Unfortunately, it's not (12"x18"), but I do think I can get sectional frame pieces that will do, and either mat it or I might take it back to the framer to have them do -just- bonding the print to a board.
If there's an A.C. Moore near where you live, you can usually get a coupon off their webpage for 40%-50% off an item (look for the "Store Locator & Coupons" button near the bottom). That helps a lot on frames.
$80 was the frame pieces (dark blue metal), $15 was bonding the print to a hard backing to prevent warping, $20 was the glass, and $10 was "misc. mounting." The rest was tax.
I don't have A.C. Moore, but there is JoAnne's, Michael's, Blicks, and a Hobby Lobby in reasonable driving distance. I'm sure I'll figure something out.
Dude, those 3D printers are going to change framing prices the way photo printers changed print prices! I CAN'T FRICKIN WAIT!
(Were photo prints ever obscenely expensive? I remember my mother complaining but I don't think I ever experienced this directly. If not, my statement is totally off and I look like a dork... but I'm going to take a chance on this one... hahahaha!)
And I seem to remember that buying prints of school pictures every year was exorbitant in some way, we never bought as many of the prints as we wanted because they were so expensive.
Yeah, family pictures, too. Though something tells me that's at least partly just the "Professional Photographer" jacking the bill up. (What kind of professional is an expert on making kids sit behind a colored background and taking a headshot photo? Really? C'mon.)
Standard size frame (say 8 1/2" by 11") are pretty cheap because they can be mass produced. But if you go to custom framing with custom matting, suddenly there's a fair amount of labor involved, and with premium materials, that doesn't sound too far off.
Honestly, if you have a choice, always buy framed, because it's almost always cheaper than having to do it yourself.
On the other hand, with a router and a miter saw much is possible. Helps to have a lot of straight edges and knives.
I'm gonna see what I find at Michaels or JoAnne's.
If I can get a sectional frame I find acceptable for under $40, I have no problem with providing it to the framing store and giving them $30 to mount and assemble everything right. I just have a hard time to swallow paying double that amount for, as far as I can tell, is the same sectional style framing pieces with a powdercoat paint job.
*nods* I can understand that. Heck, my diploma is in a $200 frame.
I don't dispute that a nice frame can be expensive...I suppose it's just the cost of this particular frame that got me - painting the aluminum of the frame blue instead of black doesn't seem like a reason for a 200% price hike to me.
Really, I was incredibly surprised at mom getting it framed. WoW CE was my christmas gift and when I showed her all the cool stuff, she was like "That's a really nice map....give me that, I'm going to go get it framed."
Momma knows her little angel loves his video games.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2008-04-19 07:48 pm (UTC)I do know that if the print is in a standard size, you can get a mat and a frame for (probably well) under $25, provided it's not especially large.
no subject
Date: 2008-04-19 09:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-19 07:55 pm (UTC)If there's an A.C. Moore near where you live, you can usually get a coupon off their webpage for 40%-50% off an item (look for the "Store Locator & Coupons" button near the bottom). That helps a lot on frames.
no subject
Date: 2008-04-19 09:14 pm (UTC)$80 was the frame pieces (dark blue metal), $15 was bonding the print to a hard backing to prevent warping, $20 was the glass, and $10 was "misc. mounting." The rest was tax.
I don't have A.C. Moore, but there is JoAnne's, Michael's, Blicks, and a Hobby Lobby in reasonable driving distance. I'm sure I'll figure something out.
no subject
Date: 2008-04-19 08:12 pm (UTC)(Were photo prints ever obscenely expensive? I remember my mother complaining but I don't think I ever experienced this directly. If not, my statement is totally off and I look like a dork... but I'm going to take a chance on this one... hahahaha!)
no subject
Date: 2008-04-19 09:12 pm (UTC)(Yeah, they have been - I remember playing $20 for developing a roll of film a long time ago.)
no subject
Date: 2008-04-19 09:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-19 11:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-20 03:55 am (UTC)Honestly, if you have a choice, always buy framed, because it's almost always cheaper than having to do it yourself.
On the other hand, with a router and a miter saw much is possible. Helps to have a lot of straight edges and knives.
no subject
Date: 2008-04-20 04:14 am (UTC)If I can get a sectional frame I find acceptable for under $40, I have no problem with providing it to the framing store and giving them $30 to mount and assemble everything right. I just have a hard time to swallow paying double that amount for, as far as I can tell, is the same sectional style framing pieces with a powdercoat paint job.
no subject
Date: 2008-04-20 05:18 am (UTC)That thing is sitting in a $120 frame, thanks to mom. Mind you it is a really cool map and in a REALLY nice frame.
no subject
Date: 2008-04-20 02:19 pm (UTC)I don't dispute that a nice frame can be expensive...I suppose it's just the cost of this particular frame that got me - painting the aluminum of the frame blue instead of black doesn't seem like a reason for a 200% price hike to me.
no subject
Date: 2008-04-20 02:23 pm (UTC)Really, I was incredibly surprised at mom getting it framed. WoW CE was my christmas gift and when I showed her all the cool stuff, she was like "That's a really nice map....give me that, I'm going to go get it framed."
Momma knows her little angel loves his video games.
no subject
Date: 2008-04-20 02:49 pm (UTC)