Framing, Custom, Shipping

FRAMING

Most of photographs here are sold unframed and unmounted, so here are some thoughts on current framing of photography.

Historically, photographic prints were small, limited by the size of paper and film grain inherent in the chemistry. Prints were traditionally framed and mounted with broad white mats. However, the work you see here is an outgrowth of modern technical capabilities; the paper size is large, dust spots are non existent and the issue of film grain becomes mute with extremely large digital files used.

There are countless framing solutions available; here are two that give the photograph a modern, fresh presentation.

These photographs exhibit a painterly quality, blending the line between painting and photography, yet are a work on paper. To celebrate the “paperness” of the photograph, do not mat the print with a wide border mat, instead mount the print so it floats in the frame leaving the edge of the paper and print to show. To enhance this look, the photos are produced with a one to two inch border on all sides. The paper floats within the frame, leaving a space from the edge of the paper to the inside of the frame, this space is about a half inch.

For the frame, one good option is a narrow profile shadow box frame painted white. For an exposed wood frame, matching the tones within the photograph with the wood will complement the work. Frames with walnut or dark stained mahogany with a face one to two inches work nicely. For the lighter photographs, light wood tones like bleached maple can be an option. Finally, framing is highly subjective so be free to come upon your own best frame.

CUSTOM

The archival color photographs can be printed in custom sizes and be created to order. When ordering a custom print, you can specify the overall print size, the dimension of the borders and the media that it is printed on.

The aspect ratio of the photographs is either square or in a 3 by 4 or 4 by 3 proportion. Custom cropping can alter the proportions if needed.

Each print has the image area with a one to two inch border on all sides, giving the overall image size smaller than the paper size. Custom prints can have no borders or wider borders and can be specified.

Archival inks are used with state of the art digital printers applying 7 calibrated inks to the printed surface. In the “standard” print there is nothing to protect the surface and the surface does not have a protective film or sprayed lacquer upon it. The print should be protected either under glass, Plexiglass, an applied film or protective spray. Custom protection solutions can be discussed.

The standard print media is a 100% cotton fiber paper of medium weight that has a very fine clay coat to make the inks absorb smoothly into the paper. The paper has a smooth surface, is made by Epson, called Enhanced Matte. The prints are printed from paper rolls 48 inches and 60 inches in width and unconstrained in length.

Custom prints can be printed on other media such as canvas, watercolor paper with deckle edges and other photographic papers.

The cost of a custom print will be a net price including the specified materials and handling. Packaging, crating and shipping can be discussed.

A checklist for custom prints: Image size, Border size, Custom cropping, Print media, Protective media

SHIPPING

The fine art photographs are printed on fragile 100% cotton paper and are either shipped flat or rolled in a tube. The prints are protected with a paper overlay when shipped, very diligent care should be used when viewing an un-mounted print. The print is susceptible to the smallest of scratches, water droplets and creases if handle improperly.

The recommendation is that the un-mounted print be only viewed under professional care with a large flat surface free of any dust and water along with cotton gloves to handle the print. If the print is shipped rolled it should allowed to rest for a number of days by pressing it flat with weight.