WHY DOES CUSTOM FRAMING TAKE SO LONG?
There are several very good reasons for “why does custom framing take so long?” These reasons are also subjective as everyone’s idea of “a long time” is different. It is also wise to consider what you are comparing the making of a picture frame with to put into context “a long time” when making a general statement like this.
KEYWORD
The key word in your question is “custom.” This is because by its very nature anything that includes this word suggests that the item is made to a client’s specification and anything custom made traditionally takes longer than something bought “off the shelf.” The same logic applies whatever is being made. For example, a custom-made suit takes longer to produce than one bought in a store. A custom car takes longer to build than the standard model that can be driven off the dealer’s forecourt. Therefore, a custom-made frame takes longer to produce than a ready-made frame bought online or from a high-street store.
However, here are some explanations that will show you that the question “why does custom framing take so long” should really be “how does a picture framing workshop, like SohoFrames for example, make custom frames so quickly?!”
LEAD TIMES
The lead time for a custom framing project is determined by number and two blocks of
information.
BLOCK NUMBER ONE
1.Type and condition of artwork.
2. Size of artwork.
3. Framing style.
4. Frame type. Pre-finished or hand finished.
Let’s look at each point in a little more detail.
TYPE AND CONDITION OF ARTWORK
The framing of an artwork is often not as straightforward as it might seem. For a
successful framing result, an artwork might require further processes. Here are three examples.
A rolled-up painting on canvas will usually require stretching onto a wooden rim before it can be framed. And if the painting has been rolled incorrectly (painted surface inside the roll), if the paint has then cracked or flaked, then further corrective work may be needed. Additionally, if there is not much spare canvas or linen on the edges to wrap around the stretcher rim then the painting may need to be strip or fully lined first.
A photograph, particularly if it is large, or glossy, may need to be drymounted onto a suitable substrate. Depending on the type of the photograph, this substrate could be polyboard, Kappa board, dibond or aluminium. Otherwise, it could ripple inside the frame. And of course, valuable and / or irreplaceable prints should not be drymounted with standard materials and processes.
Film posters often need to be stabilised before they can be successfully framed. Vintage posters are usually best backed onto linen. Modern film posters often need to be drymounted or backed onto Japanese rice paper. Drymounting is usually a pretty swift process, but backing onto rice paper takes longer and linen backing requires several weeks more of careful drying time.
Any issues with an artwork like foxing, mould, tears, missing or dirty paint, acid lines from old picture mounts etc can require repairs by an expert conservator. All these things can add various amounts of time to the total time required to frame the artwork.
SIZE OF ARTWORK
Generally, if an artwork is over a certain size, typically 1200mm x 910mm, which is
the size of a standard half-sheet of picture framing glass, then the turnaround times
can be longer.
FRAMING STYLE
This means how the artwork is to be presented. It could be a window mount (sometimes called a mat or passepartout or Marylouise) or floated, shadow floated, or straight to edge. For more information on framing style please see here https://www.sohoframes.co.uk/framing-services/ and scroll down to Step 2. By clicking on the descriptions, you can see a visual of each style.
Unless an artwork is oversize the chosen framing style should not add any additional time to the turnaround period.
The second block of information relates to point number 4 or frame type.
There are two main types, pre-finished or hand-finished.
PRE-FINISHED FRAMES
Pre-finished frames arrive in the workshop in 3m lengths and are sourced from various factories in Italy and the Far East. All that needs doing with these materials is to cut and join them and finish the corners, if necessary, with wax.
HAND-FINISHED FRAMES
These types of frames begin life in the workshop, not in ready-to-go 3m lengths bought in from a supplier, but as raw timber, which is either milled on-site of off-site in a local timber yard. The turnaround times depend on the complexity of the required frame but can be anything from one week to several months. Simple hand-finished frames, for example, a standard 20mm x 30mm profile with a natural wax finish can be ready in 24 hours.
CANVAS STRETCHING
GUIDE TURNAROUND TIMES FOR A SINGLE FRAME
PRE-FINISHED
The standard time for making these types of pictures frames (of which there are many types) at SohoFrames is one week. Sameday and Next Day framing is often available with these types of materials. Some ranges of pre-finished frames can take longer if out of stock with the importer.
HAND-FINISHED
7 – 14 days is the usual turnaround times for simple hand-finished frame profiles that start of as raw timber. This is because they need to be joined, usually by routing, sanded several times and then finished with stain and or various types of finishing oils and waxes. That said, a simple profile with a wax finish can sometimes be completed in 24 hours. If some further customisation is required. For example, if the profile dimensions of a stock profile needs adjusting to suit the client’s requirements this can extend the turnaround time to the full two weeks.
CUSTOM CARVED
The turnaround times for these types of specialist picture frames can be relatively short or stretch into several months depending on the complexity of the carving and build as some profile designs are made from several different parts. Everything with these types of frames can be customised and SohoFrames often makes unique custom carved picture frames to the client’s own design ideas.
ROUND OR OVAL FRAMES
A sub category and a mixture of Hand-Finished and Custom Carved frame. Made either from raw timber or from engineered panel materials like MDF, these typically take 2-4 weeks to make as every one is made to order. Raw or “naked” rims, ie, those without any or with only basic finishing can sometimes be done in 24-48 hours, particularly if on the smaller side. These are sometimes asked for when the client wishes to paint / oil etc the frame rim themselves and fit their own artwork.
CUSTOM COLOUR
These Hand-Finished frames typically take between 2 and 5 weeks to produce. All these types of frames begin life either from raw timber or from engineered wood panels. Once made they are then sprayed. SohoFrames can spray paint and stain frames in hundreds of different colours to various colour codes as well as hand mixing bespoke colour and stains. These can then be further lacquered. Frames with standard paint or stain finishes with matt, satin or gun-gloss finishes usually take 2-3 weeks from point of order. Frames requiring special pigments like saturated blues or additives like glitters can extend the turnaround times as can a mirror gloss lacquer over either the painted or stained wood due to the drying and polishing time demanded.
CUSTOM CARVED WITH COLOUR
Typical turnaround times are 4 weeks plus. Most of these types of frames like those shown in the photograph take 4 weeks to complete. 2 to carve and 2 to spray paint. More complex designs and or with more complex finishes take longer.
LIQUID METAL
Liquid metal is a specialist finish used on Hand-Finished frames. The raw sprayed metal requires a lot of hand sanding and polishing with increasingly finer grits until a perfectly smooth finish is achieved. The finished surface can then have further processes like acid-marbling (as shown in the photograph applied to a copper base) and or be lacquered. Typical turnround times are 3-6 weeks depending on what needs to be done.
GILDING
The application of 22k gold leaf to any picture frame can be 4-weeks plus, once again depending on the complexity and size of the picture frame in question. It is not a process that can be rushed and cannot be done on a Sameday or Next Day basis.
CONCLUSION
So, why does custom framing take so long? Once what is involved in making the various types of picture frame is known, sourcing materials, cutting, milling, joining, finishing, drying time etc, then the turnaround times begin to make sense. It is true that some picture framers take longer than others to produce the same picture frame. This can be due to the size of the workshop team, their skill, experience and efficiency, their operating hours both in workshop and out-of-hours and their investment in machinery – SohoFrames invested in 2 state-of-the-art CNC mount or mat cutting machines, CNC wood routers, table saws, routers, belt sanders, etc, plus have many years of specialist training.
SohoFrames tries to meet any deadline. For quotes and estimates of turnaround times whatever is needed, please just get in contact.