The other day I spent a couple of hours framing three prints for an upcoming show I will be part of along with the other members of the Monalog Photographic Collective (more on that to come!). Next to the picture itself, framing is the most critical part of what you are presenting to those who will see your work.

Everyone has his or her preferences, but to me I want something simple and clean that does not distract in any way from what is most important … the picture itself!  I’ve only used one frame and one frame size … Nielsen Style 15 black, 14X17 inches. If I remember correctly I read about this frame in one of Ansel Adams’ books some forty years or so ago. Good enough for him, good enough for me!  It’s truly a classic look and I can think of no better way to show black and white photographs.  The good news is that they are inexpensive and easy to assemble. You can order them from a number of suppliers with the pieces pre-cut to your exact dimensions and they come with all the necessary hardware to put them together.

The frames can be put together in just a few minutes. What takes time is to make sure there is no dust on your print or it’s over mat.  Finally, it is essential that that the glass (or Plexiglas, if you use that) is absolutely clean and dust free. Here’s what I do.  First I use a soft brush and make sure there is no dust or specs of anything else on the print surface or over mat.  Then I take an anti-static brush and go over both sides of the glass. Next I use Windex to remove any fingerprints or anything else on the glass surfaces. Sorry, if the glass is scratched you need to get another piece cut! After I have cleaned the glass with a lint free paper towel I brush both sides again with the anti-static brush and place it on top of the mounted print.  I look carefully to make sure I haven’t missed anything … even with all this care there may be a speck or two of dust under the glass … I wear cotton gloves to pick up the glass and brush away the last offending culprits!

When I am satisfied all is well I slide the print/glass sandwich into the frame and then attach the final frame section.  I then insert some thin metal spring-like strips between the frame and the back mat to keep everything secure and tight. Finally, I attach wire to the frame so it can be hung on the wall.  The choice of where you wish to sign your print … front or back … is yours.

So there you have it. We’ve come a long way together!  Just one more step to discuss – storage of mounted prints, toned un-mounted prints and un-toned prints in archival boxes.

Stay well,

Michael