A3 frames

[gray]

Hi,

I know that this question doesn't really fit into this forum, but I can't find another place for it!

Now I have my R2880 and have started printing out in A3, I'm having trouble locating "decent" A3 frames for them. My local Hobbycraft does A3 clipframes for £4, but I can't stand clipframes! I've looked online and A3 frames seem quite expensive, especially when you add on the shipping cost. Am I just going to have to face up to it and pay out way over the odds or is there a better alternative? I could obviously print out smaller than A3 and then frame then in more traditional photo sizes, but then I'd have to cut them out neatly etc. etc.

Help!

Gray

[Costas L]

Hello Gray - I imagine options for cheap A3 frames must be fairly limited.

A few people have had some success with frames from IKEA - never used them myself so cannot comment on quality, but the pictures on the web site look good except they do not seem to come with a cut out mount. Prices are very good though, 30x40cm for £5.99 and 40 x 50 cm for £7.99. Do not have an IKEA near me, so would be interested to read what you think should you check them out
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/40057810

[Costas L]

They also do some with mounts
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/20142923 40x50 cm for £10.59

Do not seem to have stocks for on-line order but available in Wembley - probably my nearest store

[gray]

Hi Costas,

Funnily enough I normally get my frames from IKEA, but they don't do A3 frames (or at least they don't advertise them on their website). As for the quality of the frames they do stock, they're pretty cheap and cheerful. I'd happily get one from IKEA if they did an A3 one!

[Costas L]

Hi Costas,

Funnily enough I normally get my frames from IKEA, but they don't do A3 frames (or at least they don't advertise them on their website). As for the quality of the frames they do stock, they're pretty cheap and cheerful. I'd happily get one from IKEA if they did an A3 one!

The 30 x 40 cm and 40 x 50 cm will take an A3 sheet. Those sizes were available "in-store" when I checked the website, but not for on-line orders

[bez]

Ikea RIBBA 40x50cms for £10.59 including a mount, are quite nice (simple square moulding) and come in a decent variety of finishes.
Quality is generally good, but check the mitred corners.

Can't say I would buy any of their other frames ...

[Costas L]

Thanks for the recommendation bez, thats the one in my second link - will check it out should I ever find any in stock

[bez]

The pale birch ones are really quite nice (slightly darker oak is good too) and they're solid wood (rather than plastic-veneered mdf ) which is great for the price, so bumps and scratches can be polished out.
We used Ribba in the gallery before getting our own framing supplies set up.

[The Crofter]

Just out of interest what price for an A3 frame would people consider expensive ?.

Bespoke:
Mountboard is cut with appropriate borders to suit the artwork.
Mountboard/moulding colour and style also chosen to complement the art
Conservation materials are the norm.
Frames accurately mitered, pinned & glued.
No use of mdf.
Back of frame sealed with appropriate tape.

IKEA (from personal experience)
None of the above except frames are underpinned.

Of course there will be a price differential but a bespoke frame should show off the artwork to maximum effect. If you want to keep costs down then seek out a framer that is off the beaten track. A shop with lower overheads may offer quality frames at prices well below the high street.

Just my thoughts !

[Sean]

I get my A3 frames here. Decent price, well packed.

[bez]

Nielsen are usually well made, but add in the cost of a mount and they're more than twice the price of an equivalent 40x50cm Ikea Ribba in solid birch.
Ribba are glued and pinned, as I found to my cost, breaking the glass on a small lump of Eastern European glue in the corner

[jrhilton]

I get my A3 frames here. Decent price, well packed.

Agreed, I get frames from tradeframes.co.uk sometimes too, reliable and good quality, and a good price I think too.

[Robin Hood]

I`m with Bez on this one.
Having tried various frames over the years I now use only Nielsen. The main problem that I`ve had with cheap (and nasty) frames is that the glass can have varying degrees of colour, usually green, but also magenta and yellow thereby imparting that colour cast to the picture and mount behind it.
We invest a lot of time, heartache and effort in producing work to the best of our ability. Why spoil the ship for a ha`porth of tar?
Another plus for Nielsen is that they`re robust enough to withstand the changing of artwork as and when.
With regard to sizes, to my taste, an A3 print can look cramped when mounted and matted in even a 40 X 50 frame. On the other hand an A3+ print mounted and matted to 50 X 70cm can look spectacular!

[Sean]

Tradeframes.co.uk do Nielsen frames from what I remember - yup, just checked, they do.

[bez]

I`m with Bez on this one.

I wasn’t exactly recommending Nielsen, at least not on a cost basis ...
All standard 2mm picture glass is usually slightly green, even good stuff, although as you say you can get worse. The only way round that is to use very expensive coated glass, such as Schott Mirogard or Truvue Museum.