In times when it seems like everything needs to be done over an internet connection, it’s good to know that you still have conventional options. Traditional framers are still around in nearly every city centre across the UK. They just may be harder to find. It’s definitely easier to order frames online, but only if you know exactly what you need. For emerging artists framing their first piece of artwork, visiting a traditional frame store may be the best appointment you make early in your career.
The Traditional Frame Store Experience
Some stores are appointment-only. They may have set hours for walk-ins and set hours for appointments. As an example, opening hours of 10:00 to 14:00 and appointment only from 14:00 to 17:00.
Public walk-ins are for those who know what they want or would like to spend some time browsing the store, viewing the frame moulds, or perhaps getting some quick advice from either the framer or the staff.
Appointments are likened to a free estimate service. You take your work in to show the framer, discuss what you have in mind for framing, get their advice on it, and debate over the mouldings, and materials to include or leave out and discuss the sizing.
The framer will consider all the parts involved in creating the frame package and give you a price for the job. You can tweak frame mouldings, backing boards, and aperture dimensions to get your work framed within your budget.
Often is the case, subsequent appointments with your local framer become more straightforward because they’ll develop a feel for your preference of display, materials, and style of framing.
The time it takes to have your work framed will be dependent on what’s in stock and the sizes. Usually, because local frame shops are small, only samples of moulds are available in store. The time it takes to ship the frame mould to the framer, and then the framer to work their magic, can sometimes mean long wait times. The larger the framers’ premises, the more stock they’ll have, which means your framing projects can be completed faster.
At The Picture Gallery, we stock ready-made frames in popular sizes and have advanced mount cutting equipment at our workshop to offer custom framing services in Bedford. Due to how framers work, it makes sense to work with a local framer because in-person visits will usually be par for the course, even if it is only for drop-off and pick-up with everything else arranged over the phone, email, or via the website contact function.
The only exception is if you can do the consultations with the framer via video streaming and accept that you’ll have to prepare, protect, and ship your artwork, then both accept the risk involved in shipping via a third party for custom-framed original artwork. With insurance, it’s expensive. Without it, it’s extremely risky, which is why most won’t do it. Custom framing is usually done in person.
How Online Framers Work
Online framers provide self-service options. You have to take the measurements yourself and usually do the framing yourself, too. An online framer tends to ship the frame to you. You don’t send artwork in to have a framed piece sent back. The exception to that is the print and frame online stores, such as those offered by The Picture Gallery. With this service, you don’t ship the artwork to us. You take a scan, upload it to our systems, and then we print and frame your digital artwork and send the completed framed package to you.
The difference is the digital nature of the service. It’s not suited to framing an oil painting or similar traditional artwork. For those projects that you want to be professionally done, you can bring them into the workshop, discuss what you want us to do, and we’ll get to work on your project. No appointment is necessary!
Customers still benefit from the handmade service of traditional framers whether the order is placed online or in-store. The main difference is that you’re responsible for providing the dimensions when you place an order online. In that respect, it’s advantageous for those who are competent in taking accurate measurements. Get the measurements wrong, the store isn’t responsible. Because of that, many do provide detailed instructions on their website complete with insider tips to help you take accurate measurements and provide them clearly through their online ordering service.
In terms of pricing, you’ll find because there’s less time spent in-person providing advice on framing materials, moulds, and styles with an online framer, they work out cheaper. Traditional framers have to build in admin costs for the time spent advising, ordering materials, cutting, mounting, and framing, all of which push up the prices. The more of the framing project you can pull off yourself, the cheaper it will be with an online framer.
That said, the best benefit comes from forging a partnership with a local traditional framer, then once they know what you like, switch to online ordering when you’re more confident in measuring and understanding the frame moulds shown on the website that you’ve seen in person.