French Pale Finish

[cjframes]

Pictured below is frame with a finish we call French Pale. You might notice in museums that they have many different types of French frames but there are also just as many different finishes. You can see many examples of this at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. At C&J we have our standard French finish but customers were always requesting different variations of it. Because of this we decided it was time to add a variation of the French finish to our line. We wanted a warmer finish that would have the look of some of the frames we saw at the museum. On old frames the natural aging of the wood will leave cut marks in the gold. We emulated these cut marks with a razor blade. The frame has a yellow bole and we went heavier on the red highlights so all the rubbed areas of the frame would show more red than yellow. The panel of the frame has only yellow clay. Although it is not rubbed, the yellow clay gives the gold a slightly different tone which makes the panel contrast nicely with the rest of the frame. This particular moulding is not hand carved so we spray it with extra gesso which helps to cover any imperfections and adds to the aged look of the frame. Even though this frame has compo, if it is joined correctly you get a similar look to a hand carved frame for less cost. Hand carved frames always have more personality but some compo styles can work very well and we feel this is one of them.

The frame is finished with a pale wash during the final toning steps. The result is a finish that works with some of the artwork that our standard French finish was just too bright for.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WellS1XCHCk&feature=channel_page

 

[Pat Murphey]

Is this not a product that you are marketing to Grumbling framers? Nothing wrong with that, but it is really a "commercial". This forum is really for showing design that we [framers] have produced for the "public" not products to be sold to "us".

I'm not trying to be negative - in fact I'm looking forward to a promised sales call by your rep for my area, who, coincidently, called me shortly after I saw your first thread.

 

[cjframes]

Is this not a product that you are marketing to Grumbling framers? Nothing wrong with that, but it is really a "commercial". This forum is really for showing design that we [framers] have produced for the "public" not products to be sold to "us".

I'm new to the forum so if I've violated any rules I apologize. I posted in the only thread that seemed appropriate. The thread description does not say that the designs should be items that are for sale to the general public. If it did say that I would not have posted anything. I'm certainly not looking to make commercials. Many of our customer do their own leafing and finishing yet there is very little information on the internet that can help them. I'm going to email the moderators so that they can delete any posts that they feel are not appropriate to the picture frame design thread. I checked the commercial posts thread but all I could find were adds for mat cutters, v-nails, and other framing equipment. None of that seems to apply to what I wanted to post. If there is no appropriate thread then I will no longer post. If you know of a way to delete the posts please let me know. Those who are interested in these types of posts can then go see them on the C&J website where we will soon be adding more information like what we've posted here.

 

[Pat Murphey]

No need to be offended or apologize. Your threads are excellent. all you have to do is consider whether or not you are showing [excellent] wholesale product for the framers on this forum. If you look a little closer you will find that there are many wholesalers that use the "Commercial posts, for Sale, etc., Forum" to show their products. They are welcome participants as well as you are welcome to participate in the Grumble.

 

[cjframes]

No need to be offended or apologize. Your threads are excellent. all you have to do is consider whether or not you are showing [excellent] wholesale product for the framers on this forum. If you look a little closer you will find that there are many wholesalers that use the "Commercial posts, for Sale, etc., Forum" to show their products. They are welcome participants as well as you are welcome to participate in the Grumble.

Not offended at all and I thank you for pointing me in the right direction. I've asked the moderators to delete the posts that contain frames that are in the C&J line. Hopefully they will do that. I would rather not have them in the Commercial posts section because that wasn't the motivation for making the posts. If we have special one of kind projects in the future that are interesting, I will continue to post them in the design thread since I think everyone is OK with that.

 

[Pat Murphey]

I've asked the moderators to delete the posts that contain frames that are in the C&J line. Hopefully they will do that. I would rather not have them in the Commercial posts section because that wasn't the motivation for making the posts.

I actually hope you don't maintain that position. I would not know about your products and might not have responded to your rep as positively as I had if I hadn't seen your frames on the Grumble. There is nothing wrong with making your product line known here.

 

[cjframes]

I actually hope you don't maintain that position. I would not know about your products and might not have responded to your rep as positively as I had if I hadn't seen your frames on the Grumble. There is nothing wrong with making your product line known here.

There will still be information in the design forum and I hope we have special projects that we can show there from time to time. I have nothing against the commercial thread but I just don't feel that what we do fits in there.

Hand made frames can sell themselves if they are properly displayed but I know they sell a lot easier when customers have a little extra knowledge about the product. The customers who visit our factory all have an easier time selling high end frames after they see how they are made. My posts may open a few eyes and even help sell frames that my competitors make, but that's fine with me. I know that other manufacturers have also helped educate customers, and that's good for everyone. It's also good for shop owners since it offers them one more way of helping them run a successful business as they distinguish themselves from the pack.

 

[Jeff Rodier]

I would never have seen any of your posts in the design section since that is for pieces that framers have completed for retail customers. Design area is more of a look at the job I just completed for this sports jersey type thing.

If you wish for buyers to see your wares this is definately the place to be.