How to frame

[BillandCat]

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/13pZuaaPYuNRruENzkfn4fDLFhco9Q0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=13pZuaaPYuNRruENzkfn4fDLFhco9Q0)

!st--I just had to show my before and after. Now my question---What is the best way to frame a portrait or photo that is printed on glossy paper? Some say with glass, some say without. Some say with glass with a spacer between glass and print. I was also told to mount it on foam board and use no glass with or without the spacer. I know that if the pic is hung, say in a room, that it will probably fade in a few years so the question is probably a moot question. But I just want to know for my own benefit. BillandCat

[mljrbg]

You did a wonderful job on the photograph.

Some of my husband's photographs are on the wall in our living room. I had them double matted and used glass with UV protection (I think 98% block) because the afternoon sun shines on them. They have been there about 10 years with no fading. I like glass over all of our framed photographs.

EDIT: As Linda suggested there is matting on all of our photographs that are framed.

[ljameso1]

If you do put it behind glass, use at least 1 mat to keep the glass from sticking to the print.

[BillandCat]

Thanks people-- I WILL matte my photos and I will have to look up that uv glass.I know nothing about it. Thanks again-BillandCat

[Not4wood]

All you have to do is walk into a Picture Framing place and they will have all the information for you. About framing, matting and glass. They will help you to do it yourself and buy the parts from them. Or for a sometimes not too bad price, sometimes a very expensive price depending on what you want they will do it for your.

[baycruisers]

There are several places that will do (relatively) inexpensive framing for you: Ben Franklin and Michaels are two chains that probably have stores in your area. You'll learn that picture frames are one of those things you can spend a lot or a little on. As far as I can tell, spending a lot more doesn't necessarily give you a better frame. I like frames that are simple and don't attract attention from the image. I also like double matting, but that's just me.

[BillandCat]

I'll head to Michaels tomorrow (about a mile) from my house. The first step of what to do. I might just give them the photos and let them do what they want. Actually, I wont do that. This is just another learning step I am taking, so I will check out all options. Thanks every one. Love this forum---BillandCat

[bladman]

How did you do this? I'm using PSE 6 for Mac.

Thanks,

Richard

[BillandCat]

How did I do this? Like so many of us, we try something-delete etc. But after I enhanced the photo, I selected it and removed the background. Then a new layer the size for finished pic. I chose a color similar to the original bkgrd, made a gradient with a lighter color. Copied-paste photo to it. Positioned it, erased the bottom--did a stroke--added text. I think those are the steps but basically that's the way I did it. I am flattered that some one asked ME how to do something! I am sure some one knows an easier way or with fewer steps but I am still learning. It's a great hobby and this is a great forum. BillansCat

[BillandCat]

How did I do this? Like so many of us, we try something-delete etc. But after I enhanced the photo, I selected it and removed the background. Then a new layer the size for finished pic. I chose a color similar to the original bkgrd, made a gradient with a lighter color. Copied-paste photo to it. Positioned it, erased the bottom--did a stroke--added text. I think those are the steps but basically that's the way I did it. I am flattered that some one asked ME how to do something! I am sure some one knows an easier way or with fewer steps but I am still learning. It's a great hobby and this is a great forum. BillansCat
I forgot to mention the bevel around the stroke. Makes it look like a matte.

[Alberta]

Nice job on the picture.

[Diana]

Bill, you are getting so good at Elements... how far you have come. I love what you've done with this portrait. :)

Diana

[billd2]

I have been doing my own framing and matting for some time now and I double mat all photos and use UV glass. Even so I would not place the photos where direct sunlight falls on the surface. Earlier prints I have done using an older inkjet printer (since long gone) left unframed, and no glass have faded and are no longer esthetic to say the least. The old printer did not use the inks I use today and were known for fading with time. I should mention that framing and cutting mats is as rewarding as doing the photography and editing in PSE......Also, as ,mentioned before, Michael's does a nice job and has specials quite frequently.......Bill

[Wendy]

The portrait looks excellent ... you really have done it beautifully :)

Wendy

[WesternGuy]

BillandCat, if your Michaels is anything like the ones around my town, then they have a whole variety of mattes (single and multiple) and frames (with or without mattes) that you can purchase separately. Their manual framing maybe not be expensive, relative to some of the other shops in town, but it is still not cheap. From their display collection, I recently matted (double) and framed a Savannah Sparrow sitting on a farm fence post (8x10 frame - 7x5 image) for less than $Cdn 20.00 plus the few cents worth of ink and paper to get the image printed and my time, of course, to run to Michaels to get the material and edit the image in Elements. All in all, a worthwhile exercise as I start down this road of "do-it-yourself" processes.

Cheers,

WesternGuy

[BillandCat]

Thanks WesternGuy--Will do that. I'm in a sort of in-between time right now. I am having cataract surgery with one eye done and waiting to do the other eye. BillandCat

[ImaBassetcase]

Thought I would add my two cents regarding framing with or without glass. I use a finishing spray - Print Guard made by a company named Lyson. It is wonderful and is specially formulated for ink jet prints. Crystal clear finish undetectable if instructions are followed. Works great for water color type papers that you do not want to cover with glass. I use it on all of my prints - glossy or matte surfaces. The one formula does both without changing the sheen. :)

[twoaussies]

One of the best gadgets I have is a mat cutter that I bought at a scrapbooking show about ten years ago. I believe it has saved me a lot of money. You can buy a full sheet of mat board for around $8 from a framer.
I like printing on canvas paper because then you do not need glass on the front. You can also embellish the photo by painting on the canvas. For instance I recently took a waterfall photo with few autumn trees around. Now have a lovely bright autumn photo, thanks to paints. I use MAX paints, as they can be mixed with water, not oil, but are considered in the same category as oil paints, rather than acrylic. Jean