Standard sizes for Mattes and Frames are STUPID!

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

12/16/2008 05:11:09 PM · #2

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

Maybe I'm just missing something, am I just stupid?

Not touching that one.... :-)

Custom framing is all the rage. Or invest in a good matte cutter and do your own?

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

12/16/2008 05:17:22 PM · #3

Originally posted by Melethia:

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

Maybe I'm just missing something, am I just stupid?

Not touching that one.... :-)

Custom framing is all the rage. Or invest in a good matte cutter and do your own?

I ended up having custom mattes cut, at three times the cost of pre-cut mattes. The most annoying part for me was that it took them a WEEK to do it. I got interested in photography only after it became digital and I could get instant gratification. Now I have to wait a frikken week and spend 3x the $$.

I'm going to have to do something about it, as I'll possibly be selling more landscapes now, and I always shoot for what's in my viewfinder.
>:-(

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

12/16/2008 05:19:28 PM · #4

Hey, that bit about "possibly selling more landscapes now" totally overrides the pain in the butt factor about the mattes. Congrats on that!

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

12/16/2008 05:24:16 PM · #5

Originally posted by Melethia:

Hey, that bit about "possibly selling more landscapes now" totally overrides the pain in the butt factor about the mattes. Congrats on that!

meh, we'll see how things work out for me...

I have a file at the printer for 20x30 inches on canvas, stretched over a frame with the print to wrap over the edges. We'll see how that looks. It's very expensive to do, but at least the cost is going to the print, and not to the matte and frame. Plus, it's zero work for me, except for the wait.

12/16/2008 06:17:34 PM · #6

This is one of the very reasons why I know cut my own Mattes and do my own framing. It very cost effective once you start doing a bit of it. I can cut matte board up to 30x40 and good matte board is dirt cheap. And realistically its so easy even a moron like me can do it.

Matt

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

12/16/2008 06:46:18 PM · #7

But if you are cutting a custom mat are you also getting a custom frame? Now it's even more $$$. I have the same struggle. I have my own mat cutter, but what standard size frame looks good with a 10x15 or 12x18 picture?

12/16/2008 06:51:09 PM · #8

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

I currently have a 10X15 that I'm putting in a 14x18 frame. I dont normally do 12x18 prints, but if I did I would think a 16x24 frame would work well with a weighted matte. I still use an off the shelf frame size and just make the matte and frame fit what I need. The nice thing is you can make the colors and combinations that you want, and you can double matte them as well. And the cost doesnt get outrageous.

Matt

icu1965

Sony DSLR-A200

Sony 75-300 mm f/4.5-5.6

12/16/2008 06:55:16 PM · #9

I hear ya! I have my own matte cutter, I got it at the art supply store on clearance, it was a great deal! The next solution to the problem, the custom frame, I bought my husband a bunch of tools for Christmas this year so he can make me frames!

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

12/16/2008 06:59:13 PM · #10

Originally posted by MattO:

Originally posted by DrAchoo:
But if you are cutting a custom mat are you also getting a custom frame? Now it's even more $$$. I have the same struggle. I have my own mat cutter, but what standard size frame looks good with a 10x15 or 12x18 picture?

I currently have a 10X15 that I'm putting in a 14x18 frame. I dont normally do 12x18 prints, but if I did I would think a 16x24 frame would work well with a weighted matte. I still use an off the shelf frame size and just make the matte and frame fit what I need. The nice thing is you can make the colors and combinations that you want, and you can double matte them as well. And the cost doesnt get outrageous.

Matt

Do you mind snapping a pic of it when you get it in so I can see what the proportions look like? I do like a sorta chunky border and tend to bottom weight mine.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

12/16/2008 07:13:37 PM · #11

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

Do you mind snapping a pic of it when you get it in so I can see what the proportions look like? I do like a sorta chunky border and tend to bottom weight mine.

When I get done with it I will. Here is my first project that I did on my own. 11x14 print in a 16x20 frame. My photo, my print(canon 9000), and my matte, store bought frame.

Matt

Message edited by author 2008-12-16 19:14:13.

BeeCee

Nikon D40

12/16/2008 07:32:54 PM · #12

Slippy, I feel your pain. I asked about a matte for a 11x12.5 and it would be about $30. When I heard that, I didn't even bother asking about framing prices.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

12/16/2008 07:46:15 PM · #13

Originally posted by BeeCee:

Slippy, I feel your pain. I asked about a matte for a 11x12.5 and it would be about $30. When I heard that, I didn't even bother asking about framing prices.

I buy matte board in 32x40 for less then $20, and cut it to what I want. Depending on the frame size I could get 4 mattes that size and several smaller ones out of the cut outs. It takes very little matte work on your own to pay for the cutter.

Matt

dacrazyrn

Nikon D300

12/16/2008 08:28:55 PM · #14

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

I like to bottom weight MOST of my prints--->LIKE THIS.
I do my own matting and I also build my own frames...I just need a bigger shop ($5000)!! DAMN!!

And as per others....MUCH CHEAPER and not really that hard after you understand the process and take the time.

Message edited by author 2008-12-16 20:29:51.

LevT

OM System OM-1

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

12/16/2008 08:49:09 PM · #15

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

I print 12x18-ish prints on 13x19 paper, cut my own mattes (I saved so much money with that $100 cutter!) and put them in 18x24 frames. Don't have a pic handy, but it looks quite proportional and balanced.

Pentax D-FA* 70-200mm f/2.8 ED DC AW

12/23/2008 09:53:55 PM · #16

Ok Doc I finally cut a matte and framed it. Here is the 10x15 in a 14x18 frame. I would normally bottom weight it, but decided this one looks better this way.

Which brings me to my next post, why doesnt DPC prints border their prints so when you put a matte on them it doesnt cover up some of the print and possible change the photo? I was so frustrated framing this tonight because its not bordered and it loses quite a bit off the bottom and loses some of its appeal to me.

Matt

K3Master

Pentax K-3

12/23/2008 10:00:22 PM · #17

Originally posted by dacrazyrn:

Originally posted by DrAchoo:
But if you are cutting a custom mat are you also getting a custom frame? Now it's even more $$$. I have the same struggle. I have my own mat cutter, but what standard size frame looks good with a 10x15 or 12x18 picture?

I like to bottom weight MOST of my prints--->LIKE THIS.
I do my own matting and I also build my own frames...I just need a bigger shop ($5000)!! DAMN!!

And as per others....MUCH CHEAPER and not really that hard after you understand the process and take the time.

Are you putting poetry or writing of some kind in that empty space? Because honestly, a landscape matted into a portrait orientation like that looks awful with all that empty space.

Message edited by author 2008-12-23 22:00:46.

soup

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

12/23/2008 10:11:38 PM · #18

Originally posted by MattO:

Message edited by author 2008-12-23 22:14:14.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

12/23/2008 10:31:25 PM · #19

Originally posted by soup:

why don't they offer mattes ? a photo framed with glass against it - is just plain evil.

BTW - what do you have fort a matte cutter. i gave mine away because cutting a 32x40 ( or similar ) board down was just not happening... at least not with square edges...

Originally posted by MattO:
Which brings me to my next post, why doesnt DPC prints border their prints so when you put a matte on them it doesnt cover up some of the print and possible change the photo? I was so frustrated framing this tonight because its not bordered and it loses quite a bit off the bottom and loses some of its appeal to me.

Matt

I have a Logan 450 matte cutter. Its wonderfully made and simple to use. Has instructions on a DVD so you can SEE what to do as you are doing it.

Matt

Edit to add a link to the Logan site. Scroll to 450 that is what I have.

Message edited by author 2008-12-23 22:36:02.

soup

Canon EOS-30D

12/23/2008 10:41:42 PM · #20

hmm. mine was a logan as well - but older. not sure how old actually.

gonna look into that 450 model. i paid about as much for the one i gave away though. so i'm a bit skeptical...

thanks.

Originally posted by Matto:

I have a Logan 450 matte cutter. Its wonderfully made and simple to use. Has instructions on a DVD so you can SEE what to do as you are doing it.

Matt

12/23/2008 10:51:46 PM · #21

Originally posted by soup:

hmm. mine was a logan as well - but older. not sure how old actually.

gonna look into that 450 model. i paid about as much for the one i gave away though. so i'm a bit skeptical...

thanks.

Originally posted by Matto:
I have a Logan 450 matte cutter. Its wonderfully made and simple to use. Has instructions on a DVD so you can SEE what to do as you are doing it.

Matt

The main thing to remember when cutting mat board is this. The ones you are buying arent square, I've never bought one. First thing I do with everyone I buy is square it myself. I'm certainly no pro at this, but I have only ever messed one up, and it truly was user error, and I've made some pretty tricky ones, including multiple photos on one matte.

Matt

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

12/23/2008 11:38:50 PM · #22

Originally posted by MattO:

Ok Doc I finally cut a matte and framed it. Here is the 10x15 in a 14x18 frame. I would normally bottom weight it, but decided this one looks better this way.

Which brings me to my next post, why doesnt DPC prints border their prints so when you put a matte on them it doesnt cover up some of the print and possible change the photo? I was so frustrated framing this tonight because its not bordered and it loses quite a bit off the bottom and loses some of its appeal to me.

Matt

Thanks Matt. It doesn't look bad for stock items. I may try it. Personally I'd like a little more heft on the sides, but I was afraid it would be even thinner.

Nice print BTW.