reverse bevels

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Sharonx

CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
Joined
May 27, 2003
Posts
219
Loc
Watertown, SD
We have a competitor in town who constantly runs down all the other framers. Recently, he has been telling people that it is totally incorrect to cut a mat so the white core bevel shows. I have told my customers that we can certainly reverse bevel if they prefer. Am I missing something? Is the new trend reverse bevel on all framing. This individual says the white bevel distracts from the print. I am wondering if he is going to call in all his previous work and talk his customers into redoing all their mats. What are the rest of you doing regarding bevels? Thanks Sharon
 
We are selling a lot more reverse bevels, so the guy may actually be right! hehehe I think the main reason we are selling more of them is that our lead designer likes them a lot. I did a 'show and tell' that shows the differences. I took a landscape print, cut two double openings, one with reverse and one with regular, then made a title block that shows a combination (one reverse and the other plain)That way the customer can see exactly what we are talking about and make an educated choice. I prefer reverse bevels when using dark mats on dark prints. The white IS distracting there. But I would tell the customer that each piece is different, and bevel direction choice is part of the custom design. There is no 'one size fits all' rule, and that is why they come to you, because you know when to do what, right?
 
I'll reverse the bevel if:

1) I'm adding a fillet to the mat

OR

2) The white bevel is seriously distracting

AND

3) I'm too lazy to color the bevel

AND

4) There isn't an appropriate solid rag or Crescent Antiquarian board available.

Most often, I think a reverse bevel looks like I made a mistake. Your competitor is misguided, but has hutspa.

When someone repeats that foolishness about reverse bevels, just smile benignly and knowingly to indicate you're aware of the joke, but don't intend to play along with it.
 
Hmmm . . .

I wonder if my response would have been different if I had read Ellen's first.

Naaaaah.
 
Why is it that I agree with Ron (and Ellen) so often? I guess it is because Ron introduced me to Johnsonville brats several years ago, and Ellen survives in such an economically challenged market.

I know some framers hate black(or other color) core mats. I like them when they are a good selection for the piece being framed. What's the point in making these mats if everything should be reverse cut.
 
Rev bevs always look unfinished to me. If a white bevel is going to be distracting, I explain the problem to the customer and sell them a fillet. I like fillets.

Kit
 
The only person I know who regularly uses reverse bevels is a business that specializes in hotel framing. They use paper mats and since the paper discolors over time they reverse the bevel (leveb?) so that the tan discolored bevel doesn't show.

Now whenever I see reversed bevels I grab my ph pen because I think of this "trick".

They told me they use paper mats because the profit margin is soooo low that they use the cheapest materials they could to give the most competitive prices they could.
 
Having said that reverse bevels do give a look of "depth" that can enhance some prints. And levebs do work nice with pastels as it give a shelf for the flaking pastel to get caught in before it falls into the space between the stark white mat and the glass!

But isn't that what spacers do too!
 
I do not like the look of reverse bevels. To me they look too flat.

I only use 'em with filets and pastels.


-Mike.
 
Reverse bevels are a design choice. As Ellen said, sometimes the white bevel can be a distraction to the total composition, which the art and the framing are. and sometimes the shadow looks good instead of a bevel. The manipulation of colors in multiple mats can be more affective if they are side by side rather than separated by a bevel especially if you are doing visual color mixing.
 
You could always play off the "reverse Bevel" bias of your competitor and offer reverse bevels and v-grooves on the same mat! Bet he's not doing that yet! Sounds like he's just trying to stay one step ahead of the competition by offering a gimmick.

Stick to your guns, design for the image not the trend (trends don't last!) and stand behind your work.
 
I have to mention the bevel to my customers or they don't even notice most of the time.
Once they see it and know what to call it they tend to make mention of it when they come back, sometimes ignorance is bliss.
I would like to be blissful for a while...
 
Using a reverse bevel is just another element of design that sometimes is appropriate and sometimes not.

There are trends.

There is right and wrong from a conservation standpoint.

You should use a reverse bevel generally for fillets

There is no right or wrong in design from an esthetic standpoint, only good or bad design.

Good or bad design is purely subjective.

Let your competitor hang himself with his words!

Dave Makielski
Makielski Art Shop
Edwardsburg, MI
 
I would say I use a reverse about 10% of the time. It all depends on the piece and money and match and ...

If there is no white in the image at all I find the white bevel distracting and "eye stopping." So, I reach for a solid color Rag board. If I just can't satisfy the customer with the color selection, or they are bocking at price and penny pinching I resort to reverse bevel.
 
A reverse bevel cut in a mat board with ground
wood pulp would ensure that the effluent from
the lignin would have the most easy access to the
framed item.

Hugh
 
What about the way a white reverse bevel reflects light onto the print? I think it looks pretty weird and thats the main reason I wouldn't use a reverse bevel.
 
If the light is predominantly to one side, a reverse bevel will create a very slight shadow on the print which will make the print appear slightly off center.
 
Shadows was the reason I was taught to use regular bevels.

I was also taught Spanish from a book and I don't speak that either. I use rev. bev. 10% of the time.

I would ask that customer, "Who said that?" When they give you an answer say, "Who is that, I have never heard of him. Is he a framer? He must be new!"
 
When using an exposure of 1/8" on the second mat, I'll often recomend a RB on the top mat, if not both.

Jay, just caught your signature/quote. Thanks for getting that stuck in my head. I hear it every morning on the way to work, and it's usually gone within an hour. Now it's back.... "It's the P. C. time of year...."
 
Yea I would say "Happy Holidays" instead of Christmas but holiday comes from holy-days so I can't say that either. Ramahamaquanzmas seems to work. I just haven't wore my t-shirt to church yet. I'm chicken "bak bak".
 
We all spent a lot of money on equipment that bevels a mat. And now it's cool to make it look like it was cut with a mat knife???

Reverse it for design reasons.Reverse it to save a sale. Reverse it to sell a fillet. All good reasons.

How about painting it? gilding it? papering it? wrapping it?
Good opportunities for add-on sales.
 
Yes, I know this person.......he calls himself the "anti-bevel"......I believe he is on some sort of weird mission.....I met him earlier this year and he was from South Dakota.
 
Sharon, you said:

Recently, he has been telling people that it is totally incorrect to cut a mat so the white core bevel shows... etc...

If that is the case, how does he cut a combination of 10-20 different size openings with an unevern layout double or triple matted? What about ovals?
 
Suspicious me!!! My first thought was that he is using paper mats and is trying to cover up the fact by reversing this bevel. That way you will never see the nasty orange brown that it will turn.
 
was reading the comments on reverse bevels..i have used it one time and the customer was thrilled....same customer asked me to do it on another project...but i explained that on this project the white bevel showing would be great...realize i do framing for friends and co workers mainly....have not jumped into the mainstream....but all of your comments were interesting
 
I met him earlier this year and he was from South Dakota.
Click to expand...
You make it sound like this is a bad thing.
 
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