Framing without glass?

jfriend

I'm not sure what forum to put this in, but I guess I'll try here...

I'm looking to put up a bunch of prints on a hallway wall in our home to make kind of a gallery. The idea is to keep the prints fairly recent so I'll be updating the prints every so often rather than looking for a long term fine art kind of presentation.

Because I'll have quite a number of prints/frames and I hate reflective glass and museum glass is ridiculously expensive, I'm wondering about framing them without any glass. Some family portraits we had done 8 years ago were framed that way and I kind of like it.

What do you all think of framing for this circumstance without glass? Good idea or bad idea?

Also, does anyone know if you need to get a particular type of frame that can hold the picture securely without the thickness of the glass being present?

Elaine

Does the fotoflot style work for you? The way you were describing what you were looking for made me think of them.

DavidTO

Fotoflot is one of the companies in ClubSmug. You save 10%.

jfriend

Elaine wrote:

Does the fotoflot style work for you? The way you were describing what you were looking for made me think of them.

Thanks for the idea, but that isn't the style I was planning on. It is without glass, but also without frame border. I was more interested in what people's experience has been with pictures in regular frames, but without glass.

I also plan on printing my own images so I'm not interested in ordering from anyone like fotoflot. I was surprised how expensive fotoflot was and that they only offer two sizes in the 3:2 aspect ratio: $70 for a 10 x 15, $150 for a 15 x 22.5.

Art Scott

jfriend wrote:

I'm not sure what forum to put this in, but I guess I'll try here...

I'm looking to put up a bunch of prints on a hallway wall in our home to make kind of a gallery. The idea is to keep the prints fairly recent so I'll be updating the prints every so often rather than looking for a long term fine art kind of presentation.

Because I'll have quite a number of prints/frames and I hate reflective glass and museum glass is ridiculously expensive, I'm wondering about framing them without any glass. Some family portraits we had done 8 years ago were framed that way and I kind of like it.

What do you all think of framing for this circumstance without glass? Good idea or bad idea?

Also, does anyone know if you need to get a particular type of frame that can hold the picture securely without the thickness of the glass being present?

to try and actually answer your question....if you buy your frame with galss and remove it...then there is a prob ......but if you mat the photo you fix the prob....or have custom frames made ......if you do not want to mat the prints then add extra card board behind to take up space but No matter what I highly recommend mounting the prints so they don't bulge out of da frame.....I have done prints in thisfashion cause I am too cheap to purchase custom frames...so I mount and add extra cardbord (poster board) behind.

sara505

jfriend wrote:

Thanks for the idea, but that isn't the style I was planning on. It is without glass, but also without frame border. I was more interested in what people's experience has been with pictures in regular frames, but without glass.

I also plan on printing my own images so I'm not interested in ordering from anyone like fotoflot. I was surprised how expensive fotoflot was and that they only offer two sizes in the 3:2 aspect ratio: $70 for a 10 x 15, $150 for a 15 x 22.5.

I would be concerned about the lack of protection. Doesn't glass slow the deterioration process? Not to mention protection from dust. Maybe if you rotate the selection often enough this won't matter.

Maybe it's a matter of taste, but a nicely framed photo makes all the difference in the world. Seeing it in a computer screen is one thing, but to have and to hold a matted framed print - wow, it becomes a treasure. To me, a framed photo without glass would somehow seem unfinished, or vulnerable or something.

jfriend

sara505 wrote:

I would be concerned about the lack of protection. Doesn't glass slow the deterioration process? Not to mention protection from dust. Maybe if you rotate the selection often enough this won't matter.

Maybe it's a matter of taste, but a nicely framed photo makes all the difference in the world. Seeing it in a computer screen is one thing, but to have and to hold a matted framed print - wow, it becomes a treasure. To me, a framed photo without glass would somehow seem unfinished, or vulnerable or something.

Certainly if you want the ultimate in protection, you should use glass, but this is an interior hallway (no direct sun/UV), I could reprint anything that had to be replaced if something did happen and I really like the look of no glass. All glass, even the super-expensive museum glass takes something away from the photo display. There are also some protective sprays that can give you some level of protection if you want.

It's a personal style thing. It sounds like you think it would look odd. That's fine. I'm looking for all opinions or gotcha's about going glass-less.

Andy

jfriend wrote:

Thanks for the idea, but that isn't the style I was planning on. It is without glass, but also without frame border. I was more interested in what people's experience has been with pictures in regular frames, but without glass.

I also plan on printing my own images so I'm not interested in ordering from anyone like fotoflot. I was surprised how expensive fotoflot was and that they only offer two sizes in the 3:2 aspect ratio: $70 for a 10 x 15, $150 for a 15 x 22.5.

You get what you pay for, John. Amazing quality. The edges, the mounting, the way it floats off the wall... it's truly gorgeous. You'll get to see a wall of them at Chez Smug at the party.

I can't say enough about how gorgeous these are.

Airedrifter

Another thought.
Try a canvas print from here.

I just did one of mine and love how it came out. No glass needed.

pathfinder

You talked me into it Andy,

I have been looking at these for a while

aktpics

Elaine wrote:

Does the fotoflot style work for you? The way you were describing what you were looking for made me think of them.

That is pretty cool - I think I may have one or two in mind for them. Have you or anyone else printed using your own color proofing (not auto color). If so, how good were the results. If you soft-proofed, what profile did you use?

Thanks!

jfriend

Andy wrote:

You get what you pay for, John. Amazing quality. The edges, the mounting, the way it floats off the wall... it's truly gorgeous. You'll get to see a wall of them at Chez Smug at the party.

I can't say enough about how gorgeous these are.

I'm sure they are gorgeous. But, I'm feeling a bit like my thread has been hijacked here. I'm not interested in the Fotoflot style for the purpose I asked about and I do intend to do my own printing for this use. I also plan on updating the images every so often (it's a family wall) which isn't all that practical from them since you can't slide in a new image.

aktpics

jfriend wrote:

I'm sure they are gorgeous. But, I'm feeling a bit like my thread has been hijacked here. I'm not interested in the Fotoflot style for the purpose I asked about and I do intend to do my own printing for this use. I also plan on updating the images every so often (it's a family wall) which isn't all that practical from them since you can't slide in a new image.

Sorry John - I saw the Fotoflot site & got a bit carried away...

jfriend

aktpics wrote:

Sorry John - I saw the Fotoflot site & got a bit carried away...

Not a big deal - I was just hoping to hear more from people who have experience framing without glass.

Sam

jfriend wrote:

Not a big deal - I was just hoping to hear more from people who have experience framing without glass.

Ok, here are a few ideas.

Coda Mount: These are very light mounting boards 3/4" to 1 1/2" with self adhesive on the front. Simply print, stick, trim, (spray protective coating), and hang on the wall.

You could also simply mount the photo on foamcore, or gator board, with or without a boarder, and hang that on the wall.

Since you don't seem to be concerned about longevity, you can literly mount your photo on any material you like, and hang it on the wall.

Sam