It’s never a good surprise when you find out that the cost of getting something framed is more than the cost of the item itself.
But this is often the case when it comes to getting something professionally framed.
“I will start pulling samples and ideas that I feel would make the piece feel great, and then we price it out, and there’s the sticker shock,” said Alex Barron, custom framer and art handler at April 7s Custom Framing in Chicago.
Part of the problem is that there’s seemingly a whole lot of mystery going into the process, because customers never get a set price for the frame, the mat, the labor and all the framing extras until the very end of the process, since it’s all customized.
Still, it’s possible to demystify the entire framing operation and figure out ways to get a good outcome while still saving money on professional framing, Barron said.
The first step is choosing the frame.
“Some woods are less expensive than others,” he said.
If you’re looking to save on costs, ask the framer for a mass-produced frame, such as basic white or a cube-shaped black frame. The less ornamental or elaborate, the less expensive it’ll probably be.
If you want something that looks more expensive than it is, you can choose a lesser wood, such as a sandy pine, that has a veneer that’s made from a better-quality wood, like bamboo, Barron suggested.
“That’s a good way to get a good look at a less expensive price,” he said.
The cost also depends on a frame’s origin, Barron said, explaining that many of his elaborate frames come from Italy, and those tend to cost more.
Customers can also save money by requesting ready-made components within custom framework, said Meghan MacMillan, master certified picture framer and owner of MacMillan Custom Framing in Maryland.
“Using ready-made components will often cost less, and that is an appropriate option for items where preservation is not a concern,” MacMillan said. An example of an item for which preservation may not be a concern would be a picture cut out of a calendar or a photo that is backed up digitally.
“If the item fits into a ready-made mat and frame, that is going to be the lowest-cost solution,” she said.
Intermediate steps would include a custom-cut mat from the framer, which would be assembled into a ready-made frame.
Finally, there are the extras that you may or may not want to add on that can drive up the price.
UV filtering glass, which costs about $10 to $20 extra depending on the size of the frame and the region you’re in, should be used for pieces you can’t replace or that are important generationally, said Allan Jeffries, president and owner of Allan Jeffries Framing, which has three locations throughout Southern California.
“It’s not important for new photos, because you’re probably going to have the digital copies,” Jeffries said.
But if this is something that you want to keep and preserve, it’s worth the extra cost, Barron said. Without the UV glass, the light from the sun or even from track lighting will affect the piece within five years.
Then, there’s the added cost of conservation backing. For a standard size of 16 by 20 inches, a 100 percent acid-free rag board would cost about $20, Jeffries said. This would also be very important if the piece you’re framing is irreplaceable.
These are all considerations that an experienced framer should be able to discuss with you when you bring your work to the store.
“To me, the most valuable part of what you’re paying for when buying custom framing is the framer’s knowledge and use of appropriate materials and methods, particularly for attaching the artwork,” MacMillan said.
That means that the framer should understand which frames and mountings would be better suited for a photograph (and various types of photographs) as opposed to an oil painting, and when to go for the expensive stuff and when it’s possible to go for less costly items.
