jordan.dickinson
Jordan Dickinson
A lot of "standard" frame sizes have been defined more by artwork pertaining to paintings and other mixed medias. 35mm proportions often clash with this predetermined "standard" and can be difficult to deal with. I've run into this same problem recently for small show, and found that a 13"x 19" sectional frame worked very well for my own prints of 35mm photos.
I don't know if there's a better explanation, but this is what I've learned in the last couple of months. Best of luck!
I don't know if there's a better explanation, but this is what I've learned in the last couple of months. Best of luck!
Dektol Dan
Well-known
Wrong!
Wrong!
Very few frames are not Golden Mean. Go here and read it for yourself:
http://www.pictureframes.com/script....woa/wa/Home?gclid=CNzIrprnqasCFRpkgwodJiJmCQ
Wrong!
Very few frames are not Golden Mean. Go here and read it for yourself:
http://www.pictureframes.com/script....woa/wa/Home?gclid=CNzIrprnqasCFRpkgwodJiJmCQ
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Film sizes and print sizes match perfectly. You're just shooting the wrong film sizes. What's wromng with 10x8 and 11x14?
Otherwise, Blackways has it:
"I usually buy a standard size frame and cut the mat opening to the image size. Crop if the composition asks for it, not if the frame does."
Cheers,
R.
Otherwise, Blackways has it:
"I usually buy a standard size frame and cut the mat opening to the image size. Crop if the composition asks for it, not if the frame does."
Cheers,
R.
Tim Gray
Well-known
I buy mine from framedestination.com. They are an APUG sponsor. Decent prices. I get the frame, backing board, mat board, and glass/acrylic all at once. They have standard sizes pre packaged, or you can get custom openings cut. I think there's a setup fee on the custom mats, but if you get two or three at the same time, it's really not much more expensive.
rogerzilla
Well-known
The most common print sizes are based around old sheet film formats. Newer ones like A4 (ugh!) simply fit inkjet printers.
Buy a matte cutter like the Olfa 45 degree one and a long steel rule. Some carpet tiles (not fitted!) are good for cutting on. Then you can make your own mattes - it is critical to keep everything extremely clean and to make the cuts gradually to avoid tearing. Nothing ruins an exhibition print quite like a badly-cut matte.
Buy a matte cutter like the Olfa 45 degree one and a long steel rule. Some carpet tiles (not fitted!) are good for cutting on. Then you can make your own mattes - it is critical to keep everything extremely clean and to make the cuts gradually to avoid tearing. Nothing ruins an exhibition print quite like a badly-cut matte.
t.s.k.
Hooked on philm
I cut hundreds of mats in college with one of these. Is it still the "standard" for cheap home-cut mats?
btw, another detail I didn't see mention is cutting the mat weighted at the bottom. Some do it some don't, but this is how I was taught many moons ago. Equal mat borders just don't look right to me. Anyways, this also can throw a wrench in the calculations.
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
Well, that link does not link to any information on the golden mean, at least going by a site search. But none of the "popular sizes" that site lists are even remotely close to the golden mean - the side ratios of their frames are in the 1.20-1.50 range, whereas
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KenR
Well-known
Try 14x18 frames - available in most good frames stores in either black or silver metal or occasionally in wood. I like this for my 9x13.5 full frame prints and various other print sizes based on 11x14 paper. I find that 16x20 frames are too big for anything other than full 11x14 prints.
However, this size frame generally doesn't come with a precut mat. If you're going to do a lot of framing, it pays to buy a good mat cutter as you save a bundle not having to have mats custom cut in a frame store.
However, this size frame generally doesn't come with a precut mat. If you're going to do a lot of framing, it pays to buy a good mat cutter as you save a bundle not having to have mats custom cut in a frame store.
Steve M.
Veteran
This is one of the more frustrating things about photography, the disconnect between paper sizes, 35mm film ratios, and frame sizes. If you shot 4x5, which is what the frames seem to be sized for, no problem. But it doesn't bother me anymore because I have given up on framing and matting photographs. A neighbor convinced me with his dry mounted, fiber, B&W prints..... man, that's the way to go. No matte, no frame, no glass, and best of all, no infernal reflections from the glass or plexi. B&W photos were just made to be exhibited dry mounted w/o frames.
