Poster printing and framing

JamesN

Hi

As the title suggests really. I’ve done loads of searching but all the threads I’ve found are 10+ years old and there are so many sites that offer printing. 

I’m looking to do some portrait posters and was looking at A2 or larger. Trying to be flexible on the sizing as the second problem is finding a frame for them. I’m not particularly fussy about the frame. Just need one with a relatively thin border. 

I’d really appreciate any tips or suggestions. I need 3 doing in total so don’t want to spend a fortune per poster. 

Thanks

Keep_pedalling

Do you have any local printers in your area? If you need custom size prints there are more likely to be able to do them than any on line set-up. 

Emmia

If you buy a standard size, like A2 then you should be able to find an "off the peg" frame.  (although big ones are inherently expensive, you won't find a nice quality frame for £10) 

We've got ones similar to these

https://www.johnlewis.com/nielsen-alpha-aluminium-poster-frame/p5140079?s_share=jlappdroid 

https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-aluminium-photo-frame-a2-with-a3-mount/p4205212?s_share=jlappdroid

Otherwise IKEA can be a good place to go for a frame.

JamesN

Keep_pedalling said:

Do you have any local printers in your area? If you need custom size prints there are more likely to be able to do them than any on line set-up. 

It’s not so much being able to do them. As most of the online places will do the sizes. It’s whether they’d be cheaper? I guess saving the postage costs would help. But imagine online places have it down to minimum costs?

Emmia said:

If you buy a standard size, like A2 then you should be able to find an "off the peg" frame.  (although big ones are inherently expensive, you won't find a nice quality frame for £10) 

We've got ones similar to these

https://www.johnlewis.com/nielsen-alpha-aluminium-poster-frame/p5140079?s_share=jlappdroid 

https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-aluminium-photo-frame-a2-with-a3-mount/p4205212?s_share=jlappdroid

Otherwise IKEA can be a good place to go for a frame.

Ouch. Those frames are pretty pricey. IQ
 don’t mind about the quality as long as they look ok. Just a simple black frame or something. Was wondering if it’d be much cheaper making it myself. Ikea is a good shout though. 

Emmia

JamesN said:

Keep_pedalling said:

Do you have any local printers in your area? If you need custom size prints there are more likely to be able to do them than any on line set-up. 

It’s not so much being able to do them. As most of the online places will do the sizes. It’s whether they’d be cheaper? I guess saving the postage costs would help. But imagine online places have it down to minimum costs?

Emmia said:

If you buy a standard size, like A2 then you should be able to find an "off the peg" frame.  (although big ones are inherently expensive, you won't find a nice quality frame for £10) 

We've got ones similar to these

https://www.johnlewis.com/nielsen-alpha-aluminium-poster-frame/p5140079?s_share=jlappdroid 

https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-aluminium-photo-frame-a2-with-a3-mount/p4205212?s_share=jlappdroid

Otherwise IKEA can be a good place to go for a frame.

Ouch. Those frames are pretty pricey. IQ
 don’t mind about the quality as long as they look ok. Just a simple black frame or something. Was wondering if it’d be much cheaper making it myself. Ikea is a good shout though. 

The only thing I'd say about Ikea, is the frames are very variable, you really need to buy in person and inspect each one.

I'd also avoid Amazon as the quality is also variable (I've bought and returned a few) the last one I bought from Amazon, was for the sole purpose of replacing the glass in an existing frame which my husband broke!

Frames are astonishingly expensive, especially at larger sizes, were you hoping an A2 size frame would be £10 or so? A few years ago, to get a non-UK sized poster framed for a gift (which is slightly taller and narrower than A2) cost me £70 via Etsy for a simple black metal frame with delivery from Latvia, the local framing place wanted £90 for the same thing.

If you want art glass as well, then the price will go up a fair bit too.

I think making them isn't likely to work out cheaper either, once you've bought the parts,

JamesN

Emmia said:

JamesN said:

Keep_pedalling said:

Do you have any local printers in your area? If you need custom size prints there are more likely to be able to do them than any on line set-up. 

It’s not so much being able to do them. As most of the online places will do the sizes. It’s whether they’d be cheaper? I guess saving the postage costs would help. But imagine online places have it down to minimum costs?

Emmia said:

If you buy a standard size, like A2 then you should be able to find an "off the peg" frame.  (although big ones are inherently expensive, you won't find a nice quality frame for £10) 

We've got ones similar to these

https://www.johnlewis.com/nielsen-alpha-aluminium-poster-frame/p5140079?s_share=jlappdroid 

https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-aluminium-photo-frame-a2-with-a3-mount/p4205212?s_share=jlappdroid

Otherwise IKEA can be a good place to go for a frame.

Ouch. Those frames are pretty pricey. IQ
 don’t mind about the quality as long as they look ok. Just a simple black frame or something. Was wondering if it’d be much cheaper making it myself. Ikea is a good shout though. 

The only thing I'd say about Ikea, is the frames are very variable, you really need to buy in person and inspect each one.

I'd also avoid Amazon as the quality is also variable (I've bought and returned a few) the last one I bought from Amazon, was for the sole purpose of replacing the glass in an existing frame which my husband broke!

Frames are astonishingly expensive, especially at larger sizes, were you hoping an A2 size frame would be £10 or so? A few years ago, to get a non-UK sized poster framed for a gift (which is slightly taller and narrower than A2) cost me £70 via Etsy for a simple black metal frame with delivery from Latvia, the local framing place wanted £90 for the same thing.

If you want art glass as well, then the price will go up a fair bit too.

I think making them isn't likely to work out cheaper either, once you've bought the parts,

To be honest they’re going into a games room so it’s all themed around that. So not looking for a high level finish on them. I’ve seen some listed for £17 each which is fine. I probably couldn’t do it better or cheaper. Then you’ve got the ikea ones but the issue with those is I don’t like the mount under the glass. I’d want an even border all round but for some reason they’ve done the horizontals far chunkier. 

Emmia

JamesN said:

Emmia said:

JamesN said:

Keep_pedalling said:

Do you have any local printers in your area? If you need custom size prints there are more likely to be able to do them than any on line set-up. 

It’s not so much being able to do them. As most of the online places will do the sizes. It’s whether they’d be cheaper? I guess saving the postage costs would help. But imagine online places have it down to minimum costs?

Emmia said:

If you buy a standard size, like A2 then you should be able to find an "off the peg" frame.  (although big ones are inherently expensive, you won't find a nice quality frame for £10) 

We've got ones similar to these

https://www.johnlewis.com/nielsen-alpha-aluminium-poster-frame/p5140079?s_share=jlappdroid 

https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-aluminium-photo-frame-a2-with-a3-mount/p4205212?s_share=jlappdroid

Otherwise IKEA can be a good place to go for a frame.

Ouch. Those frames are pretty pricey. IQ
 don’t mind about the quality as long as they look ok. Just a simple black frame or something. Was wondering if it’d be much cheaper making it myself. Ikea is a good shout though. 

The only thing I'd say about Ikea, is the frames are very variable, you really need to buy in person and inspect each one.

I'd also avoid Amazon as the quality is also variable (I've bought and returned a few) the last one I bought from Amazon, was for the sole purpose of replacing the glass in an existing frame which my husband broke!

Frames are astonishingly expensive, especially at larger sizes, were you hoping an A2 size frame would be £10 or so? A few years ago, to get a non-UK sized poster framed for a gift (which is slightly taller and narrower than A2) cost me £70 via Etsy for a simple black metal frame with delivery from Latvia, the local framing place wanted £90 for the same thing.

If you want art glass as well, then the price will go up a fair bit too.

I think making them isn't likely to work out cheaper either, once you've bought the parts,

To be honest they’re going into a games room so it’s all themed around that. So not looking for a high level finish on them. I’ve seen some listed for £17 each which is fine. I probably couldn’t do it better or cheaper. Then you’ve got the ikea ones but the issue with those is I don’t like the mount under the glass. I’d want an even border all round but for some reason they’ve done the horizontals far chunkier. 

Are you looking at having a matt as well around the pics, that increases frame size, and cost.

ChasingtheWelshdream

I am a framer, and a common misconception is the price of framing for ‘simple’ items like posters. They are hard to frame cheaply, even with a “simple black frame”. When a piece of artwork is inexpensive it can be quite a shock when a framing quote comes in. There is actually a lot of hidden engineering to frame something properly- to a level designed to last 20 years anyway - which is what many framers work to.

An example is an OS map. Cheap to buy, easily £100+ for a budget framing job!

Having said that, if you are looking purely for short-term decoration, then an off-the-peg frame will be your best bet.  That John Lewis one for instance is a decent price for the size. I would charge more to make that bespoke.

In terms of making yourself, it is entirely possible if you have the equipment and skills. You could get a decent job with a mitre saw and pins/glue, but professionals do use guillotines, underpinners, large cutters for a reason. 

If you want to go down that route, you will need to find a moulding supplier. Many like Lionpic have £130ish minimum orders and require an account, so you may be better off finding a local framer to sell you some and maybe even chop and join for you. You will also need backing, glass, fixings….

Buy ready made 🙂

ChasingtheWelshdream

To add following your comment about the mount. The mount serves a purpose to space the print away from the glass, and artwork should be properly hinged to allow movement or sometimes dry mounted to a substrate. 

A professional would never lay glass directly onto artwork as it will eventually damage it. Trust me….

But, MSE hat…

If you are not fussed about longevity, don’t worry about it. Buy ready made, pop it in and enjoy looking at it. It may eventually fade, cockle, move but you may only want it for a couple of years so it’s a moot point?

DigSunPap

Unsure about where you can get them printed but surely there must be a place local to you that you could find with a bit of research. In terms of the frames - you can find them easily online.

CliveOfIndia

Do you have a branch of The Range nearby?  If you just want a cheap 'n' cheerful no-frills frame, they've usually got loads in stock.