Framing big in the UK

**Ben R** · 2-May-2007, 13:11

I am going to be starting a project in a few months that will end up in exhibitions and sales of prints 50X40" in size.

I went up to my regular framer today to have a chat with him about it and discovered that the framing side of things is not as easy as I thought it might.

Firstly he can't get Matt boards that size, I was planning in a 5" Matt all round, he can't get them and he couldn't cut them even if he had them. Secondly he thinks that I'm wasting my time putting glass/plastic in the frames, he suggests having the photographs stuck onto MDF (so it won't bend), laminating them and putting them in the frame 'naked'. Is lamination archival even?

Thirdly there is the question of frames. I'm looking for a standard type of gallery frame but it seems a pretty hefty frame is needed to hold that size and weight of finished product.

Now my framer is good, very good, but I think there must be a part of the industry which specialises in larger stuff like this.

Could anyone tell me how they are having their 40X50"+ prints framed and if they know where I should be looking in the UK for this type of service?

**Ben R** · 2-May-2007, 15:26

Well, I've found a couple of places that seem to be able to make the matt so that isn't a problem anymore, still looking for information vis a vis mounting the photos on something to keep them flat, glass and framing.

Thanks

**Kirk Gittings** · 2-May-2007, 15:53

Check with Chris Jordon on this forum. He works in that size and shows all over the country.

**JW Dewdney** · 2-May-2007, 22:46

Most of the work of that size I've seen framed has been 'hung' (presumably on hinges) inside the frame. It's pretty common. The surface isn't DEAD flat... but it looks great nonetheless... there's normally a 3-6" rebate all the way around instead of a matte. I think the matte's a bad idea - and that it's going to buckle and warp inside the frame. unless you take extra special precautions.

**Greg Lockrey** · 3-May-2007, 06:16

Frames can be made, matts would have to be made in sections. The largest matt material I ever heard of is 40x60". So you could have a section made to 60" giving your 5" boarder. Backing can be gotten to 48x96" so the width would be limited to 48" and that gives you a 4" boarder there. Best bet would be to make a matt less frame.

**Ben R** · 3-May-2007, 11:17

As I said, I've found several companies that can matt to that size with a 5" border all around here in the UK.

If the picture is mounted to the backing material (stuck down) and then the matt lain on top of it and the whole thing inserted into the frame then there shouldn't be a problem? It would be a pain to line up the picture on the backing board given that it would need a 5" rim on each side to accomodate the matt, but it should work..

**Andreas Hagenbach** · 4-May-2007, 02:39

I have (had) prints that big and bigger framed. If I want some space between the frame and the photograph I have it done that way already on the lambda or lightjet. Then I have it mounted on aluminum. The newest trend here is coated aluminium, which is said to be more archivalproof than normal aluminium. But, the normal (...) is cheaper and still serving the purpose! I have tried also matting with acidfree cardboard. Cardboard needs still a back to keep it straight when it is in the frame, meaning the frame has to support further weight which is avoided when one is chosing to mount directly on aluminium. That way I can keep the profile of the frame in a reasonal proportion to the size of the photograph. As last thing to consider is the wether you want glass or acryl to protect your picture. Glass is heaver but less critical to handling. And if you chose the (mirror-free?) variant, the photograph is looking quite nicer than without. But again here attention: I have found two kinds of mirror-free glasses on the market, one is a little greenish and the other one quite neutral (white). Without saying I am going for latter nowadays...