You say that you make custom picture frames for professional artists, but that sounds fancy. I just want to frame a picture of my mum! Can you help me too?
We are very proud to be the framer of choice for professional artists and galleries, but we bring the same skills and attention to all our customers, whether we are framing pictures of cats and kids, jigsaw puzzles or certificates. We aren't precious about what we frame, and we don't mind at all when customers ask us to recommend the cheapest or simplest option.
We believe that every object that comes into our workroom is precious for one reason or another, and it's our job to find the frame that suits you. We will explain the options in as much detail as you want us to, and find the frame that suits your budget.
How much does framing cost?
This is a tough question, because there are so many variables when it comes to framing. To give you an idea, we would need to know:
The size of the poster / drawing / photograph / painting / item of memorabilia / print / object you want to frame.
The moulding or frame you choose. Some frames, such as our Bellini range, are made and hand-finished in Italy and cost a lot; while some frames are made locally out of hand-selected timbers; and other frames are mass produced in a factory and are relatively cheap.
Whether you want a single frame or a stacked frame; a frame with glass; a frame with glass and a mount; a frame with a double or triple mount, or fancy fabric mat-boards; a box-frame; or a memorabilia frame
Your choice of glass or perspex, non-reflective glass, UV glass, UV non-reflective glass (art glass), museum glass, Perspex, or UV Perspex. We offer everything, but most people opt for conventional float glass.
And finally, the level of conservation treatment. All our frames are made with an eye to preserving your artwork or object - we only use acid-free boards and tapes - but if you have an artwork or photograph of exceptional value we can offer museum quality conservation options including buffered rag mats, barrier tape to prevent off-gassing from your frame, Japanese tissue hinges and so on. This approach is very time-consuming and is necessarily more expensive.
Whilst we can't predict what your particular requirements might be, we also know how annoying to read these sorts of Q&As and feel like the question hasn't been answered! So to give you an idea, here are a range of price approximations for an A4 (210mm x 295mm) sized flat painting that has no conservation requirements. These are indicative prices, but you will be given a fixed price for your job when you come in.
A basic frame: $50.00
A basic frame with glass and backing: $80.00
A basic frame with glass, backing and a mat board: $120.00
A Bellini frame with a double mat: $200.00
Do you make mirrors?
Yes we do!
Do you frame sports jerseys?
Yes we do! However they take a lot of work to do properly, so the cost starts from about $500.
Do you offer ready-made frames like the ones at IKEA or Harvey Norman?
No. We don't pre-make frames or buy in ready-made frames because we feel we can offer a better service as a custom framer, making exactly the right frame for each piece. We can't compete with the very cheap frames at IKEA, which are mass produced out of low grade pulp and sold in huge numbers, and we'd rather not try.
Do you cut mat boards to fit into a frame I already own, or for a pre-made frame I have just bought?
Yes. We know that there are times when a cheap frame is the right choice, and so we don't mind cutting mats to fit artworks or photos to a ready-made frame.
Do you repair old frames
Yes. We often repair or resize old frames, but it does take time and there are limitations. Some frames are beyond saving or would cost more to repair than to replace. If you aren't sure, bring it in and we can give you an individual assessment.
What can I expect when I bring my picture, poster, item of memorabilia or painting for framing?
By virtue of the fact that you are spending money and time getting something framed we know that it is an item of real personal or monetary value. It might be a gift, or something that you value enough to put on your wall, or a statement about who you are. As a result, we respect and care for everything that comes into our workshop, and we will talk to you for as long as you need to select the best framing solution. We won't try to rush you, or do the hard-sell, and we will do our best to design a frame that suits your taste and budget, not ours!
Do you do conservation treatments?
We don't do conservation work however we have a good relationship with local conservators and can organise a consultation or assessment. We routinely organise conservation treatments for our customers. While the conservators we work with must charge for their time, we don't add anything to their fees.
What options do you provide for framing?
Frames: All of our frames are made from quality timber mouldings. Mouldings are the long sticks that framers cut to size and join to make a picture frame and they can be made of aluminium, timber, or plastic. We ony use timber because we believe it produces an enduring and quality result.
On occasion we custom mill raw timber to make unique frames but usually we use either raw timber mouldings (commonly eucalypt, blackwood or oak) from Australian companies like APM or Partos, which can be sanded, painted, stained limed or just waxed to match your preferences, or we use pre-finished mouldings which can be in simple painted timber style or may be very elaborate ornate and hand gilded in Italy like some in the Bellini range.
Mat-boards: Mat-boards are the cardboard rectangles which go around a work on paper. They separate the paper from the glass, and create a wide boarder to set off smaller or more delicate pieces of art. All of our mat-boards are acid free, but we also stock conservation mats and rag mats which are museum quality.
A big range of Bainbridge and Watermark white-core and black-core boards
Rising Museum Boards and Artcare boards
2 ply, 4 ply and 8 ply boards including solid core boards
fabric mats and designer finishes
Glazing: All works on paper should be behind glass to protect them from insects and other damage. Standard glass, or float glass, is the simplest and cheapest. Acrylic (or perspex) is a quality option when resilience is important (say in a kids room) or when the piece is very large. We also stock conservation glass which blocks 99% of UV light; Art Glass 70, which blocks 70% or UV light but is also virtually reflection free and can look amazing; and conservation grade Art Glass 99, which looks the same as Arty Glass 70 but blocks almost all UV.