Displaying non-framed Photos

[damien.murphy]

I'm not sure if this the right place to put this, so if a more suitable forum exists, please feel free, mods 🙂

In any case:

I'm looking for a method to display my photos (work prints and new prints mainly), without framing them. I will frame final images, but for now, I have some blank walls and want to use them to display work prints, or new prints I want to live with for a while.

Does anyone have such a system that they use, or ideas of cool systems they've seen, as I would be keen to get this up and running, and most likely do it myself as I have the time. Some sort of reasonably priced solution would work best, and also one that does not require too much modification to the walls.

I have a few ideas, of which the most suitable one would be the one I saw in a Selbastiao Salgado documentary, whereby he had rails of some sort on most of the walls in a room, and used small magnets to hang work prints up for display and evaluation purposes. I liked this solution, as it required no damage to the prints, and prints could be moved or rotated easily. I've yet to meet anyone who has had such a system, and would be keen to hear anyones experiences here, should they have something like that.

Another alternative I see, is covering walls in cork/ cork board, and tacking prints to the cork. I do not like this system as much, as it requires a lot of visible cork, as well as damage to the print borders from the tacks.

The last option I saw was that of having rails, with a ledge/ lip, attaching them to walls and then being able to rest framed prints on them. Perhaps this could work for loose prints, but I am not sure, and see curling of prints, or prints falling to the floor easily, so do not see this too much as a suitable solution.

Any suggestions appreciated, especially on the magnet rail idea, which seems to be the front runner for me.

Thanks in advance

 

[Meakin]

I'll tell you what I did - maybe it can result in some other ideas.

I don't have this any more - but at one time, I put two very thin steel wires (think as thin/thinner than the ones used for halogen spots) across the length of a white wall I had, then used 4x two small steel crocodile clips with a small length og wire between - too connect each corner of a print with the "wall wires".

They floated rather nicely in the room I thought and were very easy to change or move as one seemed fit.

EDIT: another advantage is that it cost me peanuts from a local hardware store (and every peanut counted in those days)!

Hope it helps,

Cheers,

Meakin

 

[f6andBthere]

I saw a really cool system in a gallery with fine stainless steel wires attached to sliding runners in a groove in a rail mounted to the wall. At the end of these very light quite long stainless wires were small clips you could attach to the print ... two per print. Although the prints moved around a bit and didn't hang dead flat it still looked very good. I really liked the look of this setup ... I find frames quite distracting at times and would be happy to display my own work this way!

 

[damien.murphy]

Wire and clips, a great idea. Have to say I saw had thought of this and forgot to mention it in my initial post. Seems like a good option, and right up there with some sort of rail/ magnet system. Less overt, and just as easy to swap prints out and in.

@Meakin, any reason you do not have this system any more ?

Damien

 

[konicaman]

At home I just laminate them and put them on the wall with bluetack. We have a whole wall more or less covered with 16-20 of our common photos taken both by me and my wife. We change them 3-4 times a year. Not a very pro solution, but we surely get to enjoy our photos this way. Afterwards they can be used for large post cards or cut up into smaller greeting cards, or even used as placemats.

 

[Meakin]

.........
@Meakin, any reason you do not have this system any more ?

Damien

Yes - I moved 😉 and now live in a very very small town house from 1830 where wall space is a luxury - but replying to this thread has made me think about finding space for it again.

Cheers,

Meakin

 

[damien.murphy]

Laminating, hmm.. an interesting option. Not the one for me, as I would have uses for the photos after displaying, but an interesting option none the less.

@Meakin, ah, the joy of packing and the fun of trying to fit everything back in, lol

 

[dogbunny]

Thumb tack to a wall is simple and definitely has its own aesthetic. Have you seen those clear shower curtain-type picture holders that you hang on the wall? They look cool, but only if the pictures are worth displaying in the first place.

 

[Calzone]

I got these L shaped nails that are cut out of flat metal sheets of aluminum, that sometimes also come in brass.

Galleries use these to display standard sized prints without frames by creating sandwiching a print against a wall with either a piece of glass or plexiglass that is cut to the same size as the print to protect the front.

The l shaped nails look kinda elegant in a minimalist kinda way, and the nails get used over and over again. Works best on mounted prints BTW.

Cal

 

[mwoenv]

I dealt with the exact same thing recently and ended up purchasing inexpensive, light plastic black frames with glass from www.pfile.com (MCS Format frames: $2.70 for 8x10 and $5.50 for 11x14).

I consider these temporary frames because I can change a print out in seconds (the plastic frame is flexible enough that the glass can be popped out immediately) and I don't have to mount the print on a mat board to place it in the frame. So other than prints I have permanently framed, my display constantly changes.

I have 20 of these, roughly half 8x10 and half 11x14, on a living room wall and they look good. A small paneling nail will hold up the frame/print. They can be hung in portrait or landscape.

 

[ChrisP]

I think this is the best option. I'm doing something similar and using having some frames cut for me that I can put together myself. That way I can swap out pictures and change things around whenever I want.

I dealt with the exact same thing recently and ended up purchasing inexpensive, light plastic black frames with glass from www.pfile.com (MCS Format frames: $2.70 for 8x10 and $5.50 for 11x14).

I consider these temporary frames because I can change a print out in seconds (the plastic frame is flexible enough that the glass can be popped out immediately) and I don't have to mount the print on a mat board to place it in the frame. So other than prints I have permanently framed, my display constantly changes.

I have 20 of these, roughly half 8x10 and half 11x14, on a living room wall and they look good. A small paneling nail will hold up the frame/print. They can be hung in portrait or landscape.

 

[Chris101]

Ticky-tack. Use the blue or white kind (not the gray kind) and it won't leave any residue. I've had pics up for 2 years now with no fallage.

 

[damien.murphy]

Thumb tacks out for me, don't want to damage the print or the borders. Blue tack an alternative alright, so simple yet effective.

L-shaped plates very interesting, must have a look into those, especially if there is something instead of glass to hold the prints in place. Seems like a nice solution, if using consistent print sizes.

Cheap frames an option too, may look into that too, although seem to like the idea of bare prints - let them earn a frame 🙂