Advice on framing large poster

[BeatnikFraming]

I had an enquiry today regarding framing large movie poster, approx 40 x 75 inches. I haven't framed anything that large before so my first thought is to come here for advice! I've had a look at some other posts on the forum and it seems like an area fraught with difficulties so part of me is hesitant to take it on, but on the other hand the guy has around 8 of them so it could be profitable. From what I can gather .... frame needs to be reinforced, so joined with biscuits maybe? I'm thinking plastic glass to keep the weight down? The thing that Im really not sure about is how to mount them at that size? And what level of conservation to go for, apparently the guy got them at a European flea market for about 90 euros so they could be worth alot or nothing. I've only had information from the phone so far so they could be reproductions or they could be worth a lot. If they are repros would it be sacrilage just to put them straight on the glass if the customer is unconcerned about conservation?

[Dave]

These are big frames, you need to ensure that you have the space to handle them, personaly I wouldn't handle glass that big. My achiles tendon and glass have a history I wouldn't want to repeat. You will also need help to handle the frames while you make them up. You may also need to come up with a solution to measuring the longs on a Morso as well. I make frames this big for a customer regularly, but my wife helps and we do not handle the glass. It's a bit of hassle, we have to move the underpinner and cannot do it while the shop is open, but if we don't do it, someone else will. You will need a moulding strong enough to take the weight.

Re standard (budget / conservation) of framing, this is the same for an 8 x 10, it depends entirely on the customers budget and the perceived value of the work.

Dave

[prospero]

First of all, using a window mount will make a big frame into an enormous frame. But it is important not to crimp the edges under a spacer. One way is to hinge the poster onto a backboard a bit bigger than the poster. Maybe an inch. Then run a strip of 2-ply board around the edge, flush with the edge of the backboard but leaving about 1/4" away from the edge of the poster. Then you need a slip (not a fillet. ) about 1.25" wide, which is readily available. Sit this on top like a mount. The edges of the poster will go under the tiny gap provided by the 2-ply strip, but there will be no pressure on the edges so it has room to expand while the gap will not be apparent.

Hope that's understandable.

If a gold slip does fit the look, it's easy enough the repaint to whatever does.

As for the frame, well unless you intent to use a big chunky on with plenty of meat on it I would build a subframe and hang the whole thing on that. That way you can use a waaaay smaller frame and it won't affect the structural integrity at all. Having said that, a wideish flat frame would look good as you haven't got a traditional mount.

I would be a bit windy about glass, but it's not entirely a no-no. But glass will make it uber-heavy. It will be heavy enough with plexi. You might get away with 3mm, but it can bow if it isn't actually close to the poster. 6mm better, but it's pricy at that thickness.
Bear in mind that assembling will certainly need two sets of hands. Once put together you won't be able to shift it safely on your own.

All in all you ought to be charging around the 1K for each frame.

[Kwik Picture Framing]

I would ask the customer first if he's prepared to pay upto 1k per frame first. Do it with perspex front, you may be ok making it, handling it etc . But once the customer takes it out of your hands, a picture frame with glass that big there's bound to be breakage.

[BeatnikFraming]

Wowsers, 1k a frame. I very much doubt the customer is going to want to pay that. I'm starting to think it might be something I don't want to touch. Its a lot of money, but I think I'd prefer to build my reputation on doing smaller things to a high standard than more specialised big frames and risk messing it up! My business is around 2 years old so fairly new, I might leave this to those who have done more miles than me! Thanks for the input though it has been most informative!

[pramsay13]

Are you sure they are that size
I often get sizes over the phone and find out they are nowhere near, as they have just guessed, or mixed up inches and cm etc.
If it is that size I would aim for a subframe or a big chunky moulding. Posters usually look better without a mount IMO, so either straight behind glass or use a spacer. If they wanted a mount I can't cut mounts that size anyway so I would have to get it done and charge accordingly.
For glass it should probably be plastic glass for weight / safety reasons, and should probably be at least 4mm thick, possibly more (there is a thread about this where Robo posted a pic of a 1m x 1m frame with 4mm(?) plastic glass). Probably easiest to order to size, but this isn't going to be cheap.
And you should take into account the cost of a second pair of hands.
As others have said it will probably be expensive, and chances are the person won't think it worth it, but I would let them make that call rather than turning it down outright.

[BeatnikFraming]

Hmm, I'm starting to think it over again. Where would I get 4mm acyrlic? I don't think I've seen it in the Wessex catalogue!

[Kwik Picture Framing]

Try concorde/solid glass 01507 472600

[Roboframer]

Here's concorde glass - http://www.concordeglass.co.uk/index.html Can't tell from their website if they do thicker acrylic.

I'd say 6mm acrylic at least and here's a good supplier http://www.sheetplastics.co.uk/Acrylic_ ... ct_id=1007 enter your dimensions for a price, you might be pleasantly surprised.

The poster could be placed directly against the acrylic, there's little chance of condensation as acrylic is not as good a conductor of heat as glass. But if the poster is not mounted in some way i.e. just left to support its own weight from the bottom, it will probably not stay flat, not that it'll be flat to start with anyway and not that mounting with any sort of hinge etc will make it flat either, the only way to guarantee flatness is to dry or wet mount it - and good luck with that!

[BeatnikFraming]

Thats a good find with the sheet plastics website thats a lot cheaper than I was expecting!

[pramsay13]

That price is amazing. Have you used them before Robo?

[BeatnikFraming]

Is there a thread anywhere on how to build a subframe??

[Roboframer]

I've used sheet plastics several times, service is good too. The only acrylic over 3mm I've ever found from my normal framing suppliers is the Tru vue optium museum (Wessex & Arqadia) which comes 4.5 and 6mm - it's 99% UV, abrasion resistant, optically coated and anti-static. The 6mm version costs over three grand plus VAT for a 3050x1830x6.0mm sheet - I've tried to sell it on a few occasions but reckon I have as much chance as King Harold does of getting his eye back!

[BeatnikFraming]

One potential problem I have just thought about would be getting rid of dust specks from the inside the frame, must be a nightmare on something that size?? I use the static wisk brush from Lionpic on glass but would there be a risk of scratching acrylic with it? Cans of compressed air maybe?

[Roboframer]

I doubt the static wisk brush would scratch but what a nightmare anyway - once you pull off the protective sheet on something that size you'd be lucky if you didn't stick to the sheet yourself!

Don't think compressed air blowing would be much use, you need to dissipate the static charge, there's de-ionising guns and a damp, very soft, brand new, probably micro-fibre cloth would work too, but even on glass that size, flumbs would be a nightmare.

[prospero]

This may be some help.

It's about the same sort of scale. Simpler than yours as the plexi was in direct contact with the paper and therefore got away with 3mm. And this also allowed me to lay the sheet on with the protective film still on and pull it out from under with the plexi in situ.

For the record, I did the whole thing single-handed except for the very end when I had to have a hand to turn the beast the right way up.

If you think 1K is a bit steep, you won't after you have done one.

[topcat]

Recently framed a picture that was 120 x 20 inches. With glass. £350.

[Kwik Picture Framing]

That's a good price. Did you have deliver it to the customer?

[prospero]

120 x20 is easier than 60x40.

[Kwik Picture Framing]

120" x 20" is risky I think due to being longer.