Resources for Mounting and Matting Supplies

[SuzanneR]

The Light Impressions thread has moved on to become a thread with more reliable resources for supplies for mounting, matting... all the finish work!! Seems a good idea to start a new thread with reputable suppliers and links. Here are some of the suppliers mentioned in that thread:

Archival Print and some negative storage bags;
Bags Unlimited, www.bagsunlimited.com

Archival storage boxes, also some print bags (Not to mention Library supplies- their main business)
Brodart Inc, www.shopbrodart.com

Frame Destinations, they advertise here

General archival supplies, boxes, mat board, etc.;
University Products, http://www.universityproducts.com

http://www.talasonline.com/

http://www.unitedmfrscatalog.com/home/index.htm

Hollinger Metal Edge

If you know of other good suppliers, add your experience and links here.

 

[c6h6o3]

Hollinger Metal Edge. I've had nothing but good experiences with them.

 

[VaryaV]

Thanks for starting this Suzanne.

 

[jp498]

Thanks for your links

I've made several excellent orders from framefit.com
Mostly unassembled aluminum frames and uncut matboard.

 

[fdi]

There is also clearbags.com which my company (Frame Destination) resells along with University Products (Lineco - storage boxes, print sleeves and mounting supplies), Nielsen & Bainbridge and other mat and moulding suppliers. Frame Destination is the exclusive seller of the GalleryPouch product for transporting large picture frames and gallery wraps. We also carry stretcher frames which are for people that do not like to bother with the assembly of stretcher bars for canvas.

Frame Destination, Inc

We also have a lot information about mounting, glass vs acrylic and other framing info here:
http://www.framedestination.com/picture_frame_info.html

If you have questions about terminology we have a comprehensive framing glossary here: Picture Framing Glossary

And we have an article from the Image Permanence Institute on preservation framing here: Guide to Materials for Preservation Framing and the Display of Photographic Images

As the owner I am of course biased, but you can search the APUG archives for plenty of references.

 

[jeffreyg]

I'll add printfile to your list. They are in Orlando, Fl and I have been pleased with their products and service. Also they are APUG supporters.

http://www.printfile.com

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

 

[Michael A. Smith]

Lodima Archival Materials sells Bainbridge ArtCare board

www.lodimaarchivalmaterials.com

We have no minimums and no standard sizes. If you want 15 3/4 x 19 3/4 it is the same to us as 16 x 20. Sizes up to 40 x 60.

We also offer custom cut overmats--single or multiple windows. Again no minimums and no standard sizes. Everything is custom. Sizes up to 40 x 60.

We also have ArtCare storage boxes for negatives and or prints.

See my interview with the inventor of ArtCare MicroChamber Technology and you will never want to use another mat board again.

Dead Link Removed

Michael A. Smith

 

[Travis Nunn]

Although I haven't had to order a lot from them, I've gotten great service and products from Archival Methods.
http://www.archivalmethods.com/

 

[Jeff Kubach]

So have I also!

Jeff

 

[AgX]

What about European sources?

 

[Vaughn]

For both North America and Europe (offices and warehouses in USA and Great Britain)

http://www.conservationresources.com/

These are the folks that developed and patented the ArtCare and MicroChamber products.

 

[mgb74]

Any suggestions for wood framing? We need to frame some artwork. Have used Frame Destination in the past, but they don't have what we're looking for in terms of a frame.

Many years ago we used American Frame; any recent experience with them?

 

[jp80874]

I have had very good experience with American Frame in Toledo, Ohio USA.
http://www.americanframe.com

You can buy supplies to mount your own or have them cut the mats and send the frame parts. In my retirement I take advanced photo courses at U Akron, OH. They require twenty 11x14 prints or larger, matted and over matted per course. Some of these have gone on to have shows requiring frames and glass. My images have ranged from 7x17 contact prints to 20x24”. I have used Nielsen (spell) extruded aluminum frames, though many others are offered. They now offer free shipping on orders exceeding $50.00. They say they will ship frames in two days, but my experience with mats and frames has been that they ship within 24 hours of your order.

A large portion of their business is school related so you are likely to have better service and talk to people that can take more time with you if you avoid the last week before college terms end.

I have also had good experience and buy many other supplies from Hollinger Metal Edge.

Because of bad experience it has been several years since I bought from Light Impressions.

John Powers

 

[fdi]

I own Frame Destination, Inc and we have a lot of customers that buy from us and American Frame depending on what they are buying. I have never heard any thing bad about them. Light Impressions use to be a good company, but if you google them you can see that something happened there.

Cheers,
Mark

 

[mgb74]

No need to google Light Impressions; I'm very aware of the problems reported there. A shame as I remember being a happy customer of Light Impressions many years ago.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I used to use Light Impressions often. I liked their Exter precut mat board and linen tape. From what I see on apug, they're a different company now. Thanks for the links!