way that will result in irreversible damage if done incorrectly (such as gluing or cutting), or purchasing new tools. On the other hand, I guess this stuff is already damaged so it can't be that bad.

Another solution would be to simply cut off the damaged areas of the posters or place matting over them. If I went this route I would want to have a professional do it—does this make sense?

I live in Seattle. I would need to rent a car to get to Ikea, greatly increasing the cost of any Ikea options. I live conveniently near a Museum-Quality Framing store.

Bonus question: How I can quickly, inexpensively, and easily add some more decoration to the place? There are about a zillion options out there and trying to decide the optimal solution results in paralysis. I could start buying posters to support the small bands whose shows I see but it seems weird to have posters from bands I'm not fanatical about adorning the place.

American Frame - but Canadian, eh?

substrate — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:29:20 -0800

I'm posting this for my sister. She is looking for a company like American Frame but which is based in Canada. She loves what they do but shipping into Canada (along with the brokerage fees involved) is too expensive. She wants to be able to order a kit like they provide (4 sections of framing material, 'glass' etc) from someplace in Canada. It has to exist but my google-fu has failed me (and hers is much weaker than mine)

Help me matt my meat boy!

arnicae — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:42:26 -0800

How to matt/frame a large piece of paper with a small graphic on it (Mark Ryden's Meat Boy) on a budget? My boyfriend loves Mark Ryden's picture of a little boy coyly clutching a raw steak in a field...and I finally found a copy of it for him! Unfortunately, the image is about 3" square on a white page that is approximately 12" by 10".

I've been having difficulty figuring out how to most attractively frame it without cutting it down, or if I should just cut it down (It is torn out of a book, but still a pretty rare copy- it took me a year to track one down on ebay.)

Any suggestions on what I should matt it with? I'm on a budget. Thanks!

Framing antique cloth?

x46 — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:06:47 -0800

Framer for antique cloth, Toronto to Hamilton area? I have a souvenir of Belgium from WWI or just before that. It's quite large, about 2'x3'. I want to frame it and hang it (out of direct light) in my sewing room. I've used framers in Toronto and Hamilton for prints, but cloth is different. Anyone know a place who will frame this delicate piece of lace, net and ribbon? It's been in rolled up and kept in the bottom drawer by three generations and I think it's about time it was on display.

Inexpensive Picture Framing in DC

fancypants — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:00:30 -0800

Inexpensive, quality picture framing shops in the DC metro area? I have a variety of items (mostly campaign memorabilia) with extremely high sentimental value that I would like to have framed for preservation and display. This includes traditional items, such as posters and newspaper front pages, as well as some slightly non-traditional stuff like ticket stubs and vinyl yard signs. I'm hoping not to spend a fortune getting these items framed, but I want it to look good and I want it to last. Is there any place in DC or the surrounding area that fits the bill? I'm willing to drive out to the far reaches of suburbia to accomplish this mission, but I'd prefer something in the District.

How to frame a print in an old window frame?

BlackLeotardFront — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:48:57 -0800

I'm trying to mount some old prints in the window portions of a six-paned window frame. How can I mount them so they appear to be floating in the middle of the pane (the glass is still there)? Here is a picture of the frame and approximate size of the prints (I'll be cutting them to make the border more even). The prints are very old and the paper rips easily. I'd like the print to face out, through the glass, and be surrounded by glass on all sides. Is there a non-destructive artist's glue I should be using, or some creative way of using mounting gum, or is there just a standard way of going about this that I'm not aware of?

seeking small, lovely picture molding - chopped!

amtho — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:52:40 -0800

I'm looking for small wooden picture framing molding, but not the minimalist/arty/metal-looking stuff. Hoping to find a good price from an online supplier that will chop the molding for me. Also, I'm picky and I tend to like the embossed molding I see - but the minimum widths seem to be 1" or wider. I'm framing postcards and other small items. I tried Googling for "small picture frame molding" but didn't get much of interest. Even 1" wide might be a possibility, but I haven't fallen absolutely in love with any of the suppliers I've found (everything is either too big, too boring, or too expensive).

My taste is reflected a little by this company (another page, but there's no pricing or buying information on their site. Also, when I called, I got a message saying they were on vacation until next week. I suspect everything is very expensive - and it's also not quite as small as I'd like (yes, they offer custom molding, but that's got to be very expensive).

I've framed with fillet before, but I'd rather avoid that.

save me from push pins!

shownomercy — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:24:48 -0800

Where can I get "invisible" picture frames for wall mounting? I have been searching for "invisible" picture frames for a while. Basically either glass or acrylic and held together on the sides with little bracket thingies (something like this). I need several in various sizes for about 12 prints I have and am striking out! I am in the US so eu pricing and shipping is right out.

Alternatively, any DIY suggestions for this kind of project is great, I am relatively handy although do not have any heavy construction type tools (IE would need to get the plastic or glass already sized, can handle hot glue, sauter, hammers, screws, etc).

How can I help make a (child's) line drawing look like fine art by selecting the right frame/matting?

gummo — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:13:42 -0800

How can I help make a (child's) line drawing look like fine art by selecting the right frame/matting? I have a line drawing that is somewhat reminiscent of Picasso to my untrained eye. I'd like to frame it/matt it to help it look as 'fine art' as possible. So it looks like it came from Sotheby's or is hanging in a museum. I'm not sure if that means it should be in a gaudy gold frame with 8 inch wide triple matting or exactly the opposite or what. I have no knack for this kind of thing.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Links to examples of what might look good would be helpful. Links to something I could actually buy would be great.

The drawing is a black line drawing on off-white paper similar to this:

http://www.art.com/products/p10008362-sa-i732806/pablo-picasso-lhomme-en-prole-a-la-paix.htm

It is approximately 8.5 x 11.

Thanks!

Mounted Cards under Glass

SansPoint — Sat, 02 May 2009 12:52:51 -0800

How can I mount a set of playing card like things in a frame without damaging or discoloring them? I have a deck of picture cards that I would like to mount in a frame. The cards are basically standard modern playing cards, shellacked or whatever they do to them. I want to mount them on something, put them in a frame, and put them on my wall to show off, but I have no idea what solution I could use to a) mount them successfully, and b) have the option to de-mount them and put them in their/a box without having something discolor or otherwise damage the cards. I don't want anything permanent.

Any suggestions?

How do I mount a wrinkled print?

allisonrae — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:10:52 -0800

How do I mount somewhat wrinkled prints for framing? Or alternately, how can I smooth out a wrinkled screenprint before framing – would a water bath be a horrible idea? I have an assortment of large prints I've purchased at odd sizes. Most of them have come in mailing tubes and have a curl to them.

I am also a cheapskate when it comes to custom framing. Lately I've taken to purchasing assemble-it-yourself frames at custom lengths from an online store. Upon trying to frame the prints, they all appear buckled and do not sit flat under the mat like I want. The plexiglass does press firmly against the mat by way of some springy clips, so that's not the problem... it's more the print against the mat window and foamcore.

So, am I missing a crucial mounting step? Is there an archival spray adhesive that I should be using to affix the print to the foamcore?

Furthermore, the one print I like the best is the most wrinkled of the lot. It is a screenprint on recycled 100# cover. Would it be ill-advised to give it a water bath in the hopes of evening out the ripples, and then reframing after it has dried?

Help frame me

jeanmari — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:30:30 -0800

Recommendations for an affordable mat cutter for home use? I learned how to cut mats AGES ago (like, 15-20 years ago) and haven't done it since. But now I have quite a few nice prints that I'd like to frame, a basement full of woodworking tools and glasscutting equipment, and more time than money to pay a professional for the amount of things I'd like to frame (which is a LOT of things. I've been saving them up for 5-6 years.)

The largest prints I have are 24" (though it would be cool to do something larger someday, it would be rare). Most are smaller than 18-20" on one edge.

My husband is going to get it for me for a birthday gift. I imagine that something under $200 would be in line with what we're thinking, but I'm willing to hear about a mat cutter that is more if it is really, really worth it.

Any brands or models that the art students of Mefi fancy?

Need Info for Savannah, GA

Juicylicious — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 07:58:55 -0800

Savannah, GA Questions - Art, Poetry, and Framing 1. Where can I take my husband to watch slam poetry in Savannah?
2. Where can I get a medium size stretched canvas acrylic painting framed?
3. Are there any artist co-op galleries or art shows similar to Art-a-whirl (Minneapolis) where a person on a budget can purchase artwork and where an artist doesn't have to give a cut to a gallery owner?

Stick with the framer I know?

crickets — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:19:40 -0800

Picture framing: A few years ago I spent a few thousand dollars to have a bunch of photos and paintings framed by a professional. It all went very well and I was very happy. I'm now ready to frame another batch, but this framer isn't convenient to me any more (same city, just not the same 'hood). Is it worth hauling everything to the guy I know? Or is framing one of those games where most folks offer the same level of service? Are there bad framers?

picture printing and framing

stenoboy — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 03:23:03 -0800

UK filter: I'm looking for a printing and framing service. I want to have a picture printed and framed for a friend but as I live rurally, I can't get to a shop in time to get it done. Does anyone know of a service where you an email them a picture in .jpg or whatever and they print and frame it for you? Google searches tend to bring up high street shop websites.

Any recommendations gratefully received!

Who can reproduce and frame my diplomas?

ikkyu2 — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:10:42 -0800

Reprographics - where to start? I'm a doctor, and over the years have accumulated a bunch of diplomas, certifications, licensures and other sheepskins that I either would like to or am legally obligated to display in my office. Some nice framing would be in order for some of these.

I have 2 offices, as it happens, two physical locations, and would like to display the same documents more or less in each place. Furthermore, I'd like to have the originals locked away in a safe deposit box. At the moment most of them aren't even framed, they're in their original envelopes.

My priorities, in order, are:

1) That the documents be returned to me undamaged. Some of them can't be replaced; one of them actually carries a $3000 fee to obtain a replacement.

2) That whoever does the reproduction and framing not steal/sell my identity documents.

3) That the framing and reproduction be decent quality, something durable that I'd be proud to display.

I am on the Central Coast of California, but would be willing to travel to San Francisco, San Diego, or L.A. to get this done if it seemed prudent.

But I don't really know where to start. Who does this kind of thing? What do they charge? What should I expect? Whom can I trust?

How to choose a frame for a Rothko print?

pines — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:55:04 -0800

What kind of frame should I use for a print of this Mark Rothko? So I just got a high quality print of Mark Rothko, "Untitled (no. 16) 1950" from the Tate Modern, measuring about 5 x 2.5 feet (or 150 x 75 cm if you prefer). It's to go into a pretty bland office space, mainly to add some colour.

I'm hoping to go to a framer and give him some ideas as to how I'd like it framed. But - here's the rub - I don't know how it should be framed and I'd like (for once) not to say "Do what you think is best." So: colours, materials, width of frame ... what should I aim for?

Modern art framing

jayder — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:15:23 -0800

Art museum painting framing question. A common style of framing in art museums --- especially with abstract paintings such as Cy Twombly and Mark Rothko's works --- involves a thin strip of wood around the edge of a painting, perhaps with a few-millimeter gap between the edge of the canvas and the inner edge of the wood. The strip of wood is usually flush with the face of the painting. That's all there is to it. I would like to replicate this effect with some paintings I have. Any idea how best to accomplish this effect? I am hoping to do it myself, using some basic hand tools, but I am not sure how best to fasten the frame to the painting, nor am I sure what is holding the frame together. The wood strips are very thin, perhaps a quarter of an inch wide, no more than half an inch.

Is this a good deal for a frame and print?

disillusioned — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 01:45:39 -0800

Is this a good deal for a frame & print? I would like to have this photo framed and printed. Flickr's partnered up with ImageKind and they seem to offer pretty good deals... ...as framing seems to be universally ridiculous.

Here's the pricing breakdown for the options I selected:

Finished size: 33.3" x 25.3"
Print on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag 308: 24.0" x 16.0" $31.99
Frame: Gallery Black, 1.63" width, ID: 601 $42.85
Top Mat: Matte White, ID: 1058, Width: 2.5", conservation $17.08
Middle Mat: Jet Black, ID: 1001, conservation $17.08
Bottom Mat: Matte White, ID: 1058, conservation $17.08
Glazing: Non-glare Acrylic, ID: 5 $44.80
Fitting and assembly $21.08

My Total: $191.96

So I'm looking at about $205 out the door, once it's shipped.

The other places I've looked at briefly don't have as nice of tools and seem to charge even more... I'm not really looking to roll my own, so is this about as good as I'll find?

Also, is there anything else I should consider with this? I'm alternating Matte White, Jet Black, Matte White for a three-matte option, because I think they're neutral and draw the eye to the piece, but criticism is welcome.

Also, I touched this up from this original... I really liked the potential the photo had, but thought it needed to pop a bit more. Thoughts?

That smarts

Christ, what an asshole — Tue, 27 May 2008 12:14:07 -0800

What are some good parameters to use when judging someone's intelligence on the fly? I tend to go by someone's mastery of context, like how quickly they pick up on jokes, extended use of metaphors, the phrasing of questions they ask, their ability to reframe something new they just picked up on, etc.

What are some other things to look for?

Where to embiggen?

Constant Reader — Wed, 07 May 2008 10:43:36 -0800

Seeking reliable internet service to enlarge an image to poster size. I would like to enlarge one of my boyfriend's favorite images so that it's poster-sized or at least hang-up-on-the-wall-sized. I used an online company a few years ago that I found via magazine (either Real Simple or Bust). The site was easy to use, not so expensive and quick on delivery. I, of course, cannot remember the name of the company. I'm looking for recommendations of a reliable online service to enlarge an image. Thanks.

It's Not a Gold Record, But I Wanna Treat It Like One

sjuhawk31 — Tue, 06 May 2008 08:39:00 -0800

FramingFilter: How can I frame autographed CDs and liner notes without overpaying? My own research has turned up a bunch of online vendors (like this one), but those options are too expensive. Do you know of a place I can get a frame and mat for less than $25 per unit? My neighborhood hobby shop sells frames for cheap, but I haven't seen that size in my most recent trip there a few months ago.

I live in the Philly 'burbs, for what it's worth, and I'm not sure I have the skills to go the DIY route.

I am looking to frame some of my digital artworks but I don't know anything about the procedure, nor any tips for selling my artwork via the net really, any info is greatly appreciated!

bostonhill — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:36:14 -0800

I am looking to frame some of my digital artworks but I don't know anything about the procedure, nor any tips for selling my artwork via the net really, any info is greatly appreciated! Hello all,

I am looking to frame some of my digital artworks but I don't know anything about the procedure, nor any tips for selling my artwork via the net really, any info is greatly appreciated!

For years, I've created digital artwork that I've used for posters, promo material for bands/indie filmmakers and etc. Few of them have suggested that since I have a lot of artwork in a digital work, I should print them out, frame them and sell it via the web.

Almost all of my work is in digital graphic format 300DPI, mainly 8.5 x 11 prints. I'd like to hear some tips on what to do next. How much do frames for that size cost? I've tried to look it up in my area in Boston but none of them have the prices listed. Does anyone have any experience with this? How expensive is art framing and what are the best ways for a young artist out of college to go about doing this so I don't end up living in a box.

Much thanks!