Framing without mat? First time, need help

I've just had my first ever prints done and I am looking at the correct way to frame them. I was instructed by the printer to buy ready made frames the same size as the prints were done. It appears as if I'll have to trim off any paper boarders to the image just to fit it in the frame and I certainly can't have a mat.

What is the best way for me to make the most of this situation. I have never framed a picture before?

My advice is to ignore the printer's advice.

Photographs should be matted for display. Touching the glass in a frame is not good for them; the mat gives some space between the print surface and the glass. It also makes the framed print look much nicer.

chriscrawfordphoto said:

My advice is to ignore the printer's advice.

Photographs should be matted for display. Touching the glass in a frame is not good for them; the mat gives some space between the print surface and the glass. It also makes the framed print look much nicer.

Click to expand...

Trouble is that I'd purchased the frames before I received the prints. I don't have much money and I'm looking at what I can do

If you already have the frames and can't part-exchange them for bigger ones them you might have to make do without mats this time around. Chris Crawford has told you the best way to frame photographs. Separation from the glass is very important and as well there are few pictures that are not enhanced by a well chosen frame and mat.

I'd use matts. Images pressed against glass can often show a strange "wet" mark here and there. Looks like hell.
Matts just set the image off better.
Just my opinion.
J

zowno said:

I've just had my first ever prints done and I am looking at the correct way to frame them. I was instructed by the printer to buy ready made frames the same size as the prints were done. It appears as if I'll have to trim off any paper boarders to the image just to fit it in the frame and I certainly can't have a mat.

What is the best way for me to make the most of this situation. I have never framed a picture before?

Click to expand...

while float mounts and putting the image right up against the glass doesn't look bad ,,,
if it is HOT where you are the glass heats up and sticks to the print ( been there done that ) so you want a little bit of
space between it and the glass
can you get yourself a bigger frame than you purchased ?
the "typical" way to do it is get a frame a little bit bigger than the print
if you can't spring for a mat ( even 1ply ) you might consider getting
a sheet of acid free paper cut a window out of it with an exacto knife or
jack knife or steak knife and trim the edge of the paper to fit in your frame
i know mat board costs a fortune to get cut .. acid free paper is cheeps..
if you have already trimmed your print to fit the frame you might be SOL
you should probs go to a frame shop and get the print dry mounted to a board a little bigger than the print
and do the acid free paper thing i said previously...

If you want the print to last many decades and be able to remove it unharmed from the frame then you cant let it touch the glass because overtime condensation will cause it to be adhered to the glass. However, if you dont care about removing it, it will be fine for many years touching the glass and even after it starts to stick to the glass it will still look ok. Unless you use UV glass and ensure limited exposure to intense light it will also fade and depending on the light intensity this can be worse then allowing it to touch the glass. A cheap ready-made frame will block about half of the UV and offer some other protection so it is still better than nothing.

If you want to keep it off the glass you can consider spacers, although many cheap ready-made frames are not thick enough for spacers so verify that before you order. My company sells the kids that clip on the glass:
https://www.framedestination.com/framing-supplies/picture-frame-spacers.html

Who is the printer? Sounds like they could use some help with framing advice, although it might just be the particular person you spoke to.

For future reference, I do not recommend buying a frame for a print until after you have the print. I have heard many stories like this where there was confusion about dimensions or paper borders. They should have told you get a frame the same size as the paper your print is being put on if you want easy cheap framing where no mounting is required. If there is a border around the image that border will be visible unless you cover it with a mat or cut it down and get a smaller frame.

It is best to use a window mat and backing board both acid free. Either dry mount or use archival corners to hold the print to the backing board. The advantage of dry mounting is that the print is generally flatter while the disadvantages are that if something happens to the that board your print can be toast and if you decide to remove it from the frame they take up more storage space. Look into sectional frames since you can put together many different sizes to accommodate whatever size print and cover mat you want. A popular brand is the Neilsen Frame. They are very easy to assemble and can be used over and over and disassembled for storage when not holding a print. If your prints are of a single size the widow mat and frame can be swapped out when desired and if not dry mounted the backing board can be reused.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

see the post by fdi ... above...especially related to "spacers." I'm about to order some aluminum frames without mats but with spacers from them.

jtk, make sure the frames have a tall enough rabbet to handle the spacers.