WDCash Loc: Milford, Delaware, USA

I have a couple oppertunities to display and possible retail a few images.
It seems toe that anything being displayed needa to be framed. And framing is expensive.
Im asking for input on sources for framing material for resale purposed.
I dont want to be in the framing business but it seems that to sell framed prints one needs to consider the framing part of the product.

So if I spend $50 on a ftame and matting material and $25 on a print the retail price has to start North of $150 plus markup for the retailer.

Who here sells prints? Framed prints?
Thanks

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

In my other life I sold framed prints. I was serious.I bought mat board and glass by the case. I had a professional mat and glass cutter. My goal was to get my name out and not make a lot of money

DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca

Interesting topic. I’ve also considered this. I’ll keep an eye on this post.

jim quist Loc: Missouri

Double the cost of the frame and triple the cost of the print. Or is it the other way around?
Or have it done at Hobby Lobby and double what it costs you.

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

Any prints I get in the future are going to be on metal or plastic, no framing necessary.

Quixdraw Loc: x

Framing is pretty simple if you have a radial or table saw and acquire an inexpensive framing clamp. Many attractive moldings available at Big Box stores can be used. Nowadays, even museums are using acrylic which can be bought by size in quantity, instead of glass. Matting with any of several available cutters is also simple. Check Dick Blick Art Supplies. Some work that gets easier each time for maximum profit!

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

I have done framing for years - both of my own photographs and for other people. The joy in framing is finding that frame that enhances the photo or painting without overpowering it. Cutting your own mats will significantly decrease that cost. But good frames are expensive. Get an account with a frame manufacturer, and this will allow you to get better frames at a lower cost. Making frames is an art unto itself. Being able to make perfect corners isn't easy and requires good equipment.

One train of thought in presenting one's artwork for sale is that the buyer will likely want to reframe it. That thought pattern says to simply mount the artwork in an inexpensive frame. The opposite thought is to frame it properly at the outset, but that makes the artwork have a higher initial cost to the buyer. One of the funny things about this is that buyers aren't really aware of framing costs. I have had buyers ask if they could purchase a piece of art without the frame - not because they don't like the frame, but because they believe they can get it done more cheaply. Then they come back to me to get it framed and find out that it costs more - and sometimes a LOT more - to get it framed as they want! (For awhile I would sell them the original frame at the original price, but add an assembly charge.)

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

I use to do my own matting and framing. You can check out framing supplies online. Plain black frames that you put together with a screw driver is reasonably priced and you can order custom sizes. Glass can be cut to size at a local glass place and it's not expensive unless you order specialty glass. A mat cutter can range in price depending on what you want. You can get one that will help you do simple cuts or one more elaborate to do beveled cuts. I have had a mat cutter for many years. I store it under the bed because it is bulky and it needs to be kept flat. There is a little bit of a learning curve but when that is out of the way it does great beveled cuts easily. Mat board can be purchased online or even at Hobby Lobby when on sale. Be sure it is acid free to preserve your prints. When it's time to mat and frame I pull my mat cutter out from under the bed and place on a sturdy 6 foot fold up table from Home Depot. My framing pieces are stored in a plastic container so everything is portable. I don't have enough room in my house to leave everything set up- that of course would be the optimal situation. A clean, clutter free garage would work well too.

Quixdraw Loc: x

I can see part of my small collection of Antique Japanese Woodblock prints from my desk. None of the prints were inexpensive. In every case, the framing cost as much or more than the print. It certainly was worth it to me, but the art made it so. I have never put an expensive frame on a photo, but then I don't collect the work of master photographers. Whatever works.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Picture framing is an art and a serious craft. It goes far beyond simply preserving a print or creating a mechanism for hanging. The frame, visually speaking, becomes part of the photograph in that it can bring it out, pick up on someof its colours or textures, or become a distraction. There are many alternatives to traditional framing- lamination, metal prints, so-called frameless frames, dry-mounting on various foam-like materials, however, if you are gonn frm in a traditional manner- do it up right.

There are many types of traditional picture framing styles and methods and various materials- wood, metals, plastics, solid wood and veneers. It can simply be made of 4 mouldings mitered and joined to more complex compound frames, mattes, multiple mattes, "floating" frames and even unique shapes and odd sizes and aspect ratios.

Even in the simplest method, if you can coordinate the colour and texture of the material with the content of the image, you will have a more unique and more sellable and desirable product.

I would not advise you to work at a small markup unless you are selling mass wholesale quantities- you would be selling yourself short.

I won't attempt to create an entire marketing plan or do a detailed tutorial on framing. Many frame manufactures that cater to artists and photographers can supply you with all the materials, ready-made frames, frame components and literature of various framing techniques. Another approach is to align yourself with a local professional framer- a fram shop operator and let him or her do the work for you and mark it up accordingly but make most of the profit on the PHOTOGRAPH- the prints.

Here is a link to a professional picture frame wholesaler (in Philadelphia)-

https://www.facebook.com/American-Picture-Framing-Inc-182073785147178/

Here's another one in New Jersey-
https://www.manta.com/mb_45_B40170DY_31/frames_and_framing_picture_and_mirror/new_jersey

Or Googl "Professional Pictur Frames Wholesale and do some more research- I'm sure you can strike a good deal with a reliable source. These companies sell to artists and photographers at a discount so you can mark up fairly well.

WDCash Loc: Milford, Delaware, USA

How did that work out for you Stan?

WDCash Loc: Milford, Delaware, USA

Jack
I have been looking at the metal and plastic options. Much more expensive I think but my logic might be faulty.

WDCash Loc: Milford, Delaware, USA

Thwnks QD, I have done art framing in the past. Making frames is no big deal. I'm hoping to find some advise on sources for framing stock. The last art frame I made was for a very large print. Roughly 2.5' x5'. Frame stock and glass cost me almost $300. Not bad when you consider a frame shop quoted over $600 without glass.
My estimate of $50 $50 is actually a very modest material cost for a very basic smallish frame.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

As a result of word of mouth sales, I put together a website and sold images framed.

WDCash Loc: Milford, Delaware, USA

Thanks for your thoughts Kathy,
I'm also thinking of displaying in a very nice frame, with a nice price, and offering a price for the print only. Trying to present an option for someone who has a special of cheep framing in mind.