A matter of taste or convention?

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A customer brought in some beautiful etchings on rag paper. The order is for a float mount and surrounding mat either 1/4 or
1/2" from the ragged edge of the paper. It seems to us that the addition of the surrounding mat is a detraction. We demonstrated the difference and the customer is certain. But, for our own edification, is this method popular?

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present
 
I like to float a mat a little higher than the surface of the artwork, usually the same color as the background. Otherwise, spacers to hold the glass away from the surface of the art. In either case, I like a width of 3-4 inches (or more) to create a floating in space look. But I suspect your real question is about doing something you feel is not aesthetically pleasing even though the customer insists that's what he wants. I still tilt at that windmill even though, when it comes right down to it, he who pays the piper calls the tune. (Wow! Us old English teachers can really mix a metaphore, can't we.) You presented him with another option; if he didn't want to take it, what more can you do? I'd be interested to hear how other framers deal with this question. Me, I just keep repeating "It isn't going to hang at my house." Kit

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Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana

[This message has been edited by Kit aka emrr (edited September 05, 2000).]
 
Kit is correct, the customers choice is the one that should prevail. Custom framing does not mean we force our taste on the customers. Custom means they can come to us and get somthing they can't get from a selection of ready made frames, somthing special that is made to their specifications, not ours.
We, as custom picture framers are expected to consult them as to what is best for their artwork and to sugest designs for frames. We should never dictate to them or belittle their taste. We should try our darndest to come up with something THEY whould want, not what we would want.
What is proper for a picture will vary from person to person and culture to culture. We should be what we claim to be, custom picture framers, not taste police.
John
 
I am reminded of article I once read in a framing mag. (not sure which one.)

"If the customer wants a red mat... give them the best red mat you have."

It's not ours to look at after it leaves the store. Perhaps they have limited space on the wall, or it is a gift for a person with bad taste, either way, let them have the choice.
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Sue May :)
"Everyone is born right-handed, only the greatest can over come it!"
 
I show them the possibilities, if they are indecisive and ask, "How would you do it?" I tell them my preference but also explain they are the ones going to live with it. When they really can't decide, I go to the back room, drag out the hubby and let him make the decision.
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I like a surrounding mat. To me framing without surrounding mats looks unfinished. I don't even like shadow boxes without mats and prefer to use sink mats. The secret, and sometimes very difficult, is to choose mat colors and contrast that aren't a distraction.
 
all the above! works for me, although i prefer the mats out around the float but once i had a customer who came to me as another frame shop wouldnt do as the customer wished, i told her i would be glad to do it as she wished, and she spent thousands of dollars with me over the ten years before she moved away from the area, she is an admiral in the navy now and drops me a card every now and then, go figure!!!!! colinzo
 
I had a customer who wanted a baby dress mounted in a 16 x 20 oval resin frame. I tried to explain that this wasn't going to work. She just didn't want to hear that the frame was too small. I finally did as she asked and smunched the dress into the frame, but only after she had signed a release stating that I wasn't responsible for any resulting damage to the dress. I HATED that whole episode. Kit

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Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana
 
On a few occassions I have had to say "NO" to a customer. If I can't convince a customer to change their mind (if they are asking for something absurd) I will decline to do the job for them as I do not want my name to be associated with something badly framed. I would rather my competitor's name be trashed than mine!
 
I totaly agree with Osgood on that one, If it is truly rediculus ( like my spelling ) it is better to pass on the project. What I was refering to in my previous statement was more toward design than structural integrety,
We have to hone our sales aproach a little more, it is part of our job to try and convince them not to destroy a familly heirloom or a valuable piece of art with poor framing. But that should be limited to the structual design, not the esthetic design.
John
 
Thanks to all for your advice. We are doing the job to the customer's specs and have NOT tried get the customer to change anything once it was obvious that they were certain as to what they wanted.

What we infer from your responses is that this is not a popular or oft used style.

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present
 
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