Talk to me about framing

[Anonymous]

I have coupons for framing at Michaels, AC moore, and a local frame shop. Is the local frame shop going to be so much better? And also so much more expensive? I have two prints that a professor gifted me and I would like to have them framed for our living room but I am also cheap.

[Anonymous]

If you're cheap (like me), and depending on the size of the prints, you may want to do a mix of custom and standard. I have custom mats cut to fit my prints and standard frame sizes. I've paid from $15-50 to have individual mats cut, depending on the size, and put them in Ikea and Michael's frames. If your prints are big, you can easily spend $300 or more on a frame and mat, but the finished product will be a bit nicer.

I'm handy and have considered getting my own mat cutter but haven't yet.

[Anonymous]

That is, $300 on a custom frame and custom mat.

[Anonymous]

I always go to a local frame shop but I frame original art and large photos. They do an amazing job and have so many more frame options than michaels.
The mix of custom cut mat and standard frame is also a good idea. You always need more mat than you think to make a picture look expensive. Try a double mat too.

[Anonymous]

And how much approximately is a mat?

[Anonymous]

I have gotten a number of picture frames online (with mat and glare-free acrylic) and have been very happy with the quality and the price. Here are two sites I have used:

www.pictureframes.com

www.framesbymail.com

As long as you measure accurately and have a good idea of the mat proportions you want, you will be fine.

[Anonymous]

I use and loved Framebridge. An online framing company started by a local DC mom. So easy and a more budget friendly route.

[Anonymous]

If you're really cheap you can buy your own mat cutter and then frame in standard sizes. Frame-store framing can be insane - we just framed a painting and it was $500. It looks nice, but that is a lot!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I use and loved Framebridge. An online framing company started by a local DC mom. So easy and a more budget friendly route.

+1

[Anonymous]

We use frameworks. They do great work.