Although I feel I have something of a creative eye for what makes a pleasing image and composition, I readily admit to having virtually no practical experience - or even given all that much thought to - choosing different colours, styles, and sizes of frames and the card mounts that are placed between the glass and the photo that offer a nice finish to most pictures.
For those who haven't come across me before here on the NPN, my genre is birds and wildlife, and I'm primarily aiming to sell my work here in Thailand to tourists and hopefully residents too.
Having already printed up a selection on good quality paper, the next thing we're looking to do is have the card mounts (mentioned above) cut as borders for our A4 and A3 size prints. Once we have decided on the best size for each of these, we will be getting custom-made clear plastic envelopes to individually wrap them in; much the same as greeting cards, but obviously not folded down the middle ;^)
In the hope that my explanation of what we're trying to create as a finished product is easy enough to understand, does anyone have any practical experience and/or thoughts to share on any of the following:-
Regarding Card Mounts or Borders:
1. Generally speaking, if one was to go for only a single colour to display a selection of images, would a darker or lighter colour work best?
Black does seem to make many image stand out well, but I've also noticed that cream with certain images works very well too.
2. What might be the best width (in inches or cm) – i.e. distance from the outer edge of the photo itself to the inner edge of the frame – for both these card mounts/borders respectively for a photo printed on A4 and A3 size paper?
Regarding Frames:
Although we're planning to concentrate more on selling prints simply with the card mounts/borders inside the clear plastic envelopes mentioned above, we're also thinking to frame a number for display and see how well they might sell like this.
What sort of style, colour, and size would anyone suggest for this purpose?
Based on experience or not, all thoughts, opinions, and suggestions will be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance :^)
Posted by Bill Brennan on April 22, 2011 at 8:17 PM
Ashley, consider a gray mat for presenting your photos. Then have samples of colored mats for your client to consider as they envision your photo on their wall and fitting into their color scheme and interior decorating. You might consider having a catalog of frames for your client to consider.
Your idea for having samples made up is a good one.
If anyone else see this thread and has further suggestions, perhaps based on similar experience, as to the best ratios for the width of the above mentioned card mounts please let me know, thanks.
Hi Ashley,
In a prior life I was a professional picture framer. I've also curated a couple of fine art exhibitions, and hung many of the same. The first question I have for you is: what context are you planning for your prints to be viewed as? Are you marketing them as fine art, or home decor? I'm not making any value judgments here, it's just that your mat and frame choices are more traditional and limited with the former.
Generally, fine art prints use plain white (or off-white), black, or maybe grey mats. The frames tend to be basic black wood (or wood looking). Images are purchased based on strong content with the mat being just the border setting away the rest of the visual universe.
Decorative matting can be more flexible. If the shot has some interesting green tones, then you can choose a mat that brings that out either in a direct way or a complementary way. Or a customer would choose an artwork to bring out the look of a room based on color values as much as content. Frames can be either wood or metal, and colored works well too.
RE: sizing--12x19-in image works well with an 18x24 frame; 9x12-in image>>12x16 frame. In general a 3-4-inch border is good. Do realize that framing for fine art traditionally has a slightly larger bottom border (1/2 - 1 inch) to offset a common optical illusion of a slimmer border.
In answer to your questions, I'd like to think that I'm heading in the direction of "fine art" although in the way that you put this, I guess it would be more accurate to say right now I'm aiming toward a market that may be a little less discerning and simply looking for something that appeals to them on the "home decor" level, or perhaps as a gift to someone else for the same purpose.
I like your ideas and greatly appreciate your input regarding the appropriate sizings of frames and boarders, the point and explanation for adding a slightly larger bottom boarded is well noted too, thanks again for taking the time Michael :^)
Discussion
4 repliesFor those who haven't come across me before here on the NPN, my genre is birds and wildlife, and I'm primarily aiming to sell my work here in Thailand to tourists and hopefully residents too.
Having already printed up a selection on good quality paper, the next thing we're looking to do is have the card mounts (mentioned above) cut as borders for our A4 and A3 size prints. Once we have decided on the best size for each of these, we will be getting custom-made clear plastic envelopes to individually wrap them in; much the same as greeting cards, but obviously not folded down the middle ;^)
In the hope that my explanation of what we're trying to create as a finished product is easy enough to understand, does anyone have any practical experience and/or thoughts to share on any of the following:-
Regarding Card Mounts or Borders:
1. Generally speaking, if one was to go for only a single colour to display a selection of images, would a darker or lighter colour work best?
Black does seem to make many image stand out well, but I've also noticed that cream with certain images works very well too.
2. What might be the best width (in inches or cm) – i.e. distance from the outer edge of the photo itself to the inner edge of the frame – for both these card mounts/borders respectively for a photo printed on A4 and A3 size paper?
Regarding Frames:
Although we're planning to concentrate more on selling prints simply with the card mounts/borders inside the clear plastic envelopes mentioned above, we're also thinking to frame a number for display and see how well they might sell like this.
What sort of style, colour, and size would anyone suggest for this purpose?
Based on experience or not, all thoughts, opinions, and suggestions will be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance :^)
Bill Brennan
Your idea for having samples made up is a good one.
If anyone else see this thread and has further suggestions, perhaps based on similar experience, as to the best ratios for the width of the above mentioned card mounts please let me know, thanks.
In a prior life I was a professional picture framer. I've also curated a couple of fine art exhibitions, and hung many of the same. The first question I have for you is: what context are you planning for your prints to be viewed as? Are you marketing them as fine art, or home decor? I'm not making any value judgments here, it's just that your mat and frame choices are more traditional and limited with the former.
Generally, fine art prints use plain white (or off-white), black, or maybe grey mats. The frames tend to be basic black wood (or wood looking). Images are purchased based on strong content with the mat being just the border setting away the rest of the visual universe.
Decorative matting can be more flexible. If the shot has some interesting green tones, then you can choose a mat that brings that out either in a direct way or a complementary way. Or a customer would choose an artwork to bring out the look of a room based on color values as much as content. Frames can be either wood or metal, and colored works well too.
RE: sizing--12x19-in image works well with an 18x24 frame; 9x12-in image>>12x16 frame. In general a 3-4-inch border is good. Do realize that framing for fine art traditionally has a slightly larger bottom border (1/2 - 1 inch) to offset a common optical illusion of a slimmer border.
hope this helps,
ME
In answer to your questions, I'd like to think that I'm heading in the direction of "fine art" although in the way that you put this, I guess it would be more accurate to say right now I'm aiming toward a market that may be a little less discerning and simply looking for something that appeals to them on the "home decor" level, or perhaps as a gift to someone else for the same purpose.
I like your ideas and greatly appreciate your input regarding the appropriate sizings of frames and boarders, the point and explanation for adding a slightly larger bottom boarded is well noted too, thanks again for taking the time Michael :^)