Picture frames for gallery display: I am looking for recommendations for picture frames for gallery displays. I have been using 16x20 contrast grey metal picture frames for my 11x14...

IzzyKap Loc: Rockville, MD

I am looking for recommendations for picture frames for gallery displays. I have been using 16x20 contrast grey metal picture frames for my 11x14 and 11x17 pictures. I have depleted my supply and don't recall the source which I was using. There were the ones composed of 4 pieces with hardware to put them together and acryllic front. I am open to other suggestions also.

Dave327 Loc: Duluth, GA. USA

The source my wife and I use for all our framing is Hobby Lobby. They have a wide variety in stock in wood and metal. They also have plenty of mat board colors. Most of time we just drop the art work off and have them mount it.

M1911 Loc: DFW Metromess

Were you using Neilson frames or a copy of them? Personally, I like plain black wooden frames because they help isolate the photos from the wall and a window matt helps contain the eye.

IzzyKap Loc: Rockville, MD

M1911 wrote:

Were you using Neilson frames or a copy of them? Personally, I like plain black wooden frames because they help isolate the photos from the wall and a window matt helps contain the eye.

I have been using Nielsen frames, the ones that you assemble yourself but am not locked into them.

CamB Loc: Juneau, Alaska

IzzyKap wrote:

I am looking for recommendations for picture frames for gallery displays. I have been using 16x20 contrast grey metal picture frames for my 11x14 and 11x17 pictures. I have depleted my supply and don't recall the source which I was using. There were the ones composed of 4 pieces with hardware to put them together and acryllic front. I am open to other suggestions also.

I have been using Frame4Yourself. Good service. Nice people. Frame kits and custom cutting. You buy your own glass locally.

MDI Mainer

My wife and I have found the best selection and pricing here:

https://www.framedestination.com/

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

IzzyKap wrote:

I am looking for recommendations for picture frames for gallery displays. I have been using 16x20 contrast grey metal picture frames for my 11x14 and 11x17 pictures. I have depleted my supply and don't recall the source which I was using. There were the ones composed of 4 pieces with hardware to put them together and acryllic front. I am open to other suggestions also.

Hobby Lobby has those.

Fredrick Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area

Just enter 16 X 20 frames on Amazon. There’s tons of them.

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

Not to hijack or get off topic but do any folks here make their own frames from barn wood etc... and cut their own mats ?

IzzyKap Loc: Rockville, MD

Fredrick wrote:

Just enter 16 X 20 frames on Amazon. There’s tons of them.

I am well aware of that but was asking for recommendations from photographers.

MJPerini

You can't go wrong with Nielsen frames. They were originally designed to solve a problem for Museums & Galleries that had to frame a bunch of work for a show or exhibition , after which the work was generally stored flat.
This allowed them not only to easily reuse frames, but mix & match the sizes while keeping everything neat and simple. The other benefit was that frames always looked the same and shows could easily be re ordered without having to worry about a frame being different. If you are framing for personal use , on a more permanent basis, the take part feature isn't much of an advantage . The other advantage of metal frames is their archival nature, there is no danger of off-gassing from wood or finishes used affecting longevity. Lots of Galleries & Museums DO use wooden frames so some must be safe from an archival standpoint. After that it is a personal choice.

Grimaldi

I have used three vendors for metal frames but, lo and behold, they all sell Neilsen frames. There is some minor variability in price and, sometimes, availability but the frames are always very good.

clint f. Loc: Priest Lake Idaho, Spokane Wa

MrBob wrote:

Not to hijack or get off topic but do any folks here make their own frames from barn wood etc... and cut their own mats ?

Yes, but it’s very labor intensive. A reasonably equipped shop is necessary and you can’t overstate the necessity of very precise measurement of sides and mitre angle. Barn wood is difficult to work with because of the variations of thickness and the inherent warping and bending. They also get tedious to look at. 1 or 2 might look ok but any more not so much. The solution I like is junk store frames of different designs spray painted black. Obvious changes in texture and feel but unified by color. Mats are the easy part, either cut with an inexpensive mat cutter or bought from the artist supply shop or Hobby Lobby. Use anti glare glass.

Chappy1101 Loc: Glenview, IL

MrBob wrote:

Not to hijack or get off topic but do any folks here make their own frames from barn wood etc... and cut their own mats ?

This winter I started cutting my own matts from 32”x40” blanks (using Logan basic cutter and various videos online). It allows me to buy standard inexpensive framing and print to non-standard sizes with appropriate customized matting. Results including double matts are beautiful, and some day I may even pay for the cutter with the minor savings on using precut matts and/or custom framing.

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

MrBob wrote:

Not to hijack or get off topic but do any folks here make their own frames from barn wood etc... and cut their own mats ?

I have , Ive used barn wood, Ive used new pine boards, crown molding ....
Ive run them thru the table saw and the router. But ive also bougt a lot of cheap frames
at flea markets. Spend a dollar to buy a frame that would have cost $20.00 or more.