Hdr?

[emoxley]

I had one of my hummingbird pictures printed out to 12" x 18" (not HDR). I want to matt and frame it and hang it in our living room. It's just so expensive to matt and frame them. It's over $100 to have it done for that photo. I could cut 2" off the print, and get a stock 11" x 14" matt and frame, a lot cheaper. But cutting 2" off changes the picture, to me. It's kinda like going from widescreen back to pan & scan size.

I'd like to get this book, by the master of HDR. http://www.amazon.com/The-HDR-Book-...8&qid=1340814932&sr=1-1&keywords=the+hdr+book RC is one of the best at it.

 

[Wigwam Jones]

I had one of my hummingbird pictures printed out to 12" x 18" (not HDR). I want to matt and frame it and hang it in our living room. It's just so expensive to matt and frame them. It's over $100 to have it done for that photo. I could cut 2" off the print, and get a stock 11" x 14" matt and frame, a lot cheaper. But cutting 2" off changes the picture, to me. It's kinda like going from widescreen back to pan & scan size.

I'd like to get this book, by the master of HDR. http://www.amazon.com/The-HDR-Book-...8&qid=1340814932&sr=1-1&keywords=the+hdr+book RC is one of the best at it.

You might want to take a look at MPIX. I've used them for a long time, good prices, and good work.

www.mpix.com

 

[pioneervato]

I had one of my hummingbird pictures printed out to 12" x 18" (not HDR). I want to matt and frame it and hang it in our living room. It's just so expensive to matt and frame them. It's over $100 to have it done for that photo. I could cut 2" off the print, and get a stock 11" x 14" matt and frame, a lot cheaper. But cutting 2" off changes the picture, to me. It's kinda like going from widescreen back to pan & scan size.

I'd like to get this book, by the master of HDR. http://www.amazon.com/The-HDR-Book-...8&qid=1340814932&sr=1-1&keywords=the+hdr+book RC is one of the best at it.

Getting artwork matted and framed is rediculosly expensive in most cases. I worked in a frame shop for about a year and so I am familiar with the high markups. I had been doing my own matting and framing before I worked in a frame shop since about 1982. For cutting my own custom mats I use a C&H mat cutter and I like using matte black metal frames for most of my work.

There are frame shops that use a CNC driven mat cutter that does very exacting work but it comes with a huge price tag. I do quite well with my hand driven mat cutter which gives me professional results.

 

[chillwolf]

A couple years back I started a thread here in the camera forum devoted to "print swapping" (not to be confused with wife swapping) and it was fun and a good way to collect some work from others. I think it's important to display even if it is just in your home or office.

I am lucky to have one of Jesse's excellent matted B&W photographs in my home that I got when we did the print swap. :thmbsp:

 

[HandyHamlet]

I don't think that you can fully envision how the print will look until you have it in your hands. Sometimes I will have something on the screen that I think is great. When printed it is just OK.

Or matted, framed, on a wall, next to other photographer's work... That will put things in perspective real quick.

:yes:

It is an investment to get prints on a wall. Life is short. And if they provide enjoyment, conversation, inspiration and are maybe even passed down to another who appreciates art then it is well worth the cost.

 

[pioneervato]

Or matted, framed, on a wall, next to other photographer's work... That will put things in perspective real quick.

:yes:

It is an investment to get prints on a wall. Life is short. And if they provide enjoyment, conversation, inspiration and are maybe even passed down to another who appreciates art then it is well worth the cost.

I agree completely.

 

[emoxley]

Getting artwork matted and framed is rediculosly expensive in most cases. I worked in a frame shop for about a year and so I am familiar with the high markups. I had been doing my own matting and framing before I worked in a frame shop since about 1982. For cutting my own custom mats I use a C&H mat cutter and I like using matte black metal frames for most of my work.

There are frame shops that use a CNC driven mat cutter that does very exacting work but it comes with a huge price tag. I do quite well with my hand driven mat cutter which gives me professional results.

I bought a matt cutter one time, years ago, right after I graduated from art school. It's not expensive. What's expensive is all the matt board you waste, trying to get a good clean, straight cut. I used a metal guide, but the blade in the cutter will tend to bend a little and steer you off track. Then you have a terribly cut matt. It takes quite a bit of experience to get good at it.

I'm familiar with Mpix. I've never used them though. I checked their prices too. They are also very expensive. First, there's the price of the frame. Then there's the matt price, and then the glass price. They'll probably want to print the picture out too, which is more than I paid locally. The print is 12" x 18". So, to have 2" of matt each way means the overall matt size will be 16" x 22". Their frame sizes are 16" x 20", or 16" x 24". Neither frame works. Sure, I could have 2" of matt across the top and bottom, and 1" of matt at each end, and the 16" x 20" will work. But, that will look ridiculous. I originally thought about a wrap, but my wife doesn't like those. So Mpix is out.

Even though I hate to, I'll probably end up cutting off 2" and buying the stock matted frame for it. It's just not how I envisioned it. I hate being broke all the time. :sigh:

 

[Texun1]

 

[pioneervato]

I bought a matt cutter one time, years ago, right after I graduated from art school. It's not expensive. What's expensive is all the matt board you waste, trying to get a good clean, straight cut. I used a metal guide, but the blade in the cutter will tend to bend a little and steer you off track. Then you have a terribly cut matt. It takes quite a bit of experience to get good at it.

I'm familiar with Mpix. I've never used them though. I checked their prices too. They are also very expensive. First, there's the price of the frame. Then there's the matt price, and then the glass price. They'll probably want to print the picture out too, which is more than I paid locally. The print is 12" x 18". So, to have 2" of matt each way means the overall matt size will be 16" x 22". Their frame sizes are 16" x 20", or 16" x 24". Neither frame works. Sure, I could have 2" of matt across the top and bottom, and 1" of matt at each end, and the 16" x 20" will work. But, that will look ridiculous. I originally thought about a wrap, but my wife doesn't like those. So Mpix is out.

Even though I hate to, I'll probably end up cutting off 2" and buying the stock matted frame for it. It's just not how I envisioned it. I hate being broke all the time. :sigh:

Brand new professional straight line mat cutters are not cheap. The hand held ones like the Dexter or some of the Logan's(I still have a new Dexter in a box that has never been used that I bought at a thrift store) or any of the other brands take a lot of practice and I never really had the patience nor did I want to waste a lot of mat board and money trying to get a good cut. Shortly after I started teaching I was given the OK to buy a nice mat cutter and I bought a 48" C&H mat cutter and I was spoiled very quickly. I even attended a workshop on the proper use of the machine sponsored by the frame shop I bought my supplies from, including the mat cutter.

I knew that when it was time to retire I had to have a mat cutter of this quality and so I bought the smaller version of the one I have at work off eBay. I have another C&H mat cutter that was made under Bainbridge ownership when they bought out the Carithers' brothers. It was more designed for the hobbyist but it still cuts a nice window mat but I had to have the heavy duty model which has a much smoother feel and takes less effort to make the cuts. The one I have is a 40" model which will cover any mat size I may need for the print sizes I like to produce. The less expensive hand held mat cutters are difficult to master and if you deviate even slightly from the clamped straight edge or end up with blade deflection the end results are usually not good and extremely frustrating.

Here is the machine I have and use. I won this one for $158 plus shipping but it still has many years of service even though it is an early 80's model just like the one I have at work. Nice machines like this one are hard to wear out and don't need much maintenance once they are properly aligned and setup. The new C&H machines of this size now sell for about $1000 not including the squaring arm or production stops that mine came with.

My apologies to the OP. Now back to the original topic.

 

[addylo]

No worries. Good discussion!