"Peter Chant" wrote in message
...
Chaps,

what are your thoughts? What do you do?

I want to print out a picture or two to put in a clip frame, however,
image
is square (MF group!) and I fancy keeping it square. The frame I am using
is not. Therefore in software (not too good at traditional printing) I
produced a thin white ink line around the image followed by a dark red
border (to match a rug in the room but that is not important for this
discussion).

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/gallery/april-2008/ - top two images

I have produced a border this way on another print previously and a friend
made a comment "it looks like you bought a poster / print in a shop".
While flattering in one way - it must be at least slightly competent
technically, I see what he means - can't really put it in words - perhaps
the title I added does it.

Any other ideas? What do you do? I definitely do not want to do anything
tacky looking - found some horrendous stuff with a Google search. Cheesy
beveled effects or images of gilt picture frames! A lot of people seem to
like the brush stroke or large format polaroid torn away edge type
effects - I think I'll stay away for that reason.

There are certain rules in mounting and framing that absolutely, positively
must never be broken-- unless you think the picture looks better when you
do!

Generally, the top and side margins should be equal and the bottom margin
wider. Putting a white line around the image 'contains' the eye on the
image. Using a border/matte that coordinates with another part of the room
ties the picture to the room, however there should be a contrasting border
(frame) around that matte to 'anchor' the image.
If the picture had been a lighter/brighter image, then a dark line around it
instead of a white line would be more effective. In this case the white line
is best.
I'm not sure about the line under the name; I think that may be approaching
tacky-- my opinion only, if you like it, ignore.


Did wonder about just printing the image as a square across the full frame
and just leaving one thick border at the bottom.

IMHO, that would look like you made a mistake. By putting the border all
around, it looks like that's how it's supposed to be. You could have gone
with a narrower border, but I think it needs to be on all four sides.
You could have centered it both vertically and horizontally, but it
definately needs the border on all four sides.

Thoughts?

If the image were strong as a horizontal, you could have turned the frame
sideways and centered the image in both directions, but this image is
definately a vertical. Or if the image were horizontal (but square) and
strong on one side, you could frame it horizontally with the border equal on
top, bottom, and stronger side and wide on the weak side.

Quick additional question - which of the two images do you prefer, the
original or the crop (top image). I'm wavering between the two.

I prefer the second one, but not because of the crop-- because it is a
little lighter and the tree stands out from the sky a bit better, especially
to the left.

Thanks,

Pete




--
http://www.petezilla.co.uk