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Post by BuckSkin on Feb 8, 2017 4:29:34 GMT
I have been printing a few 8.5 X 11 photos and have thus far been printing them borderless; then, I got to thinking that by doing so a portion of the picture gets hidden behind the frame rabbet.
So, I decided I could size the image area to fit what shows and extend the canvas to take up the slack.
I Google-searched the question and got about as many answers as results and none of the answers were very specific.
I looked at the 8.5 X 11 frames on Amazon and didn't see any that provided the rabbet depth.
Of course, I don't have any frames laying around here to measure.
I sort of settled on a neutral grey 3/16" border, but then it looks like a mile wide around the image.
I would rather hide a smidge of the image than to have the border to show.
How much do you guys allow for frame coverage ?
Is my 3/16" a good safe border that will remain hidden while optimizing image area, or should I shave it to maybe 1/8" ?
Your thoughts please; thanks for reading.
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Post by cats4jan on Feb 8, 2017 19:08:24 GMT
I have found printing and framing to be a 'hit or miss' thing. You have to learn your printer and it's settings. Each printer - even within the same name brand - has it's own idiosyncracies and even the settings don't work the same across the brand.
Plus, frames are very different in the amount of photograph the frame will cover.
I suggest buying your frame first. You could put a blank sheet of paper in the frame and draw around the inside edge of the frame to get a real life idea of how much of the photo edge will be covered.
I have tried the extra layer of plain color and, like you, did not like that sometimes it shows.
Like I said - it's hit or miss and it's frustrating.
Each frame will take the same amount of 'fooling around' to get the best results.
I have found frames with mats as a viable alternative. You have more flexibility about where you position your photo. You can tape your photo to the mat for precision. Personally, I find a matted framed photo to look more finished, anyway.
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bnk1953
Junior Forum Member
Posts: 184 
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by bnk1953 on Feb 8, 2017 22:40:31 GMT
I also have to say that it totally depends on the frame manufacturer. But I've also allowed even more room so that for my black frames there is a white strip around the whole photo when it is in the frame. This seems to "set it off" and I like the effect. It should be noted that paper people say that it really should layered with a mat - to keep the print away from the glass.
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Post by BuckSkin on Feb 9, 2017 0:30:59 GMT
I like the mat idea.
My scenario is that I find in my collection an exceptional photo of something or someone that should be printed and given to someone that hopefully will appreciate my efforts, and present it to them in hopes that they will actually put it in a frame; more than likely, in this poverty-stricken corner of the world, it will get magnetted to the refrigerator or thumb-tacked to the wall.
I guess what I should do is just go whole hog and frame the photo before I give it; thus, with frame and mat in hand, I can then print to fit.
I used to not obsess about such things; I was blissfully ignorant of such facts as image ratios and crop ratios and frame sizes and such.
I have never bought a frame with a mat before; do they come with the mat already cut and bevelled ?
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Post by blackmutt on Feb 9, 2017 0:37:49 GMT
Try Michaels craft store if you have one nearby. They have some frames with mats and mats alone. They also have odd size frames which suit digital photos. Watch for their sales usually 40% off.
As for mats with your photos - keep in mind that the mat will keep the photo from attaching itself to the glass. You definitely want to avoid your photo sticking to the glass.
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Post by cats4jan on Feb 9, 2017 2:14:25 GMT
Take a good look at the mat before purchasing either mats by themselves or frames with mats included, some cheap mats are not beveled properly.
For gifting, giving a framed photo is the better option, otherwise, there isn't much chance the receiver will go thru the trouble of running out and buying a frame. So, in reality, your printing the photo will only be a moment in time. The print will be appreciated, but then it will end up in a drawer.
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Post by BuckSkin on Feb 9, 2017 3:54:17 GMT
The print will be appreciated, but then it will end up in a drawer. A lot of truth to that statement; even a cheapie frame is better than no frame at all and the photo is much less likely to end up lost in some pile of papers. The closest Michaels is some 130 mile away, but I have been there on a number of occasions; I will have to check out their frames next time. |
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Post by cats4jan on Feb 9, 2017 13:47:07 GMT
The closest Michaels is some 130 mile away You'll be surprised at how many stores carry frames - like Target, etc. - so you probably won't have to go all the way to Micheals.
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Post by Sepiana on Feb 9, 2017 16:06:18 GMT
The closest Michaels is some 130 mile away You'll be surprised at how many stores carry frames - like Target, etc. - so you probably won't have to go all the way to Micheals. I have used Michaels many times for my framing projects. Their advantage is that they will make custom frames to conform to the size dimensions of your painting/photo. It makes things easier if you have an odd-shaped painting or photo. |
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Post by blackmutt on Feb 9, 2017 22:29:12 GMT
Check their on line options. Although i tend to want to see first hand the quality and hate on line returns.  |
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Post by BuckSkin on Feb 10, 2017 0:36:38 GMT
The closest Michaels is some 130 mile away You'll be surprised at how many stores carry frames - like Target, etc. - so you probably won't have to go all the way to Micheals. Funny thing is a Target is no closer than Michaels; we live in a forgotten land, which can be good and bad at the same time. I think I will see what the local Mighty Dollar has to offer as well; they are more within my budget. I am quite proficient with wood, have plenty of different varieties on hand, and a well-equipped shop to work in, and I have made a few frames; that being said, if my time was worth 50-cents an hour, I could buy fifty frames for less than it would cost for me to build one. |
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bnk1953
Junior Forum Member
Posts: 184
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by bnk1953 on Feb 10, 2017 13:59:04 GMT
There is also that thing called the internet. Do a search for frames there. I have purchased bulk frames thru Amazon and have been very happy with them. |
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Post by BuckSkin on Feb 14, 2017 8:32:17 GMT
I have found printing and framing to be a 'hit or miss' thing. You have to learn your printer and it's settings. Each printer - even within the same name brand - has it's own idiosyncracies and even the settings don't work the same across the brand. Plus, frames are very different in the amount of photograph the frame will cover. I suggest buying your frame first. You could put a blank sheet of paper in the frame and draw around the inside edge of the frame to get a real life idea of how much of the photo edge will be covered. I have tried the extra layer of plain color and, like you, did not like that sometimes it shows. Like I said - it's hit or miss and it's frustrating. Each frame will take the same amount of 'fooling around' to get the best results. I have found frames with mats as a viable alternative. You have more flexibility about where you position your photo. You can tape your photo to the mat for precision. Personally, I find a matted framed photo to look more finished, anyway. A bit of an update on the frame edge/rabbet scenario. I made it to the local Mighty Dollar today and made a pretty good haul for a poor boy. Of course, it is very hit and miss as to what these places will have from one trip to the next and anything that is a real bargain will soon disappear; however, the price is right, as everything in the store is one dollar. Thankfully today, they had a supply of decent frames, black, in two different molding styles, one a cove molding with an outer dentil border, the other an ogee with an inner dentil border, 8.5 x 11; I splurged and got a mixture of ten and I will probably wish that I had gotten all that they had, as who only knows if or when they will ever have them again. On these particular frames, my edge border of 3/16" worked out to be just about perfect. My new plan is, so long as I can get these decent frames for a buck apiece, I will no longer just hand someone a print in a page protector in the misguided hope that they will then frame it; I will now present them with a photo that is already framed; if they then want a more extravagant frame, that is then up to them and their pocketbook as my good deed is done. As to the border business, I has came to mind that I already have a software program that may accomplish the task in a much less noticeable way; I will just have to do a bit of experimenting to get the details worked out. It is actually a free focus stacking program, Combine ZP; this is very hard to explain --- as part of the process, the last step before the finished product results in a mirrored edge around the perimeter of the image that you can save as is or opt to have it automatically cropped away in the final step. My idea is that if I do my own cropping and leave a 3/16" border of this mirrored edge detail for the portion that gets obscurred by the frame, if a smidgeon happens to show, it will not be so obvious. I will try to post an example so you guys can see what I mean. |
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Post by cats4jan on Feb 14, 2017 8:47:36 GMT
Sounds like a plan. I totally agree that a framed photo has a much better chance of ending up on a table instead of a drawer. And a dollar a frame? Who can resist that lucky find. Looking forward to seeing your example.
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Post by BuckSkin on Feb 14, 2017 18:11:34 GMT
Sounds like a plan. I totally agree that a framed photo has a much better chance of ending up on a table instead of a drawer. And a dollar a frame? Who can resist that lucky find. Looking forward to seeing your example. This is an example straight out of Combine ZP; note the mirror-image surrounding the perimeter of the image:  Of course, that extra mirror-image is somewhat wider than what will be there once I get the math figured out and crop to leave just enough to be the hidden edge. This plan may not work out for every image; but I believe it will be a less noticeable alternative to the solid color borders that I have been using. Thanks for looking. |
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