Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

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Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

What good is a photograph if it isn't displayed. Why bother with careful processing with high resolution and high dynamic range if you are going to post it on Instagram or Picassa or even worse on your smartphone? The true beauty and meaning of a photograph is only visible on proper display.

I don't put a lot of effort into the framing, just simple black frames with glass glazing, but I do appreciate the OP's creative effort.

That said, we use Lexan polycarbonate for airplane windows to get the best transmission with minimum distortion and high scratch resistance.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

I have done framing of my own images for many years and at one time did custom framing as part of my job.

While I've used "Swiss clips" (the name is new to me... they were called something else), I only used them with posters and other inexpensive "artwork"... never with anything where a more archival presentation was needed or wanted.

For a truly sealed and archival job, I'd highly recommend a "real" frame instead. There are huge selection of those possible.

I also prefer using "real" glass, instead of plastics. While some are quite optically good and clear, I've just never been a fan of plastics because they are difficult to clean, easily scratched, and tend to become static charged and attract dust. Give me glass instead.

There are non-glare and standard glass. I prefer standard glass with matte prints and would only reluctantly use non-glare at all and usually only on glossy prints. This because non-glare tends to mute colors and reduce the apparent sharpness of the print underneath... both of which are made worse with photos that are matted so the glass is not in direct contact with the print (which is as it should be, the mat provides a necessary air space).

In both types of glass, there also are UV blocking or "museum" glass available. That's a lot more expensive, but would be advisable for a print being displayed in a sunny location and/or a valuable print.

I also rarely used foam core, except for really big prints. Instead I use archival 100% rag mats and backing boards. I might put foam core or corrugated cardboard behind the backing board for additional support if the frame is deep enough to accommodate it and the overall size is large enough to require it.

Some like to "dry mount" the print on the backing board... I'd only do that with a print that won't lay flat. Normally I'd just attach the print to the backing with archival mounting tape, at the corners.

BigGWells Loc: Olympia, WA

Wow, who pissed in your Oatmeal. To me anything to do with photography is welcome here. Not sure when someone died and made you the forum police.

cambriaman Loc: Central CA Coast

Interesting that most of the posted replies concerned themselves with nit-picking the choice of words and intent or arguing with others instead of answering the (to me, at least) a clearly stated request for guidance in choosing "the glass" for displaying photographs.

Gifted One Loc: S. E. Idaho

a, Thanks for your topic fits right in. I have an old box of No-frame clips and I was wonder what to use beside glass which we did back in the day. In the film day the only option was glass.

If it worthy to shoot it's worthy to display. One way to hone our skill and improve is to enter competition and Gallery display. Some contests are as much on the display as the image. very too much from the Gallery excepted norm and we are docked. On the other hand many here show at the contest with out glass.

The no-frame clops appeal to me so that I can display larger prints. I like to 16x24. I could show with out matting. I know this is not archival but I like the look and it can be reprinted.

Stuff all over the Net about your question. I have not made my mind up yet.

I regularly go to thrift store and get frame/glass and re-mate to my artwork. Our College has a craft shop that has great matting facilities. It makes a very cost effect solution for me. I would still like to use those clips. The short coming to most of the stuff that I see as glazing is that the other-than glass scratch.

J. R.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Agreed.

On the subject of UV protection, I just pulled a print off my wall, black background, matted and plain glass glazing. My living room gets adequate light from an 8 X 4 foot window, but after 3 years on the wall, I see no noticeable fading compared to the area covered by the mat.

I have two 18 X 24 frames with nonglare glass. One shop charged me $40 for the glass, another shop charged $20. Do some comparison shopping!

fantom Loc: Colorado

Sure is.

Collie lover Loc: St. Louis, MO

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PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

I have done lots of framing. I tried "Glass Substitutes" but was never pleased with any of the materials I used. It attracts dust and cleaning the surface can be tricky. I would use no reflective galss. n

SteveR Loc: Michigan

It is tangentially related to photography, lev. He's asking other photographers (this is the photographic section) a question about how they display their photographs (again, this is a photographic section). There's too much nit-picking here.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

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bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

:thumbup: In my humble opinion, using non-reflective glass vs. using a plastic, lexan, polycarbonate, etc. is that glass looks like glass. Plastic, even thicker plastic, attracts dust, and kind of just looks like a "Sears Portrait" instead of what I'm trying to convey.

The price is pretty close, but unless I get a special request, (because of a little one at home or something) I always suggest glass.

JohnFrim Loc: Somewhere in the Great White North.

Pardon me for a slight digression from the OP's question, but this post provides an opportunity to highlight a peeve of mine regarding UHH practice. I could/should/may raise the matter in Chit-Chat someday, but it won't actually solve the issue anyway. So I will just state my gripe here because of the example provided in this thread.

The 1st post in this thread was the question from the OP.

The 2nd post was from lev29. His comment clearly showed that he did not understand the meaning of the term glazing as it pertains to photography. But he did actually ask if the question was related to framing. OK, bad on lev29, perhaps.

The 3rd post was a polite rebuttal, so to speak, to lev saying the question was relevant to photography. Post 4 gave thumbs up to post 3, essentially saying "Lev, you are wrong."

The 6th post started a polite dialogue between the OP and lev29; see especially posts 9 and 10.

In the 11th post lev basically admitted his lack of understanding of the term glazing as applied to framing. This was well before the bottom of the first page.

In the ensuing pages there were several more snarky comments about lev's guffaw, and posts 41 and 42 were still bashing lev for his comments in post number 2.

DO PEOPLE NOT READ THE THREAD????

My peeve is not about bashing… it's about people NOT READING the thread. There are many instances in which threads go on for many pages with lots of great exchange of information. And often an answer to a question may appear on, say page 3 or 4, that shows the OP may have misinterpreted or misunderstood something in photography. The thread may then take a new direction based on nailing a very specific point that arose from the clarification.

Yet there will still be posts many pages on that address erroneous comments made on earlier pages well after the issue has been cleared up.

I frequently get the urge to immediately comment on something when reading a post, but I hold that thought until I have read the entire thread. I often find that my concern has been addressed by someone else, many times with a better answer than I would have provided, and I learn something new from that.

So I guess all I am saying is that I wish people would read an entire thread before making a comment. This would be helpful in reducing the length of some threads, eliminating bad or irrelevant advice coming in late in the thread, and particularly in reducing the drawn out hostility that arises from misunderstandings that may have been put to rest near the beginning of the thread.

And can I squeeze in one more peeve? The OP asks about glazing (or perhaps about a Nikon camera), so a poster replies, "Sorry, I don't frame my own pictures so I can't help you (I don't use Nikon, so I don't know how to answer your question)." Those are really helpful and worthwhile posts!!! Luckily they don't appear often.

There… vented… now I will finish my coffee.

Gifted One Loc: S. E. Idaho

JohnFrim, There… vented… now I will finish my coffee.

We need lots of sugar today. And I do agree with you. The Buy/Sell board if the worst though. Something akin to Jerry Springer, Gladiator Ring and walking past a fighting dog ring.

Back to the Folgers.

J. R.