Have you spotted an art print you would like to buy, then noticed the different pricing options? Rolled print, framed print, or a hand-embellished print - the price difference can be staggering. As an example, a rolled print may be priced at £284.99. Add a frame and the price jumps to £498.99.
Why such a jump in price for a frame?
Framers stock a lot more materials than print studios do. They benefit from bulk orders of raw materials. A print studio is likely to bulk order a select few framing materials. Mainly, neutral coloured mount boards along with a particular colour of frame. Those can then be used to frame any print they sell. Prices vary depending on the markup added by the merchant. Then on top of the fees for framing the print, there’s usually a shipping surcharge because it costs a lot more to ship a framed print than it does to package and ship a rolled print.
Rolled prints are always going to be the most affordable option. Once you receive a rolled print, there are a few important steps involved before reaching for your framing materials. The primary pre-framing steps are to flatten the print and ensure that the paper is wrinkle-free.
The most affordable framing option for art prints
Regardless of the size of the print, the most affordable option is to use a ready-made frame cut to a standard size and select a mount board, which serves as additional protection while also being in a colour that is complementary to the print.
The sky-high prices associated with framing are for custom frame solutions. These are usually reserved for high-end vintage pieces requiring conservation framing techniques using a frame that is not a standard stock, but a bespoke material.
The vast majority of wood frames are affordable options for almost all types of art prints. Even for decorative ornate swept frames that would befit vintage looking portraits look like the real deal, despite being wood with gold leaf applied to it.
When you have your print, the two things to consider for the frame are the colour and the style. The mount board can be any colour that you think would best compliment the art.
Framing an Embellished Canvas Print
In today’s increasingly competitive art industry, artists are striving to make their work more original. A popular method is to offer an upgrade to art prints with a “hand-embellished canvas”.
Using this technique, the original artwork remains the same, but the artist adds in one-of-a-kind touches to further beautify the print, such as enhancing a particular colour or adding defined brush strokes to the background.
Any prints on canvas can be framed, but given the hardiness of the paints and the canvas material, they do not need the glazing, nor do they require mount boards for added protection.
For canvas prints, in particular the hand-embellished prints, framing those is best done with a canvas floating frame. With these, every detail of the print is on display without any glazing interfering with it such as glare.
Canvas floating frames are the affordable option for hand embellished prints on canvas. For all other rolled prints, multiple frame materials are available. To assist in preservation, include an acid-free mount board. Prior to ordering your framing supplies, consider where your print will be displayed. If it will be hung somewhere that direct light would beam onto the surface, consider adding UV-resistant glazing.
By ordering rolled prints to frame yourself, you can benefit from a wider range of frame styles, and mount board colours.