Customer Reviews

Matting and Framing Made Easy

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is simply the best book currently out there for the do-it-yourself framer. In particular, after looking at dozens of books in libraries and bookstores, it's the only book I found that really gives satisfactory attention to archival considerations, pros and cons of different methods of mounting artwork, and protection of the framed materials from moisture in the environment (a real area of concern if you're living in an extremely high-humidity region, as I am!). After an hour or so of browsing through the book, I already felt I had gotten my money's worth in answered questions and useful information. Everything the beginner needs to know, plus a little more in-depth information for those of us who have already learned the basics. Recommended!

As a total beginner, I thought this book was very strong on presenting information about materials and archival vs. non-archival and such. However, I found the author's instructions on specific techniques to be lacking...I often had to read them many times just to understand a fairly simple procedure.

The author uses terminology which he has not previously defined and the instructional steps are not always easily understandable.

I wish that I'd read this book several years ago, as it would have saved me a lot of trial and a few errors. Even though I've done fair amount of framing myself over the years, I picked up new ideas on almost every page. This book tells everything you need to know about mounting most kinds of art - photo's, paintings, drawings, pastels, cloth, collectables, etc. with lots of useful hints for handling out of the ordinary items. Details provided on cutting all kinds and all shaped of mats with a wide range of tools, glazing, metal and wood frames, hanging, and even packing the finished product for moving or mailing. Janean Thompson provides lots of detail, helpful hints, and wise safety suggestions (handling mat cutter blades and cut glass warrants careful attention to sharp edges). This is a very practical reference for just about anyone who wants to save some of the expense of framing and have all the pleasure of completing it themselves. She even tells how to build several types of simple and inexpensive wooden frames from scratch. The only part that seems a bit brief is the few pages devoted to making elaborate wooden frames, but I'm OK with that. Her advice about finding wholesalers willing to provide materials and cutting for open backed frames is right on track. Cutting and assembling an elaborate frame are two steps where it pays to use equipment that's not in the average home workshop. If you are looking to do your own framing, this probably provides all the information that you need. If you are looking to build frames for a business, you may want additional information, but this would still be a good read. Highly recommended.

Extensive instruction on matting pictures for personal to archival matting. Practically anything you would need to know about matting. Not a lot about framing pictures but a very basic start at simple framing near the end of the book.

As a beginning framer, I found this book to be a wealth of valuable information on equipment and techniques. It covers every aspect of framing and answered most, if not all, of my questions. This is a wonderful resource for anyone interested in learning the art of framing.

This being the only book on the subject that was on the bookshelf in the brick&morter store, I was very disappointed in the author's handling of certain key aspects of the subject, that I felt, as a novice were very important.Specificly alternative sources of suitable supplies and materials.