[pw]

I was in my local framers today dropping in a print. nothing expensive but i'd kept it flat and wrapped it in acid-free tissue paper. the first thing he does is grap it between a finger and thumb and picks it up rather clumsily with one hand. i was a bit worried but didnt say anything as the print wasnt valuable, but i certainly wont be bringing any banksy prints to him.

anyway, it got me thinking about how much care framers really take with their customers prints. for example, once they've finished making a frame and working with all of their raw materials, their hands could be pretty dirty and you dont want them getting paw prints all over your expensive print do you.

[buster]

pw said:

I was in my local framers today dropping in a print. nothing expensive but i'd kept it flat and wrapped it in acid-free tissue paper. the first thing he does is grap it between a finger and thumb and picks it up rather clumsily with one hand. i was a bit worried but didnt say anything as the print wasnt valuable, but i certainly wont be bringing any banksy prints to him.

anyway, it got me thinking about how much care framers really take with their customers prints. for example, once they've finished making a frame and working with all of their raw materials, their hands could be pretty dirty and you dont want them getting paw prints all over your expensive print do you.

I had an issue with my framer recently, could have gone either of 2 ways, but worked out, they now realise the value of prints I leave with them and treat them accordingly ( I know other folk with high price prints use them too, recently been shown Hirst's , banksy's and warholes in there) but annoyingly 2 years ago they didnt understand what i ment by NO adhesives at all, later found print gum holding down 2 corners of a classic banksy. Went a bit agro but was assured it wasn't practice and they haven't used said materials for 18 months now... got the problem sorted very amicably. if I hadn't seen the way they treat ALL prints now, I'd be very concerned. When they get a print, they store it flat in a document cabinet until its framed, with all prints being handled with cotton gloves now, its great to see a company learn from their customers advice ( mainly gained from this type of forum, so thanks to those who know and spread their wisdom)
Sorry to ramble on, but the main gist of the post is to use a framers that have been recommended if you can and make sure you tell your framers EXACTLY what you want and make sure they understand what and why you want it. ( BLAH BLAH BLAH>>>)

[ratpack]

buster said:

pw said:

I was in my local framers today dropping in a print. nothing expensive but i'd kept it flat and wrapped it in acid-free tissue paper. the first thing he does is grap it between a finger and thumb and picks it up rather clumsily with one hand. i was a bit worried but didnt say anything as the print wasnt valuable, but i certainly wont be bringing any banksy prints to him.

anyway, it got me thinking about how much care framers really take with their customers prints. for example, once they've finished making a frame and working with all of their raw materials, their hands could be pretty dirty and you dont want them getting paw prints all over your expensive print do you.

I had an issue with my framer recently, could have gone either of 2 ways, but worked out, they now realise the value of prints I leave with them and treat them accordingly ( I know other folk with high price prints use them too, recently been shown Hirst's , banksy's and warholes in there) but annoyingly 2 years ago they didnt understand what i ment by NO adhesives at all, later found print gum holding down 2 corners of a classic banksy. Went a bit agro but was assured it wasn't practice and they haven't used said materials for 18 months now... got the problem sorted very amicably. if I hadn't seen the way they treat ALL prints now, I'd be very concerned. When they get a print, they store it flat in a document cabinet until its framed, with all prints being handled with cotton gloves now, its great to see a company learn from their customers advice ( mainly gained from this type of forum, so thanks to those who know and spread their wisdom)
Sorry to ramble on, but the main gist of the post is to use a framers that have been recommended if you can and make sure you tell your framers EXACTLY what you want and make sure they understand what and why you want it. ( BLAH BLAH BLAH>>>)

I went to the framers on Brick Lane to get a quote. I took out the to have a gander and choose a frame and the dude in there starts touching the print and got a black smudge on the front of it! It was a signed hewlett print, no the end of the world as it came off with a rubber but he was really brash about it and bought one of his colleagues out from the back to look hard and stand behind him.

DO NOT GO TO THAT FRAMERS ON BRICK LANE!!!!

[pw]

ive found the best solution is to not give the print to the framer at all. just give them the dimension and get them to make the frame and mount etc. then you can quite easily finish off the job yourself. its quite satisfying really!

[speebe]

Good shout there!
I've had a couple of mint prints come back with some dinks recently... I like the idea of finishing it all off myself too.

[monstris]

If you're in London, the London Graphic Centre is like the Tesco of self-framing. All the kit is there...all you need is the time. Tho Laz insists on recommending Lenny Villa ... and he is good. As any rabbit can tell you, a good mounting makes all the difference.