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09/13/2007 01:02:44 PM · #1 |
I'm looking for the most economical and practical options that results in 18" x 24" mats, backing, and bags to fit 12" x18" photos.
I've been searching old threads all morning on the subject of purchasing pre-cut mats and everything I've read is a lot more expensive than what I found at a local photo supply store that is known to be expensive. The mat and backing (no bag) that I found is $5.50 each. It doesn't say that it is acid free, so that's probably why it is the least expensive one that I have found.
To sum it up, I have a few of questions:
1) Where can I find the best price on 18" x 24" acid free mats, backing, and bags?
2) If I choose the option of cuting my own mats...
- - - a. What mat cutter do you use?
- - - b. Where do you purchase you uncut mats?
- - - c. What do you think of this mat cutter: Logan 450 Intermediate for $154.99 on ebay?
Thanks for you help.
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09/13/2007 01:09:22 PM · #2 |
JOANN Etc. sells uncut mats in various shades for about $0.59 each (may cost too much if doing high volume).
You can also pay for them to cut (maybe $1-$2). You can also get a basic mat cutter for about $20 if you have a steady hand. Does the bevel cut, etc.
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09/13/2007 01:10:02 PM · #3 |
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09/13/2007 01:15:25 PM · #4 |
I get my mats at Pearl or Ulrecht as full sheets and cut my own. I was nervous at first, but it's very easy to do.
~$20 for the cutter (Logan Deluxe Pull 4000)
$4-$8 per board which gives me 8 mats measuring 8x10.
$155 sounds expensive in my book. The cost-return ratio is MUCH higher. |
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09/13/2007 01:32:51 PM · #5 |
I have had excellent results buying from Redimat.
They are professional and I have found them to give fast service.
I have purchased ready-made and custom mats from them. |
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09/13/2007 01:34:21 PM · #6 |
| No suggestions from me but thanks for posting everyone! This sounds alot cheaper than I was expecting. |
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09/13/2007 01:46:52 PM · #7 |
I get mine cut at Hobby Lobby (a chain craft supply store). They stock acid free, and cut them with a digital cutter machine. Not sure the price, I'm thinking 20x24 with a 16x20 hole was around 15 bucks for acid free, and it's like $6 for a 30x20 non-acid-free matboard.
IMO, if you're going to sell big prints like that, use the good stuff and even put them in frames. If you just give your customer a matted print in a bag, they'll use a crappy frame and people will come to their house, look at the print with your name on it, and probably remember how bad it looked in the frame and assume it's your fault.
I like the sectional metal frame kits (Hobby Lobby sells those too, along with the glass and foam backing for not much money). |
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09/13/2007 02:24:51 PM · #8 |
I buy all my stuff at Michaels because the prices are always really, really good!
NOT!
I have that Logan cutter, but I want to say my price was more in the $80-110 range. I got it local at an art supply shop. It works fairly well, although I'm pretty famous for cutting the measurements wrong. :(
As far as mats, if you are selling them, then get the expensive stuff. But for your own house, why go with acid-free etc? these days it's simply cheaper to print a new print if it fades or is affected by any acids or whatnot. |
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09/13/2007 02:24:59 PM · #9 |
I got really lucky, I went to a mall that I had never been to before, a custom framing store was going out of business and they were selling all their equiptment. It was their last day of being open. I bought the pneumatic matte cutter they had for $200 bucks. They were asking $650 for it, but the owner wasnt taking chances as the mall was only open another 3 hours or so.
Bought an air compressor and was in business for $300 bucks. Its a great tool.
*-Rich |
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09/13/2007 04:58:53 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by _eug:
I get my mats at Pearl or Ulrecht as full sheets and cut my own. I was nervous at first, but it's very easy to do.
~$20 for the cutter (Logan Deluxe Pull 4000)
$4-$8 per board which gives me 8 mats measuring 8x10.
$155 sounds expensive in my book. The cost-return ratio is MUCH higher. |
$20.00 for a mat cutter???? If I'm going to cut my own mats, I still want 100% professional results. Are you able to do that with a $20.00 cutter?
If so, then that's the obvious choice. What are the tradeoffs to the great price? |
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09/13/2007 05:11:45 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by yakatme:
Originally posted by _eug:
I get my mats at Pearl or Ulrecht as full sheets and cut my own. I was nervous at first, but it's very easy to do.
~$20 for the cutter (Logan Deluxe Pull 4000)
$4-$8 per board which gives me 8 mats measuring 8x10.
$155 sounds expensive in my book. The cost-return ratio is MUCH higher. |
$20.00 for a mat cutter???? If I'm going to cut my own mats, I still want 100% professional results. Are you able to do that with a $20.00 cutter?
If so, then that's the obvious choice. What are the tradeoffs to the great price? |
It looks better than the pre-cut mats so long as I get the math right. I've only butchered 2-3 mats out of about 50 so far.
Seems, I need to correct the price, it's $30 in most places I see online. |
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09/13/2007 05:19:58 PM · #12 |
Did you go through this thread? Has other links in it also.
I have a Logan 4000 Pull Style cutter and it was about $25 , and I use Logan Adapt-A-Rule (the cutter rides along its edge) to cut and measure, another $15.
Another Helpful thread
Message edited by author 2007-09-13 17:22:44.
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09/13/2007 06:14:36 PM · #13 |
No, after ten hours researching this on DPChallenge forums and the rest of the net, that is one thread that I hadn't yet come across. It and the other one you provided the link for were helpful. Thanks a lot.
I did just run through the process of pricing at framing job at American Frame. It was extremely simple to use. After following the prompts that determine exactly how you want your framing order to come out, it tells you the total cost of custom framing your work. If anybody is interested in framing options, I suggest trying this. I input a 12" x 18" photo, with a 2 1/2" acid free mat, acid free foam core backing, non-glare glass, and a 2 5/8" silver colored, decorative wood frame and got a quote for about $63.00.
After all of the research I did today I was impressed! |
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09/13/2007 06:17:13 PM · #14 |
not sure if this has been thrown out but check utrecht out.
My favorite item there is a mat & frame that fit an 8x12 woo hoo!! :0) why aren't there more 8x12 items out there? I hate cropping my stuff!:0P
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09/13/2007 06:33:46 PM · #15 |
Originally posted by oOWonderBreadOo:
not sure if this has been thrown out but check utrecht out.
My favorite item there is a mat & frame that fit an 8x12 woo hoo!! :0) why aren't there more 8x12 items out there? I hate cropping my stuff!:0P |
Because folks are stuck in the rut of the traditional image sizes. 4x6, 5x7, 8x10. All 3 are different aspect ratios, 1.5, 1.4, and 1.25 to 1. Hard to change after so many long years. |
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09/13/2007 06:41:16 PM · #16 |
| both. Pretty sure you can get 'em at any art store or framing store. |
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09/13/2007 07:27:10 PM · #17 |
| i get my bags from clearbags.com. they have all sorts of other good stuff, as well. good prices and GREAT customer service. |
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