Photo Matting
:: Wednesday, December 3rd, 2003 @ 4:27:53 pm
:: Tags: Photo
Why does it cost so much to get a photo matted? I normally buy them online, but for this coming photo show in San Diego, I just don’t have the time to do it myself. I called the local FastFrame here in Noe Valley, and they wanted $46 each for matting + backing my prints to 24″x18″. I managed to haggle them down to $40 each, but that’s still ridiculous. My normal San Diego FastFrame will go no lower than $24 each, even though just last January I managed to get them to do it for $15 each.
Anyone know of any local, inexpensive, high-quality matting sources (in SF or in SD)?
Journal RSS 
Framers have always seemed, to me, to be extortion artists. But, actually…I guess it’s just one of those crafts where real skill/art yields results…ones that are kind of hard for laypeople to distinguish…hence my dim view of their general pricing policies.
My experience has been that no matter how much I pay, they do a somewhat shoddy job and I have to make them do it again. But admittedly I am very, um, ‘detail oriented’. ;)
why don’t you use light impressions? they are very reasonable and i bet they can do rush orders… just order a hinged matting, and you can slip in your picture.
btw, i think i paid about $10-13/matt for 8 ply hinged 11×14 with 8×10 openings. if you have several, you can cut them from a single board which makes things cheaper.
well, whatever you figure out, let me know, because I have a huge print show next spring!!!
I’ve had good luck with the FastFrame in Encinitas, North County San Diego.
Online, I’ve been using AmericanFrame.com, which has been great, so far!
Lately I’ve been working backwards, which is stupid, but if you think about it; its not so silly. I found that Nielson & Bambridge makes a nice series of 16 x 20 frames with 11 X 14 matts that have a black bevel around the inside opening. Total cost is $25 - $35 depending on where you find them. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bn.....amp;is=REG