From: syrusb	Date: October 5th, 2009 11:47 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Yeah but Disney isn't selling them to people to preserve them.

I don't think being in the packaging effects the price, but directly affecting the cel (signing it, trimming/cutting it, etc) will. Save the packaging and authenticity document, but framing will probably do more to preserve the cel's value than leaving it in the cardboard.

	From: kythera	Date: October 6th, 2009 12:00 am (UTC)		(Link)

That.

	From: patrickat	Date: October 6th, 2009 01:05 am (UTC)		(Link)

Thanks. For what I've spent over the years collecting these few cels, I'd really rather have these matted and up on the wall than hiding in a drawer.

	From: banshea	Date: October 6th, 2009 12:31 am (UTC)		(Link)

I'd be interested in trying to design a frame treatment that preserves the cells and incorporates the cardboard portfolio so that it displays the autograph. Without seeing it, I'm not sure how to do it, though.

Art dealers rarely do what's best for the art when it comes to pre-sale packaging. It drives up the cost of the piece, which makes it harder to sell.

You've probably got more sense than this already, but if you take your stuff to a chain like Michael's or Joann's, you're gambling with your art. Sometimes they have good, knowledgeable staff, and sometimes they have total schmucks working there, and it can be very hard to tell the difference until you take apart the frame and see exactly how they destroyed the artwork.

	From: patrickat	Date: October 6th, 2009 01:02 am (UTC)		(Link)

The portfolio had a few scuff marks on it before it was signed, though, and the "window" on it doesn't reveal as much of the art as I could make visible with a mat.

Yes, I've been extremely reluctant to just hand everything over to a place like Michael's. I talked to them once and just could not get a satisfactory answer on what their policy is regarding the care and safekeeping of items handed over to them. "Are you insured if my art gets lost or damaged while in your possession?" should not be a question that's impossible for them to answer.

So at this point, I've decided I will do the mounting and assembly myself. It's just a matter of who can give me the best price on custom-sized frames and related materials.

	From: banshea	Date: October 6th, 2009 01:35 am (UTC)		(Link)

It's possible that you came on kind of strong. "Are you insured if my art gets lost or damaged?" is a question that can be asked reasonably, but the times that I've heard it, it almost always comes across as an attack. The vast majority of customers take it for granted that we will treat their artwork with the utmost care, and that there are mechanisms in place to fix things if something does happen.

That said, I do agree that a good framer should be able to smoothly respond, "Of course!"

Do have the mats cut professionally, even if you're set on doing the assembly. It does make a huge difference in the finished presentation.

I recommend talking to independent frame shops in your area. If you're still entertaining the possibility of having the whole thing professionally done, play dumb to find out whether or not they know how to handle an animation cel. Otherwise, know that you'll probably have some leeway to haggle with them about materials costs. I know my boss will give out stupidly good deals to customers who know how to haggle, especially these days.

	From: patrickat	Date: October 6th, 2009 02:00 am (UTC)		(Link)

It wasn't the question I opened with when I came up to the counter, but after the person told me "We'd probably send this out," when I had been under the impression they did custom framing at that location, I started to be concerned about what could happen with things being shipped around.

I'll definitely look into what's around here in the way of independent frame shops, and explore that option.

	From: banshea	Date: October 6th, 2009 02:13 am (UTC)		(Link)

You're right. That's an enormous red flag. Send it out?? No way! Chain stores often have warehouses where the frames are actually built, but then the frames should be shipped to the stores for assembly. Your art should never leave the store except in your hands.

It's also my opinion that someone who doesn't know how to assemble a frame has no business trying to design one, but apparently there are a lot of successful shops that have a division of labor there.

FYI, Fastframe looks like a chain, but the stores are individually owned and operated. Store staff will vary accordingly, but the stores get treated like a major chain by the suppliers, which means that you're likely to get somewhat better prices and selection from one than from some other shops.

And, if you end up absolutely fed up with frame shops in general after all this, some frame manufacturers will sell custom-sized frames to the public. Check out J'Orr and Roma. I think Garrett might also accommodate you, but only their solid hardwoods are worth considering.

	From: sabre0link	Date: October 6th, 2009 03:37 am (UTC)		(Link)

O_o


I'm learning custom framing where I work, and there's 2 things I know for sure:

- If the value (sentimental, actual, etc) of the artwork/piece is more than $250, we cannot keep it in the store.
- We order the frame and mat(s), and are sent them by our supplier. We then handle assembly in-store.

This is J's, and I don't know how the other chains handle their framing.

	From: patrickat	Date: October 6th, 2009 02:17 pm (UTC)		(Link)

How does your store handle it, then, when someone has a piece worth more than $250 that they want framed? The Michael's I went to last summer wanted to take two pieces worth over $300 each from me for "two to three weeks" without even being able to tell me where they'd be for most of that time.

	From: sabre0link	Date: October 7th, 2009 02:40 am (UTC)		(Link)

If it's over $250, we cannot hold the item in the store, so the customer would have to take the item(s) with them. When we receive the mat and frame and glass and whatever else was ordered, we'd call the person and do final assembly when they brought the piece in.

:)

	From: patrickat	Date: October 7th, 2009 10:56 am (UTC)		(Link)

See, that makes sense.

The Michael's people looked at me like I was insane when I suggested ordering the stuff and bringing my art back once they had everything so the assembly could be done while I wait.