I use the 50% off coupon from Michael's for all my framing. They always do a great job and help choose frames and mats.

I use my local art store... they beat Michael's pricing in my area, even with the 50% off coupon.

The owner is a working artist with a great eye for mats and frames.

This is one that I've used and been happy with.

Here is a link that might be useful: Framesbymail

I use Franken Frames and Graphik Dimensions and have been very happy with the prices, products, and customer service from both. Franken is better for solid wood frames, GD is better for metal and composites (like painted finishes). Both custom cut mats as well as frames and have all the parts you need to do a nice framing job - if you can make a sandwich, you can put together your artwork. If you prefer glass instead of acrylic glazing, you'll have to have that cut locally, but any glass shop can do that. I've been very happy with acrylic, personally. Both companies send free samples on request and IMO it's mandatory that you get them, because a frame can look very different in a picture than in reality.

FWIW, the Michaels here raises their framing prices right before they do those 50%-off sales. YMMV.

I also work with a local frame shop ... but had to try a couple to find the right one. Prices are great, the guy is very knowledgable ... told me the correct way to mat and frame pastels so the pastel dust doesn't end up showing on the edge of the bottom mat.

I prefer to give my business to a local small business owner.

thanks! I have more photographs to frame, but we did some with the Great Frame Up. she honored the 50% coupon (frame only) even though I didn't have one. That price came to about 50 less than Hobby Lobby per picture (I had 3). And Hobby Lobby didn't help us out that much either. The only thing was that at Great Frame Up they offered a museum glass that was 140 per pic! Ouch, I didn't choose that option.

It looked to me that the frames from the online sites were about the same as the Great Frame Up with the 50% coupon. I may be able to use some ready-mades from Hobby Lobby with my photographs, I have to double check the sizes. They don't need mats because they already have borders the way our photographer printed them.

Anyways, I want to thank you for the websites. I ran a search and couldn't find them. I'll add these to my favorites for future reference. good point about the samples too.

Thanks again!

Those places y'all mention on line are really inexpensive. My problem is I don't have a clue how to frame something properly. I never know what color matt to use. I know there are "rules" we even had an entire thread that talked about that, but still I can't seem to make the picture look right. Here's an example of photo's I'd like to frame. My DH took these along the highway that leads to our new house. He loves the swamp and it's beauty. News to me after 20 years. LOL Anyway, I thought I'd frame these and hang them in the office at the new house as a surprise for him, but dang if I can figure out what color frames and matts to use. I'll also post a photo of the office wall so you can see the color of it. The sconce is brushed nickle so I'm going to stick with that metal for that room and black and cream are the two colors I'm thinking of for fabrics, so far. Any wisdom you can lend will be much appreciated.

office wall - Nantucket gray but, has green cast

You might try "PictureFrames.com"
Click on "Personal Frame Shop" where you can:
~ upload your own pics of what you want to frame
~ type in the size of your picture/painting
~then choose the closest wall color to your own wall so that you can get a more accurate idea of how the framed piece will look on your wall
~ you can add a mat/mats to see how different colors and mat sizes work with your piece
~ then add on of hundreds of frames

This is a great FREE interactive site that I've used many times over the years and I love it. I've ordered several frames and mats from them and have been very happy with their quality and their prices.
Good luck!
Lynn

I have had good luck with framefit.com

lynn, I try that and still come up with a photo that looks like your know what. I just need to frame matt free and then I'll be OK. It's the matt color that throws me.

brutuses, I always see B&W or color photographs framed with wide white mats and black frames and it always looks good to me, expecially when they are hung in groups.

Yikes! Especially (not expecially) ::blush:: ::rolling eyes::

What a neat site for seeing how your finished picture will look...
With the white matt and black frame...yours look great!
I tried to post it here, but for some reason I am unable to.

{{!gwi}}

brug, that looks good. Now why didn't I think of simple black and white? Dah!! See what I mean, don't have a creative bone when it comes to framing. Thanks so much, it's black and white for them babies!!!

That looks great. Personally though, I like an extra-wide matting with photos.