Framing pictures - advice needed

So I'm looking to frame one or two pictures of Everest and Tibet from our summer trip. see http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=33052 for picts and TR.

I have gotten a couple picts blown up to 20x30 and they turned out pretty dang well. The resolution is really surprisingly good.

Now my question is, what the best / cheapest way to get a big print like that framed?

We walked into Aaron Brothers and they asked that I bend over so they could ream me to the tune of $500!?!? for a fricken frame job. We said thanks but no thanks. So the question is what is the best way to get one of these puppies framed?

Michaels? Wife's gotten a few things done there relatively competently and relatively inexpensively (but they're evil chains).

If you want it done well, sorry to say, you're going to have to shell out serious coin. If you can get a frame in a standard size that will save you some money, but you definitely don't want to force the issue. 24x36 is a standard size, but will 2" on a side and 3" on top be enough matting? I'm not sure. All I can say is do it so it looks good, not so it's cheap...but you knew that anyway!

One more tip. There a couple places in Tijuana that sell really nice frames for very cheap.

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Originally Posted by The AD

One more tip. There a couple places in Tijuana that sell really nice frames for very cheap.

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Just watch out for the little kids selling Chicklets- the little fucks will swarm you.

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Originally Posted by lemon boy

Michaels? Wife's gotten a few things done there relatively competently and relatively inexpensively (but they're evil chains).

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Michaels does tend to do decent work for a chain, and not a custom frame shop.

the latter will definitely cost you more, but if you can't stomach that, one of the chains is the way to go. If you're not happy with the way it turns out, you can always ask them to try again, likely at no cost to you.

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Originally Posted by The AD

One more tip. There a couple places in Tijuana that sell really nice frames for very cheap.

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Take the velvet painting of Elvis out of the frame first tho.

Be patient. I had 3 custom 22X24 pieces double matted and framed @ Michael's a while back for 75% off. Came out to like $175 total.

They regularly run 50% off 2 custom framings, and 75% off 3 custom pieces. Just keep your eyes open in the paper and on their website.

If you decide to DIY:
http://www.lightimpressionsdirect.com/

I've just done a ton of framing and it cost bank, but I had it done by a really great place. The result are pictures that I know I'll want to keep on my wall forever. You can sometimes get them down a bit on price, and you can price out all the different frames. I'm of the mindset that if something cost 50% more but it will last forever and you actually like looking at it on a daily basis, then it's worth it.

You might take one in at a time to spread the cost out. Over the last two years, I've framed probably 10 things, but I did it slowly and it didn't hurt quite so much.

Also - you might ask about non-glare glass and UV protection glass. Especially with photos, you want to limit the fading. And the nonglare glass just looks a ton better in my opinion.

I had some pretty set ideas when I went in to have things framed, and the girl there changed my mind about the color of mat and frame. She ended up being so right - they look great. She had a better eye than me.

Anyway - good luck!

Are you gonna frame this one too?

http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...blpic44157.jpg

:p

Comish, if by LaLa land you mean Lost Angels, there's a U-Frame-It shop in Van Nuys.
There are several in the Seattle area and we use them for all our framing at about 1/2 the price to have someone else do it.

They cut the frame, mat(s) and glass, you assemble the parts there in the store using thier tools and table.

U-Frame It
13630 Sherman Way
Van Nuys, CA 91405

Phone: (818) 781-4500
Phone2: (818) 402-8579

Or, you could go the unframed route and mount them to self-adhesive photoboard/fome-cor/Gatorfoam.
http://www.franklinphoto.com/store8.htm#1015

"Frame it Yourself" is reasonably priced. I've always use them.