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Pat Regan

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Joined
Feb 28, 2004
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26
Location
Victor, NY
I decided on some nice gallery style framing for my prints to be sold at an art show. I am using 8 ply mats for my framed prints.

But for my matted only prints, I was thinking of going 4-ply as a way to lower my cost. Does this sound reasonable? I can get a deal on my framed packages but I can't buy the 8-ply mats separately inexpensively. Is this reasonable to have my mats 4-ply and my framed work 8? (since it is my first show)

Last question, where can I get pre-cut mats at a good price over the web?
 
What's a good price?

There are no laws that state you have to use 8,4, or even 2 ply mats, it's your show, do whatever you want.

About a year ago someone on The Grumble stated " How cheap do you want it to look? "

Wish I could remember who, loved that line.

John
 
John, it was Janet. She used it as her signature line, and actually on a customer or two.
It works! Depending, of course, on what the customer's perception of cheap is. But I've seen it really work, especially on the customers who insist on 'cheap', but really want 'expensive'. You know, the ones that think they want a bargain, but really want high-end framing.


EDIT: How cheap....

There ya go John. Sorry for the Frankenthread.
 
Hi Pat,

You can absolutely use 4-ply for your matted-only prints. Will you be protecting them, say, with shrink wrap?

As for cheap mats... Avoid the shipping and possibility of damage by using the web. Make a volume deal with a local framer who owns a computerized mat cutter. Keep your money in the neighborhood, if you can. Plus, it's good PR.

Just my opinion...
Good luck with your show,
Susan
 
I think you could get a good deal from a local framer as well. It won't hurt to have that person close by if you get into time constraints. If you give them some type of an idea (once you figure out how many you are selling) then you can say keep this many mats on hand for me. The other thing is if you have a problem with the mats, what are you going to do? Have the problem corrected, but wait three or four days for them to come in? Spend 20 minutes on the phone trying to work it out or go over to joe's frame shop and have hime fix it in 20 minutes? It never hurts to have someone close that can help you out. I think between shipping charges and all that you could get someone with a good price. And if you get so busy then you might even need to drop a few prints off to the local framer to have them get them ready for the show, can't do that online.
d
 
Pat, You're just outside of Rochester, you should be able to find a framer there who would cut mats for you with or without a CMC. I am in Buffalo and I do this for a lot of photographers, and some of them I even trust to give me measurements over the phone! ;)

I do like to have the initial confab with the photographer in person so when they say they want a white mat, I can show them all 200 shades of white! At least the way I do it, without a CMC, I might add, if all the openings are the same, I can give a really good price, I'll still make a profit and the customer will be thrilled.

If every opening is different, and every outside size is different,I am less inclined to discount. I do tell artists who are trying to sell unframed work that if they stick to STANDARD sizes they can use that as a selling point to the el-cheapo customers who buy the unframed prints and go to KMart or wherever to buy their frames.

There are over four dozen frame shops listed in the Buffalo yellow pages. There must be an equal number for RaChaCha. Let your fingers do the walking. When you talk to the right framer on the phone, chances are you will know it!

Too bad you ain't closer to me! :cool:
 
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