8"x12" photo frames and mats

March 30, 2007 10:19 AM

Where do you buy mats and frames for 8"x12" prints? I have several photographs that I would not like to crop to any of the other "standard" ratios (5"x7", 8"x10" or square.) I would like to print these larger than 4"x6". I realize that making my own mats and frames is an option but I would like to find some good and not-too-expensive sources that I can order from. Thanks for your help!
posted by hellhammer to Media & Arts (10 answers total)

I bought 8 x 12 mats (matted for 12x16) on eBay, and 12 x 16 frames at Michaels. I just checked eBay and there's hardly anything out there now, but if you ever decide to check back, use a lot of different searches with and without the word photo, with spacing & without (8x12 and 8 x 12, etc.). It was really hard for me to find the mats I bought a few months ago.
posted by peep at 10:34 AM on March 30, 2007

Here's a current listing. This is exactly what I bought, but in white. This is the seller I purchased from.
posted by peep at 10:38 AM on March 30, 2007

The way to go, as peep said, would be to cut a non-standard opening in a standard sized mat. eBay's pretty good for cheap mats (cheaper than local for me, and less of a pain than cutting them myself); some sellers even offer to cut whatever opening size you need. Just make sure whatever you're getting is acid free unless you don't care about long term storage.
posted by MegoSteve at 10:43 AM on March 30, 2007

I guess I phrased my first comment backward. They are 12x16 matted for 8x12. But as far as 12x16 being a standard size, I don't know - they were pretty hard to find. Yes, the frames were at Michaels, but they had two to choose from - plain black and plain white. And they are rarely in stock.
posted by peep at 10:48 AM on March 30, 2007

When I asked a question about frames, this shop was recommended to me - they offer a free custom cut mat with any frame purchase. Since it looks like the frames you would order would be under their "oversized" category, you wouldn't have an additional shipping charge.
posted by blackkar at 10:50 AM on March 30, 2007

I have ordered from American Frame in the past, and been very happy with the price and the frames/mats. You can get the mats cut to whatever size you like IIRC, its not all standard.
posted by Joh at 10:51 AM on March 30, 2007

I buy plain mat-board, which I cut myself, at the local community college bookstore.

A sheet costs $5-6, and is something like 20"x30" - enough to mat two 8x10/8x12s.
posted by puddleglum at 11:14 AM on March 30, 2007

Response by poster: Thanks for your replies, everybody! I'll try the eBay route. American Frame appears to be a good option for frames should I not be able to find suitable ones locally.

Much appreciated!
posted by hellhammer at 11:39 AM on March 30, 2007

just... go to a crafts/art supply/framing store and have them cut? or... buy a sheet of matboard and cut it to the size you need... and they sell framing sections in one-inch increments. ... i'm... never mind. ebay? why?
posted by wreckingball at 10:43 AM on March 31, 2007

I little late I suppose, but I buy them from Precut Mats. Very fast and cheap. I get 12x16" mats with an 8x12 opening.

(They also sell 11x14" mats with 8x10" openings which is very convenient since 11x14" is an easy size frame for people to buy.)
posted by sevenless at 8:37 PM on March 31, 2007