Americanframe.com matting question

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5D

03/17/2004 10:33:40 PM · #1

Ok, picked up one of my 10x15" prints recently from DPCprints and wanted to frame and mat it. The picture has a .293" border on the sides and a .198" border top and bottom, which I want hidden by the mat. Now, here's where I get confused...From the AmericanFrame.com website:

"If you are ordering matting with this frame we suggest you decrease your artwork size by 1/4" in each direction. This will provide you with an area for hinging the artwork to the back of your matting. If you are going to â��floatâ�� your artwork within the mat opening, you do not need to decrease the artwork size."

What should I put down for the size of my pic?...sorry, this is probably an easy answer, my mind just a little confuzzled from the math right now.

P.S. I think the frame takes up a 1/4 inch all around the pic.

Thanks for any replies

mcrael

Nikon D300

03/17/2004 10:44:05 PM · #2

I would specify the opening on the mat to be just slightly smaller than the printed portion on your photo print. This will ensure that the border will not show through the mat opening.

So.... for example, if the printed portion measures 10 x 15, request the mat opening to be something like 9.75 x 14.75. There's no hard rule about the mat opening size for your print. Just ensure that the mat opening is small enough that the white border on the print doesn't show. Hope this helps?

Message edited by author 2004-03-17 22:50:59.

EddyG

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

03/18/2004 08:23:31 AM · #3

AmericanFrame mat openings are cut at exactly the artwork size you specify (in 1/16" increments). The overall size of the mat is determined by how much "border" you specify.

So if you set your artwork size to 10x15 and then select a mat border of 2" all the way around, you would end up with a 14x19 mat with a 10x15 whole cut out of the middle, and the picture would "fall right through". So don't do that! The recommended 1/4" decrease in artwork size makes the mat opening smaller, which allows you to tape the artwork to the mat (usually only at the top so the picture just "hangs" there).

So in your case, assuming your print is 10" wide and 15" tall and the .293" border is on the 10" side, I would enter an artwork size of:

10" - 5/8" (which is the closest fractional amount, rounded up, of .293 * 2) = 9 3/8"
15 - 1/2" (the closest fractional amount, rounded up, of .198 * 2) = 14 1/2"

If you set you mat borders as follows:

Top border: 2 3/4"
Bottom border: 2 3/4"
Side border: 2 13/16"

you'll end up with a nice even "frame size" of 15" x 20" (making it a little easier to re-use the frame/glass/backer board later on if desired).

You'll have to make some adjustments to these numbers if your print is landscape (15x10) and the border amounts you gave are on the "other" edges, but hopefully you get the idea.

Hope that helps; I'm a very satisfied AmericanFrame customer (I just did a sample price for the above, and with a simple metal frame, single mat, standard plexi and foam board backing, the price for having your print custom framed is $23.30!)

Message edited by author 2004-03-18 08:24:05.

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

03/18/2004 09:48:46 AM · #4

Thanks for the replies Eddy and mcrael, that helps a lot actually :). The print is landscape, but I think I can easily work out that scenario now. All that's left is to settle on which frame I want to go with. Thanks again for the quick responses.

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

03/18/2004 09:53:22 AM · #5

I recently received a framing order from americanprints.com. I ordered 4 22x30 frame kits for some matted 16x24 prints. The metal framing I bought from them looks really nice and I have less than $25 in each of them. It seems like a good place to buy.

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

03/18/2004 10:13:53 AM · #6

I tried going to the americanprints.com homepage but it didnt exist, did you mean americanframe.com, John?

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

03/18/2004 10:14:52 AM · #7

Originally posted by jgal76:

I tried going to the americanprints.com homepage but it didnt exist, did you mean americanframe.com, John?

oops :)

//www.americanframe.com

03/18/2004 11:10:05 PM · #8

ok, might have to reconsider, shipping to Canada is apparently $28, that's almost as much as the frame.

03/22/2004 11:38:46 AM · #9

Does anyone know of any Canadian alternatives to Americanframe.com? It seems like a good site, but they just want too much for shipping

03/22/2004 01:41:19 PM · #10

*bump*