Part Two in a Series
The cost of picture framing should not greatly exceed the cost of the art to be framed.
Picture framing is expensive. One reason has to do with the fact that most traditional frame shops practice conservation framing to the exclusion of any other kind. Conservation framing is a costly method that seeks to preserve the long term value of art for generations to come.
But when you think about it, most items don’t need to be preserved for so long. Most art is purchased to fill empty wall space and express a personal aesthetic. The idea that future generations will share in this aesthetic and want to continue displaying it is kind of a stretch.
What’s more, many art pieces have low intrinsic value. They may cost the buyer less than $400 and then lose value over time. Other art, such as posters and digital prints, are probably not worth much to begin with and will probably not increase in value over time.
To spend lavishly to frame them on the remote chance that they will become valuable in the future plays on a fear born of ignorance. We are all aware of art that we cherish that was imperiled because some numbskull didn’t know how to frame it properly. But we have mostly forgotten about the art that got put out by the dumpster because it no longer appealed to anyone. What if someone had paid top dollar to have all that stuff framed!
So how much should we be paying to have things framed?
Not everything should be conservation framed.
A Commonsense Perspective
Employing a strictly logical measure, the cost of framing should not greatly exceed the cost of the art itself. The cost of embellishing something should not cost more than the thing to be embellished.
Given the intrinsic cost of picture framing – the cost of a frame, mat, glass and backing – it is often difficult to achieve this commonsense objective, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. When art has little or no inherent value and will probably not be handed down from generation to generation, you should try to hold down the cost of framing it.
Holding down the cost of framing doesn’t mean that the framing has to be cheap or inferior. When framed art is hung on the wall, it may look just fine, and to an unstudied eye may look as good as something that costs far more. So why pay more?
I can already hear the purists howling. “Cheap framing that looks passable is not the same thing as quality custom framing performed by an experienced framing professional!”
That’s true. But it’s also true that spending four times the cost of an item to have it framed is bad economics, no matter how you slice it.
The Role of High End Picture Framing
Many professional framers take the view that picture framing is like quality furniture building; it requires superior materials, deft craftsmanship and a good aesthetic eye. But even the best furniture builder will not tell you that a good sofa pillow should cost more than the sofa, or that the canopy on a four poster bed should cost more than the bed.
Which is not to say there is no place for high end, custom picture framing of the kind traditional frame shops typically specialize in, just that high end framing should be reserved for high end art. If the art costs $1,000 to purchase, than paying $400 to have it framed makes good fiscal sense.
But if the art costs $200, paying $400 to have it frame borders on recklessness.
So how do you pay a commensurate value for picture framing if traditional frame shops discourage you from doing so?
There are some ways, which we will explore in the final post in this series, entitled: How Can You Reduce the Cost of Picture Framing.
I was beginning to read your articles with interest (“How to cut a Stepped-Corner Mat” is a nice step-by-step), but I gotta say that the logic in this series of Picture Framing Costs is… laughable.
While it may feel like common sense that the cost of a picture frame shouldn’t be x amount more than the dollar value of an art piece, what one pays for a piece of art has no real world bearing on what custom, professional picture framing actually costs. The real value in professional picture framing is in the professional’s experience and ability to offer design advice, insight to archival (or not) practices, not to mention the nuts-and-bolts of finishing a framed piece.
Notwithstanding what I wrote above, of course the intrinsic value of an art piece –what it is worth to its owner– will have a bearing on what someone wants to spend for its framing. If this makes someone decide to go the DIY route rather than pay a professional to frame the piece is wholly up to the consumer.
But, to say that the cost of a frame should never be above a certain ratio of dollars-spent-on-art is an egregious statement to make. That’s not common sense, it’s an old wive’s tale. It sounds like a selling point being made by a company which has seen the home furnishings industry take a nose-dive in the past few years and is scrambling to stay relevant.
Come on Logan: You guys make pretty good stuff and sell both to the professional framer and the individual. I understand you can’t please everybody (those “howling purists”), but be careful to not bite the hand that feeds… I own and love my Platinum Edge, but I bet I could find something equally as good elsewhere.
Sheesh!
Thanks, Patrick
I appreciate your comments. There are two sides to this issue and I am glad to hear yours. Others should read what you say too.
Patrick gets my vote, but don’t feel he went far enough !??. Who could have predicted the child like paintings by Van Gough would be priceless today when in his early days the genius couldn’t give them away ?.
Or similarly the almost edible art of “Gabriela Munter ” that she would trade for bread at the bakers ,now sells for hundreds of thousands of pounds !. Time ,trends and education determine the value of art – Not The Guy From Logan’s !, who gave him the Micraphone anyhow ? . So to responed to the Sofa analergy – if the Sofa cushion is embroided in gold thread with a Greco Romanesc harvest motif that took a crafts person three solid months to complete ! then yes the cushion value out strips that of the rest of the Sofa . As for the four poster bed analergy the canopy above was more often than not the most elaborate aspect of the bed and thus the most expensive part !???… Who gains by being cheap n mean ? Not the environment , Art work , or standards ,only Quick buck greed !.
I attended a framing workshop offered by Framing4Yourself, bought a Platinum Edge to replace my 750, and am starting an at-home framing business aimed at hobby and professional photographers. I’m retired and live in northern Arizona where a great many photographers live or visit.
An unsigned, unnumbered, reproducible print printed on a professional printer at 10×16 inches or so for a 16×20 frame should cost under $10, even on expensive fine-art paper. Contract printing might be as much as $25.
So these photographers should not spend more than $25 for a frame and matting? And the print in a $100 frame would be over-the-top reckless?
I’m trying to see what I can do for my fellow photographers without having the overhead of a storefront and yet make available custom matting and framing service at a reasonable price. Many of the photographers I know want simple matting without ornate frames, and don’t need conservation or museum grade work. They don’t want discount store ready-made frames and mats, and they also don’t want to spend $200 or more at the local arts and crafts store where they try everything they can to upsell you.
So I agree with your basic premise about not getting “upsold” unnecessarily, but the logic breaks down at the lower end point. Given the cost of moulding, matting and other materials, and labor, it’s difficult to provide reasonable framing for photographers, and it cannot be done within your logic basis of art cost.
So how about some tips for framing for photographers? Most photographers I know prefer simple frames and mats so as not to detract from the photo.
I agree with Patrick that the cost of framing should have no bearing on the cost of the artwork being framed.
I learnt early on in my framing career that the framing materials chosen should be entirely sympathetic to the artwork being framed, and not relate to the customer’s home decor, his or her whims and fancies, or the cost of the artwork. There may be several options in choice of materials, and these can be discussed with the customer, but the bottom line is doing justice to the artwork.
Much of my work is framing artwork of gifted amateur artists – they are not interested in how the cost of framing relates to the cost of their paintings, only in enhancing them by the use of appropriate framing.
I was in the custom framing business for 24 years and then retired. My daughter who did much of my framing is back in the area and has reopened the gallery. Is there some where that I can find an up dated pricing list for mats, glass, frame and fitting when pricing a frame job.
Thanks for any help
Margo
I just did type in something above.
I used to get Decor Magazine but evidently they are no longer in business.
Try Picture Framing magazine. They may be able to provide something or put you in the right direction. http://www.pictureframingmagazine.com/
I’m with Patrick.
I have ceased considering what the cost of the art work when it’s brought in to my store. I listen to what the customer wants ask a few questions and try to do what is best for the art work within the parameters of what the customer wants.
I always will alter the original design to suit the customers preferences.
When the customer brings in a $15.00 to $25.00 antique trade card, the only way I can think reducing the cost to less then the art work is to offer them a thumb tack.
Jim
im doing a project.. how much would it cost to accually make a picture frame?
That depends on a lot of factors: the size of the frame, the width of the frame, what it’s made of (wood, metal or polystyrene), how you acquire it (ready-made, sectional, or moulding lengths that you cut and join yourself). You can make a 16″x20″ picture frame for as little as $7 or as much as $100.
Logan is not understanding the purpose of custom framing. A custom designed and framed photo, painting, poster, memory box is home decor, fine furniture, a reflection of the home owner, wall decor that can last forever.
I can make a fine art poster complement a grand piano into a newly decorated kitchen or a cozy family room.
I guarantee I will not put a $40 poster in a $30 framing design and put it in my home.
The greatest cost is rent and employees and this is true for most custom work.
Wow! A group of picture framers disagree with the author. Shocking! NOT!!!
I hadn’t had anything framed for awhile due to finances so when I got a few bucks together, I thought it would be nice to finally frame my last two art purchases. Since I had moved far away from my usual framers, I sought out Michael’s and was shocked to learn that they wanted over $600 to frame each of my pieces. Are you kidding me? Any ideas out there? Thank You, Cosmo
Oh Cosmo, you fell for the old Michael’s marketing scam, bigger is cheaper. Find yourself a small independent framer, someone who knows your $10 poster doesn’t need special glass but your great grandmother’s picture does. Find a framer who has good taste and thinks out of the box, custom framing doesn’t have to cost a fortune, most pieces go out of our shop in the $100-200 range. We offer beautiful interesting wood mouldings in gold leaf, or burl finishes, fine mats, and more importantly . . . an aesthetic. We have more work than we can handle.