The Trouble With Rounded Mat Corners

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Shayla

Shayla

WOW Framer
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....is that, if they're ever discontinued in 40x60, it's can be misleading for designers.
But worse, when a mat that was previously only 32x40 is changed to coming in
oversize as well, that can be hard to bear in mind. With my Crescent and Bainbridge,
I tend to rely on the rounded corners, so new additions aren't much noticed. With
Artique, their corners were never rounded in the first place, and they just add
stickers when they add a 40x60. For this reason, I look at all those colors when
going through their rack for an oversize mat. Just got a disco sheet from Bainbridge,
and it looked to me like most of them were previous 32x40's that had been upgraded
with back stickers, but no rounded corners. I wonder how much of their not-selling
came because designers didn't think they were oversize.

Okay, writing fast on lunchtime, so over and out. What are your thoughts on this?
 
I have too many samples to have ever bothered with discovering what exactly rounded corners were supposed to mean. I look everything up!
 
I have about seven full racks worth, and the rounded corners
came in really handy until they didn't. Okay, they mostly still do,
but I'm guessing that some mats newly made oversize aren't
considered for oversize designs, due to their squary-ness.
 
That rounded corner means
  • it also comes in 100+ other colors you don't need
  • may or may not come pre stamped with foot prints and or finger prints
  • comes also in duds
  • may be what you are looking for
  • and might be rag or buffered or contain alien space dust or not
 
I don't do oversize frames because they are too large and awkward for me to handle. But I do buy 40 x 60 in foam core, and if I have a big job (generally corporate) where I need several mats in the same color, I will check to see if it is a better cost for the cut sizes I need.

As two options for your designers:

first: cut a corner notch off all of those mats that don't have rounded corners, but come oversize. If they are no longer oversize, put a piece of tape in the corner, on the back. This way you can quickly tell.

Second: (and a more profitable option?) Tell your designers that (honestly) there are fewer 40 by 60 mat selections available from the Generic mat board manufacturers, but there are literally hundreds of options from each of the 2 major specialty fabric suppliers. The fabric looks much better, don't have the annoying white bevel because it is uniquely hand wrapped, and offers a greater selection. And it is a great value for the price.
 
If a color gets its 40x60 discontinued but is still available in 32 x 40, I cross out the 40x60 designation on the back of the sample, and also write "32x40 ONLY!" prominently on the back. If the sample is rounded, this sometimes makes for a frustrating design experience when you think you have found a solution, only to have your hopes dashed when you look at the back. I suppose the only other solution is to make yourself a new corner sample.
:kaffeetrinker_2: Rick
 
Rick Granick said:
If a color gets its 40x60 discontinued but is still available in 32 x 40, I cross out the 40x60 designation on the back of the sample, and also write "32x40 ONLY!" prominently on the back. If the sample is rounded, this sometimes makes for a frustrating design experience when you think you have found a solution, only to have your hopes dashed when you look at the back. I suppose the only other solution is to make yourself a new corner sample.
:kaffeetrinker_2: Rick
Click to expand...


...orrrr, just cut a notch in the rounded corner which means that it no longer comes in 40x60.:thumbsup:
 
framah said:
...orrrr, just cut a notch in the rounded corner which means that it no longer comes in 40x60.:thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Or just pitch the sample. Obviously there is a problem coming with this board.

If you had a problem with a frame sample..... would you keep it and make a notation on the back.... and deal
with the problem every time you pull the sample???? No.... pitch the problem and let the mfg deal with their
own problems.
That is their cost of doing business..... not yours.
 
Grey Owl said:
t there are literally hundreds of options from each of the 2 major specialty fabric suppliers.
Click to expand...


Thanks Russ..... but as of 8am May 1st..... there are still 3 fabric suppliers left. Rafael's, Framing Fabrics and of course
the Man of the Cloth himself - Frank's Fabrics.

--as far as I know. :D
 
Baer Charlton said:
Or just pitch the sample. Obviously there is a problem coming with this board.

If you had a problem with a frame sample..... would you keep it and make a notation on the back.... and deal
with the problem every time you pull the sample???? No.... pitch the problem and let the mfg deal with their
own problems.
That is their cost of doing business..... not yours.
Click to expand...


One small problem with that line of thinking is that most of those mats aren't discontinued in the 32x40 size so why would you want to get rid of a possible color choice while it is still available?

The analogy of a problem frame is apples and oranges. Frames samples don't list the sizes that are available. If it is a problem, then yes throw it out. Not the same with mat samples.
 
Ralph, a few years ago.... we took a whole day checking every single mat sample
to make sure it was good and current. We pitched any and everything that wasn't
exactly what it was representing.....

We pitched over 700 samples..... 187 were "white".... we have never missed a single
one of those that we pitched.
We still have almost 400 samples. 120 are fabric..... which sells about 30% of the time,
and brings in over 70% of the mat $$$s.

There are some fabrics that I do miss.... but am moving on.
 
Baer Charlton said:
Thanks Russ..... but as of 8am May 1st..... there are still 3 fabric suppliers left. Rafael's, Framing Fabrics and of course
the Man of the Cloth himself - Frank's Fabrics.

--as far as I know. :D
Click to expand...

Thanks for the clarification, I forgot about the one, and was only thinking of those I saw at WCAF, but with my eye sight all three may have been there and I just missed the one.
 
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