Re Picture frame Visualisation software – recommendations

Get help and framing advice from the framing community
Post Reply
SteveB
Posts: 67
Joined: Sun 14 Sep, 2014 8:12 pm
Location: Keighley Wst Yorks
Organisation: Pellers
Interests: Motorcycles, DIY, Beer, Holidays

Re Picture frame Visualisation software – recommendations

Post by SteveB »

Hi all,

hoping for some advice on the best picture framing software to use to mock up a completed job whilst doing a home consultation.

I am looking at and demoing Simulart at the moment.

Many thanks in anticipation.

Regards Steve
User avatar
Steve N
Posts: 2992
Joined: Sat 21 Jul, 2007 2:32 pm
Location: Somewhere Staple Hill Bristol
Organisation: Frontier Picture Frames ltd
Interests: Walking our retired Greyhound,art, falling asleep on sofa in front of the telly
Location: Now in Bristol
Contact:

Re: Re Picture frame Visualisation software – recommendations

Post by Steve N »

If you're doing home visits, you will need to take a photo, adjust it in software (such as photoshop), adjust the lighten so the artwork looks right for colour and colour balance , light & dark , make it square, import it into Visualisation software, then pick your mount for the real art work, then do it the same again in the software(does it look the same, doubt it) choose a frame in the real world , then show it in the software, again does it look the same?
It's difficult to get the set up right in a shop, let alone in a customers house you'll be spending more time farting around with computer :xcomputer: and overstaying your welcome

I take it that you will be taking real moulding and mount samples with you on home visits, and not relying on the software to show the customer, because you will get a load of rejected finished work

I have used one of these visualisation software in a shop and quite honestly it made the design process such a long winded affair
They are good if you are sending out quotes to customers via email, especially businesses
Steve CEO GCF (020)
Believed in Time Travel since 2035

Proud to sell Ready Made Frames
http://www.frontierpictureframes.com
http://www.designerpicturemounts.com/
baughen
Posts: 130
Joined: Fri 27 Apr, 2012 5:42 pm
Location: Reigate, Surrey, England
Organisation: Cliff Baughen
Interests: Photography, Picture framing

Re: Re Picture frame Visualisation software – recommendations

Post by baughen »

You might find it better to first try an App called 'Frame Builder' by Clairanne Filaudeau. It runs on an ipad and iphone. It comes with a basic price but there are additional costs for extra features. You will not break the bank if you purchase all. I've used it for a number of years and the support has been responsive. Try it, even if you just use it to decide what you want or don't want out of some software.
User avatar
John
Site Admin
Posts: 1885
Joined: Sun 27 Apr, 2003 8:00 pm
Location: Ireland
Organisation: Scenes Picture Framing
Interests: Forums and stuff
Location: Belfast
Contact:

Re: Re Picture frame Visualisation software – recommendations

Post by John »

As Steve says, the biggest challenge of using visualisation on a home visit will be taking an acceptable photo of your customer's job in the first place.

The initial set-up of a visualisation app takes a bit of time, and can be a bit of a faff, but that is the nature of the beast. However with a bit of familiarity, in everyday use it impinges very little on the normal flow of interaction with your customer. The time from taking the picture to visualising a suitable preset "standard" framing style in Pre-View is a leisurely 10-15 seconds. Then, under customer's direction, you can change any of the parameters (such as frame, mount width, mount colour, etc) quicker than you can say "Pale Ivory".

Colour fidelity is not usually a problem, but it is best to carry samples for those occasions when colour matching is important.

Oh Yes, and Pre-View is free - no strings.
User avatar
YPF
Posts: 452
Joined: Mon 07 Sep, 2009 11:25 am
Location: Worcester
Organisation: Your Picture Framer
Interests: Dog agility with my 2 cocker cross spaniels and a bit of woodturning. Recently taken up the ukulele!
Location: Worcester
Contact:

Re: Re Picture frame Visualisation software – recommendations

Post by YPF »

John,

Is Pre View available without subscribing to either of your pricing programs?

Many thanks
Steve
Chief Coffee Drinker
http://www.yourpictureframer.co.uk
User avatar
John
Site Admin
Posts: 1885
Joined: Sun 27 Apr, 2003 8:00 pm
Location: Ireland
Organisation: Scenes Picture Framing
Interests: Forums and stuff
Location: Belfast
Contact:

Re: Re Picture frame Visualisation software – recommendations

Post by John »

While Pre-View works seamlessly with EstLite and BBEst, neither are required.
Post Reply