LETTER SPACING QUESTION

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Lori Drugan

Lori Drugan

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Sep 8, 2004
Posts
1,431
Loc
Fairlawn, OH
We are having a blast cutting name mats on our newly aquired CMC, but have a question. We are using .50 spacing between the photo letters and are wondering if that is standard or do you use more space for ease of placing photos. It seems to look okay, but neither of us are proficient yet and can't decide.

Thanks,
Lori and Ahlene
 
Kerning? Dad gummed-learn something new all the time

We do a few name mats and cut blanks to preset sizes (8x24, 8x30, 8x32, fo rexample); it simplifies the selection process, allows for precut glass and foamcore and we use them for up to 6 letters, up to 9 and up to 12 letters

Plug in size of board and let Wiz figure spacing

Display a ton of ideas and be sure to put real photos in them. Everybody loves to look at photos and they are great conversation starters "Here I am playing golf with Donald Trump" stuff

If you have employees, make them bring photos, too. It makes them "invested" in the project
 
For Letters sized to 3.75 x 5.75 (4 x 6 photos) I set the Kerning to .75 unless I am trying to "squeeze" a longer name into an already sized mat.

For 3.25 x 4.75 (3 1/2 x 5 photos) I would use .5

I tried to maximize the space between and still have it look "natural."
 
I do presize like Bob suggests but the openings are all 3.75 x 3.75 so that 4x5s and 4x6s will fit either in landscape or poitrait.

The spacing varys depeding on the number of letters I'm cramming in the presized mat.

Carry on.
 
Hey Jay-When we do a 4 letter name on a 24" board, the letters are fatter than 5 or 6 letters. It just makes it easier

Once in a blue moon do we need to use a non-precut board as about 90% of photos tend to be 4x6 horizontal. We have cut openings as larger as 8x10, though

Lori, if you go through your end cuts and drop outs and pre-cut the blanks like Jay and I, it saves a ton of time. Client comes in and wants a name mat. First question is "How many letters?" Then pick a stack of appropriate size blanks and say "here are your color choices". Simpler for them, efficient for you

About 1% actually want a specific color. We charge extra ( if I'm buying a full sheet for an 8" sliver-they are going to pay for it) and it takes longer. The other 99% take one of the 31 flavors available.

It is the singlest best mat board storage bin cleaner ever

I've talked to framers that make this product line so complicated with choices and sizes. Slimline it and watch them sell like crazy. Treat it (and price it) like normal custom framing and expect the same results as custom framing
 
Thank you everyone, We have several displays in the window already and of course, the one in the store with photos is SAMMY with his cute kitty photos inserted. We wrote (with the CMC) : "custom photo mats" above our window displays in a different font. I walked out in the parking lot and it is highly visable and very attractive. We'll see how much attention it draws before I start advertising !!!!!

Lori
 
I forgot to mention we have been cutting the school names in our area in their respective school colors. Graduation advertising !!!

Thanks for the precut ideas for the name mats. It's going to be very nice and cost saving to use all those scraps. Although my schools might not be terribly thrilled. They usually get my scraps !!!

Lori
 
What Bob & Jay said...

I do what Bob & Jay do, and it is great for cleaning out the matboards, foamboard, and pure profit. I have customers that come in for every graduation; the last one I did was Fairfield - never even heard of it.

I'm always amazed at the number of colleges there are out there that I have never heard of.

We also "wholesale" them to the local groups that do fundraising; we still make money and they make the retailed markup. Word to the wise - get their money first!!!

my 2 letters!

Elaine
 
Bob, my 3 and 4 letters mats might be bigger. I'm not sure. It's been so long since I designed the templates that I can't remember. I'm pretty sure I did most of my adjustments with kerning though. I sure hope I'm not telling stories when I tell my customers that they are 3.75 x 3.75 but I may be. I'll look tomorrow.

Carry on.
 
Elaine,
Shortly after we put the display in the front window, we had a mom come in from one of the shools we had cut out and asked if we would be interested in a fundraiser for them. She was very concerned that we both made money. I was thinking half and half from retail. Does that seem realistic?

I'm just so happy we are getting such a quick responce. It looks like this is going to be a great venture just with the name / photo mats. Several people are commenting. Makes me wonder if my competiton offers this. I'm only aware of one other framer several miles down the road who even has a CMC.

Lori
 
Hey Lori-Pretty much every "wholesale frame vendor" offers thes dirt cheap in the generic words. You see them everywhere in these parts.

What we offer is speed and custom at a great price

With Father's Day next weekend, bet a lot of "last minute" shoppers will be thrilled if you do them quickly

You might be wise to establish a "package" pricing format with plenty of opportunities to "supersize" with upgrades

Every so often we do one that is actually "custom" and those are priced same as any other custom project
 
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