The Framers Forum

Got a customer who wants to replicate a white Venture Vue frame....

Attached is the one that their customer has... not actually seen it and won't be able to... any ideas gratefully received.

That looks to me like a narrow mount has been cut, probably a bevel on the outside as well, and then the photo has been fixed to that.
Do you know if there is glass front and back?
If there is glass on the back you could have the front piece in front of the slip, and the photo and mount fixed to the back piece.

It looks to me as a framed print sandwiched between 2 sheets of glass, the inner frame being a vary narrow profile, visible in the image of the taped back. Possible use of spacers too but not very good pics to zoom in on.

What a Carp way of finishing the backs , look a lot better finished with white tape
Sorry no ID of the frames

My sentiments exactly... would hate to think what the end customer paid for them

Agree about the white tape, although probably doesn't matter once it's on the wall.
I seem to remember something about venture getting their own mouldings made so you will just need to give them something similar.
I've had a few of these to do where the first ones had been done by venture. The customer had been quoted over £1000 for 4 photo frames.

I've seen similar frames before. I think that the inner frame around the photo is some kind of push fit extrusion cut and mitred as four pieces.

Just a thought, are they produced in kit form for the photographic trade?

Not kits.... They are from Venture... and probably cost in excess of £600!!!!

Might be a good idea to get customer to bring one in so you can get some accurate measurements, moulding finish and have a look at how it was constructed

Then you might have to couple of trial ones, never know you might be able to market them

I have replicated this stuff fairly closely for a few customers. By using mouldings from the same family it is fairly easy. I have used Lion L1338 for the outer and L1406 for the inner frame and also used as a slip frame inside the outer. Does that make sense?

Hi
I have a photographer I replicated & still replicate this exact frame look for.
I had to have 3 obeche profiles machined to the exact size by Norfolk moulding (min 30m on each profile) then painted to match - the one I had to 'copy' was a mahogany paint spray finish.

Basically the inner moulding is attached to the back piece of glass then the spacer inside the outer moulding is slightly thicker to stop the inner moulding from touching the front piece of glass. I could give you all the measurements if you want as have 'copied' the original.
BTW Venture did charge an arm & a leg (think it was £400) for photo approx 10"x8"
You can't get the moulding here it is from a Spanish company I believe.


James

I'm amazed at the price charged for these frames. In fact I'm even more amazed that customers are willing to pay £400 for a 10" x 8".

What's so special about them to justify such a high price? Is it just a marketing ploy?

Also, considering the high price that is charged for doing these frames, you would expect them to show a lot more care in finishing the rear of the frame.

They seem to do the photography, offer a fairly good deal for a whole session, hundreds of photos etc.
Probably give away a frame or two with the deal.
Then if you want any more frames that's when you get charged the whopping prices.
The ones I did recently had to be done from the CD of proof images, and they were quite small, again I imagine they charge full whack to get a CD with full-size photos on it.

That's a good solution James. How did you attach the inner frame to the rear glass?

How about this:

Make the rear glazing from thickish perspex and cut a hole in it the same size as the inner frame rebate. Screw the inner frame around this hole (carefully).
Polycarbonate would be better as it's tough as old boots and won't crack. It is maybe more expensive and not sure of it's optical properties though. It would make the drilling and cutting less fraught though. You could do it with a fine-tooth jigsaw.

* quick quote - a cut-to size 20x16" piece of polycarbonate 6mm thick about 20 quids. I would think cheaper by the sheet and cut your own.

In theory, the rest is simple.

The inner frame is attached with a few blobs of 2 part araldite + some double sided tape to keep in place whilst the glue cures.
The photo is drymounted & held in place just with tape at the back.
The advantage of having the moulding made to size in raw wood is that any colour can be offered. I've done them in brown, white, green & dark blue almost black. The brown seems to work best.

Good old Araldite. Thanks James.

Update:

Now have sizes required....

109cm x 83cm
60cm x 60cm
50cm x 70cm

These are 'glass sizes' so are all quite big. I have to post these so it's going to have to be acrylic.

question: is 4mm overkill? anything less I think would flex too much but would appreciate any comments.

Chris

I would lean toward 6mm for the biggie.