Return-Path: Received: from LINNAEUS.TASKS.CS.CMU.EDU by K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU id aa05341; 3 Oct 94 14:59:07 EDT Received: from LINNAEUS.TASKS.CS.CMU.EDU by LINNAEUS.TASKS.CS.CMU.EDU id aa27677; 3 Oct 94 14:58:05 EDT Reply-to: Wes Huang From: Wes Huang To: bovik@cs.cmu.edu cc: mongoose@LINNAEUS.TASKS.CS.CMU.EDU Subject: Framing Date: Mon, 03 Oct 94 14:58:03 -0400 Message-ID: <27675.781210683@LINNAEUS.TASKS.CS.CMU.EDU> Sender: Wesley_H_Huang@LINNAEUS.TASKS.CS.CMU.EDU I just had some framing done, and though I would pass on these notes: The Framesmith (Squirrel Hill) ---> disrecommended -------------- I took two posters to the Framesmith to be framed. They had a pretty nice selection of frames, and their prices seemed to be the best around. You can even save a little $$$ by doing the assembly yourself --- they do the mounting, build the frame, and cut the glass. You come in, and they walk you through cleaning the glass and assembling the whole thing. I would not recommend taking any fine artwork to them. In fact, I don't think I'll ever take anything there to be dry mounted again. When I went to do the assembly, I found that there were aluminum chips (from cutting aluminum sectional frames) on my posters. One poster even had a little indentation on the surface. The lady walking me through the assembly carefully explained that they store artwork in the same room that they cut the frames, and it's either the artwork or the store's personel that get aluminum chips on them. I refrained from telling her that I would rather that she got hit by aluminum chips rather than my artwork. Also, I had them trim the border off one poster and asked them to save the part that had the artist's name and such, but whoever trimmed the poster and mounted it didn't. I get the impression that the shop is run by a large number of people who are not collectively consciencous about their work. Create A Frame (Squirrel Hill) -------------- Run by a single person. He seemed quite competent to me, and I would trust him with fine artwork. Good selection of frames, etc. However, I did not use him because he was a little pricier than other places. Top Notch Art Center (Craig St., Oakland) -------------------- I had two photographs matted and mounted here. The selection and prices seemed good, but the framing is all sent to a single shop which services all the top notch stores. Consequently, they take longer. Whereas the squirrel hill stores could get something done within a week, they told me it would take two weeks for my order. Their work was very good quality. Graphik Dimensions (mail order) ------------------ A place which I've used for year, Graphik Dimensions has a good selection of metal sectional frames at very good prices. There wood frames are more of a mixed bag. A "standard" metal section frame would be $9.40 for 16 by 20 inches. You can call them at 800/221-0262. Wes Huang mongoose@ri.cmu.edu