The Framers Forum

Ok, I am still new to this game and trying to get some idea of the artistic side of the business. I had this print come in with a cream mount and gold frame. She didn't like how it was and the lady left it to me to do something with. This is the print in its naked beauty, was wondering how you would do it????

This is what I came up with - open to comments that will help me improve.

Very nice however I would have given it more mount and a drop on the bottom, with all the steps it is a bit fussy and needs a bit more breathing space as the frame mount and art work are all competing for attention if there was a bit more space and perhaps a few less steps then it would work even better.

Well done

I think it would look a lot better without the stepped mount, its a traditional image, no need for the fancy computer generated mount, a simple mount/frame would be far more inkeeping with the image.......my 2p

Thanks for the comments so far.

Yes I can see what you mean about the spacing.
maybe more spacing would make it less fussy and more in keeping with the image.

No fancy computer stuff here though (I wish!), just handcut bevels with ruler and cutter! I have just acquired a 2nd hand ultimat gold so will be practising some 'stuff' on that now!

Classic example of frame and art in perfect dissonance. That frame would look great on a formal wedding photo.

Loose the twiddly bits on the mount. Make it wider. not a lot - maybe +12mm. The detail directly around the mount looks OK. I bit of ornamentation on the frame wouldn't go amiss. The image is a bit top-heavy so maybe a more generous bottom-weighting on the mount would help.

Sorry for assuming it was cut on a cmc..........in fact respect to you for putting in the effort to cut a mount like that by hand........its just i see a lot(on here) of 'real' framing being diluted by cmc use..........my opinion only(awaits the abuse from the cmc users)

I agree and I am a CMC user. Far to many people buy a cmc then pour out every single design under the sun just because they can and not because it benefits the artwork. I bought a cmc for speed, accuracy and the ability to cut 3500micron board easily, not for fancy mounts unless you call a multi aperture fancy.

Alistair

Hi Gus

if you are new to this business, it looks like you have got the practical side of it well sorted, and have produced some good quality work. Well Done.

Aesthetically, i think you have over-done the mounting somewhat, and have detracted from the picture. I would have done similar at the centre (double mount), done away with all the fancy bits, and put a chunkier frame on it, and had the mount possibly a bit bigger, and weighted at the bottom. I am with you, though on the overall colour scheme, bot of the mount and frame.

Getting mount proportions right is not always easy, but there is one rule that I find does help.

If your frame width is x
Your mount width must be visibly different to x, preferably (99% of the time) larger
If you have a 'distraction' in that mount (v groove, fancy edges like on yours, or a fillet etc) then the widths of each section of mount need to be different to x

So in your example, the mount has 3 sections, 1.The undermount, 2. The neutral colour mount inside the 'layered' effect and 3. The bit between the layered effect and the frame.

So I would be looking at
1. The undermount about right as it is
2. This section about 0.75x
3. About 2.5 or 3x

Bit of a convoluted explanation - but does that make sense? Do other folks agree/disagree, or got a better way of explaining?

Wow - Thats a lot of steps. Did you work out the cost? You want to be able to stand back from the finished picture and consider how well the whole frame works with the image - If all you see is the mount - then its not working.

Now to have a go at CMC use. Well I cant really - because I agree. Having said that its a great design tool - just make sure what you add to the pic is design.

Many thanks for all of the advice and ideas. I realise I do have a lot to learn about what looks right and need to learn the 'rules'.

I redesigned the mount - on paper (bigger borders, bottom weighted, less complicated design etc)- and took it round to the client this morning. She looked at what I had done and looked at the redesign. Dismissed the redesign and said she would have the original one I had done! - no alterations! It fitted the decor of her room perfectly!

She also gave me another one to do (an oil to stretch and frame) - another learning curve for me to climb!

Thanks again for the advice.
Gus