Re: frame color for cyanotype

[Diana Bloomfield <dhbloomfield@bellsouth.net>]

Hi Barbara,

I get mine from American Frame, too.  They do have some very nice  
wood frames with a narrow profile, clean lines.  I often make smaller  
prints as well-- with fairly generous matting, and those narrow wood  
frames do look good with it.  I don't know how people keep the metal  
ones from scratching.  I take really good care of mine, but after one  
or two shows-- that's it.  I can't bear to use them if they're  
scratched.  I did try getting out the scratches with steel wool, and  
that did work on the less deep scratches.  Interestingly, I've also  
found that wood frames tend to encourage sales-- no scientific  
results here-- but I have noticed that if I put the same image in the  
same mat, but in a wood frame-- it seems to get a closer look.   
Interesting, since I always thought some of the Nielsen metal  
frames-- like the ones you mention-- were quite nice.

Diana

On Oct 14, 2008, at 12:42 PM, Barbara Izzo wrote:

> Carole--
>
> Like Katharine, I use Nielsen frames from American Frame.  For most  
> of my work (including cyanotype), I use the aluminum frame labeled  
> "Pewter."  This is quite different from the "German Silver" used by  
> Katharine and Diana.  (It looks more like pewter to me.)  For a few  
> cyanotypes, I have used "Frosted Silver" frames.  This color is not  
> appropriate (in my opinion) for a general all purpose frame but  
> works well for some images.  For toned cyanotypes, I often use a  
> "Graphite" frame.
>
> I have never used wooden frames.  Most of my work is small (4x5,  
> 5x7, rarely larger than 8x10) and I've felt that wooden frames  
> would be overpowering.  I probably should rethink this and give it  
> a try sometime.
>
> I agree with the comments about black frames.  I was in an exhibit  
> last year which required black frames, and I felt that the black  
> completely changed the mood of my pictures.
>
> Suzanne