Framing!! *^&%$: A few weeks ago, a good friend of mine was having a birthday. I decided it would be a nice gesture to give him a framed print of the Manhattan Skyline I took from...

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

A few weeks ago, a good friend of mine was having a birthday. I decided it would be a nice gesture to give him a framed print of the Manhattan Skyline I took from Dumbo. (Down under the Manhattan Bridge area of Brooklyn). He is disabled and cannot get around the way he used to. Hence I decided that, since he used to go to NYC pretty often, a photo of the skyline would be to his liking.

I could have bought a frame; but decided that a photographer should really be able to make his own frames and mats. Suffice it to say that the result would have probably earned a C- in an 8th grade shop class. (If, in fact, there were still such a thing as an 8th grade shop class) My friend was very gracious and said that he was very pleased with the gift and that the frame and mat were....pretty good. He exaggerates a lot!

Since some of my photos are reasonably good, I decided that I would spend some time in the garage and improve my skills at building wooden frames and appropriate mats for those frames. Youtube is your friend in times like that. I watched several videos and decided that I knew where I had gone wrong in the first attempt and would be able to correct my mistakes.

I found that G.A.S is not limited to photography equipment. I decided that I absolutely could not make frames unless I had a router table! (not true, of course, but I was convinced), I was happy to learn that my local hardware store sells glass and will cut it to your dimensions in the store. In my next attempt (unfortunately the router table has not arrived yet; but I could not wait) I was very careful about all my measurements and cuts. I sanded meticulously and then stained the poplar frame a cherry wood color. That all worked out pretty well.

Then I came to the mat!!!! I can come close, but it just isn't completely right yet. I have, however, improved from the C- shop class level of competency. Now my work is what I call 20/20. (looks great from twenty feet away if you are going 20mph). I'm aiming for 10/10! Wish me luck.

Love to hear about any of your framing horror stories or helpful tips. Heartfelt commiseration would be a bonus. lol

Erich

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

ebrunner wrote:

A few weeks ago, a good friend of mine was having a birthday. I decided it would be a nice gesture to give him a framed print of the Manhattan Skyline I took from Dumbo. (Down under the Manhattan Bridge area of Brooklyn). He is disabled and cannot get around the way he used to. Hence I decided that, since he used to go to NYC pretty often, a photo of the skyline would be to his liking.

I could have bought a frame; but decided that a photographer should really be able to make his own frames and mats. Suffice it to say that the result would have probably earned a C- in an 8th grade shop class. (If, in fact, there were still such a thing as an 8th grade shop class) My friend was very gracious and said that he was very pleased with the gift and that the frame and mat were....pretty good. He exaggerates a lot!

Since some of my photos are reasonably good, I decided that I would spend some time in the garage and improve my skills at building wooden frames and appropriate mats for those frames. Youtube is your friend in times like that. I watched several videos and decided that I knew where I had gone wrong in the first attempt and would be able to correct my mistakes.

I found that G.A.S is not limited to photography equipment. I decided that I absolutely could not make frames unless I had a router table! (not true, of course, but I was convinced), I was happy to learn that my local hardware store sells glass and will cut it to your dimensions in the store. In my next attempt (unfortunately the router table has not arrived yet; but I could not wait) I was very careful about all my measurements and cuts. I sanded meticulously and then stained the poplar frame a cherry wood color. That all worked out pretty well.

Then I came to the mat!!!! I can come close, but it just isn't completely right yet. I have, however, improved from the C- shop class level of competency. Now my work is what I call 20/20. (looks great from twenty feet away if you are going 20mph). I'm aiming for 10/10! Wish me luck.

Love to hear about any of your framing horror stories or helpful tips. Heartfelt commiseration would be a bonus. lol

Erich

A few weeks ago, a good friend of mine was having ... (show quote)

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

An entertaining essay and cautionary tale 😀

I haven't attempted frames, but did cut a lot of mats at one time. I highly recommend not buying the remnants (cut-outs of centers, for example) as they often aren't perfect 90-degree angles. You will end up speaking Erich's language, *^&%$

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

Architect1776 wrote:

Smiles are good! I like smiles.
Erich

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

Linda From Maine wrote:

An entertaining essay and cautionary tale 😀

I haven't attempted frames, but did cut a lot of mats at one time. I highly recommend not buying the remnants (cut-outs of centers, for example) as they often aren't perfect 90-degree angles. You will end up speaking Erich's language, *^&%$

I think I will definitely cut everything from solid mat board. (no pre-made cutouts). I want to be able to take credit for all the mistakes. lol
Erich

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

Haha...I do "everything" involving my pieces (I *do* however have a guy with a huge printer that handles canvas and outsized stuff) and I can generate 24x16 at this point. Oh, I've been a carpenter/cabinetmaker for 40-odd years and have a well-equipped shop on site. Your new router table; put a 1/8th round over bit in it and use it for edging but that's about it unless you want to put another PITA detail on your frames (I make my own, have two with two routers with dedicated bits, and don't even use a fence). *The* thing you need is a great table saw you can set up a 45 degree jig on (via a sled)...you need to be able to set the blade up DN (that's dead nuts) square with the table, absolutely crucial to good miters; you are working in all three dimensions, right? In my framing journey *that* is the most crucial element, other than to gain repeatability in every cut and aspect of the operation. Good luck, you'll get there but might not have *any* hair left. ;0) OH, here's a tip: I hate glass and the reflections it produces so finally ended up with some no-glare plexi (P-99 at the shop I deal with) it costs 200 per 4x8 sheet but is well worth the expense!

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

ebrunner wrote:

A few weeks ago, a good friend of mine was having a birthday. I decided it would be a nice gesture to give him a framed print of the Manhattan Skyline I took from Dumbo. (Down under the Manhattan Bridge area of Brooklyn). He is disabled and cannot get around the way he used to. Hence I decided that, since he used to go to NYC pretty often, a photo of the skyline would be to his liking.

I could have bought a frame; but decided that a photographer should really be able to make his own frames and mats. Suffice it to say that the result would have probably earned a C- in an 8th grade shop class. (If, in fact, there were still such a thing as an 8th grade shop class) My friend was very gracious and said that he was very pleased with the gift and that the frame and mat were....pretty good. He exaggerates a lot!

Since some of my photos are reasonably good, I decided that I would spend some time in the garage and improve my skills at building wooden frames and appropriate mats for those frames. Youtube is your friend in times like that. I watched several videos and decided that I knew where I had gone wrong in the first attempt and would be able to correct my mistakes.

I found that G.A.S is not limited to photography equipment. I decided that I absolutely could not make frames unless I had a router table! (not true, of course, but I was convinced), I was happy to learn that my local hardware store sells glass and will cut it to your dimensions in the store. In my next attempt (unfortunately the router table has not arrived yet; but I could not wait) I was very careful about all my measurements and cuts. I sanded meticulously and then stained the poplar frame a cherry wood color. That all worked out pretty well.

Then I came to the mat!!!! I can come close, but it just isn't completely right yet. I have, however, improved from the C- shop class level of competency. Now my work is what I call 20/20. (looks great from twenty feet away if you are going 20mph). I'm aiming for 10/10! Wish me luck.

Love to hear about any of your framing horror stories or helpful tips. Heartfelt commiseration would be a bonus. lol

Erich

A few weeks ago, a good friend of mine was having ... (show quote)

Just a thought, Erich...
You might consider float mounting. Far less expensive, far easier, and routinely gets the “Hey, Classy” comment in shows and galleries. I sold/ gave away all my matting/ framing gear about twenty years ago.
Can’t begin to tell the relief to be done with frames, glass, matte selections, matte cutters, and matte cutting!!!!

Here’s a thread that may be helpful:

https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-300178-1.html

Dave

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

...and, AFA matting, I bought a medium priced Logan and learned it's operation and don't need anything else. It's great to fit a mat to an odd-sized piece and then put it in my hand-made frame! I bought a bunch of material when I started doing this and just replace as I go...

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

Uuglypher wrote:

Just a thought, Erich...
You might consider float mounting. Far less expensive, far easier, and routinely gets the “Hey, Classy” comment in shows and galleries. I sold/ gave away all my matting/ framing gear about twenty years ago.
Can’t begin to tell the relief to be done with frames, glass, matte selections, matte cutters, and matte cutting!!!!

Here’s a thread that may be helpful:

https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-300178-1.html

Dave

...this is absolutely viable because it *is* a PITA to do your own frames. I can, so I do...but this method is an option my clients have to reduce costs.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

chasgroh wrote:

Haha...I do "everything" involving my pi... (show quote)

Lots of information in that paragraph. I do have a table saw. I also have a power miter saw. In your opinion, which do you think will work better? I've been using the miter saw because it is easily adjustable. I could also make a jig for the table saw. Thank you for all the help.
Erich

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

Uuglypher wrote:

Just a thought, Erich...
You might consider float mounting. Far less expensive, far easier, and routinely gets the “Hey, Classy” comment in shows and galleries. I sold/ gave away all my matting/ framing gear about twenty years ago.
Can’t begin to tell the relief to be done with frames, glass, matte selections, matte cutters, and matte cutting!!!!

Here’s a thread that may be helpful:

https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-300178-1.html

Dave

Thank you for the link. I read the whole thread and it seems like a really good method. I'm certainly going to do a bit more researching of "float mounting". I had never hear it called that; but an uncle of mine used to use that method (or very similar producing the same look) for his artwork. Thanks for the information.
Erich

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

chasgroh wrote:

...and, AFA matting, I bought a medium priced Logan and learned it's operation and don't need anything else. It's great to fit a mat to an odd-sized piece and then put it in my hand-made frame! I bought a bunch of material when I started doing this and just replace as I go...

That does sound interesting. I would not be surprised if I end up using mats and also the float method described by Dave above. Variety seems to be a good idea. That way not everything ends up looking like everything else. I think a city skyline, for example, would probably look great with float mounting. A landscape or wildlife photo, on the other hand, could benefit from a nice simple wood frame. Now I'm off to follow the link you left in your other post. Thanks.
Erich

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

ebrunner wrote:

Lots of information in that paragraph. I do have a table saw. I also have a power miter saw. In your opinion, which do you think will work better? I've been using the miter saw because it is easily adjustable. I could also make a jig for the table saw. Thank you for all the help.
Erich

...make a sled and *then* you will get good miters (of course, make dang sure you zero the blade/table relationship...there are SO many tiny factors that make or break a miter)...I have a good/excellent miter saw and used it for awhile; *then* I created my miter sled and never looked back. You're in a good place, Erich, once you get a few details out of the way, then it's repeat/repeat/repeat. I don't know what kind of table saw you have (I'm assuming it's *not* a cabinet saw) but most contractor saws will set up nicely for a sled. My Powermatic 66 which I've owned for 26 years now, is a beast of a cabinet saw and has made me alot of dough!

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

ebrunner wrote:

That does sound interesting. I would not be surprised if I end up using mats and also the float method described by Dave above. Variety seems to be a good idea. That way not everything ends up looking like everything else. I think a city skyline, for example, would probably look great with float mounting. A landscape or wildlife photo, on the other hand, could benefit from a nice simple wood frame. Now I'm off to follow the link you left in your other post. Thanks.
Erich

...the thing I don't like about the float method is the edges. I want to *finish* everything! But, like a metal print is the cleanest!

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

chasgroh wrote:

...make a sled and *then* you will get good miters... (show quote)

I have a Skilsaw. I think it is sold as a "table top" model, but I bought the stand that goes with it. I'm still a bit fuzzy about this "sled". Sounds like, once you have it made, you can simply use it over and over again for accurate and repeatable cuts. That sounds ideal. I'll get there I'm sure. The good thing is that none of this is being done for customers. I'm my biggest critic and, if I mess up, nobody gets fired! Just a hobby that I'd like to get better at.
Erich