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Cecil Terwilliger · 11-04-2016, 11:24 AM

Unless you go to a custom framing place, you don't have a lot of options beyond Michaels. Beyond that it is ikea or walmart for the cheap stuff.

There are a number of options at michaels and you can usually get a good deal, but you have to watch for sales.

Option 1 is to wait until a sale on custom framing and specifically a sale on the type of custom framing you want. Michaels has about 4 levels of custom framing materials, depending on the quality you want. The more expensive stuff goes on sale less often, sometimes not at all. I've found that they also don't always seem to put every piece on sale meaning that frames might be on sale but glass and mats will be full price, or vice versa.

If you can find a custom framing sale on the whole job, that's your best bet.

Option 2: Wait for a sale on a certain style of regular frame off the rack and just buy it and put it in there. Again Michaels has a ton of typical size frames from small to huge and they go from low to med quality. 40-50% off is what I'd be looking for. This only works is your poster is a conventional size.

Option 3: Do both 1 and 2. Buy a regular off the rack frame but get a custom mat put on. This is essential for any odd sized poster, or if you just want a larger frame with a mat because that usually looks better.

What I've done in the past is bring in my odd sized poster (or at least the dimensions) and had the person at the counter show me on their fancy computer program what kind of mat I need and how it will look dimension wise. Then I go find the size of frame I want on sale and make sure the mat and custom job work is also on sale. Sometimes they aren't on sale at the same time so I buy the frame first and wait for a custom framing sale to get the mat done. They will happily put a mat into your existing frame, you don't have to do the whole job as custom.

If you really want to go all out, get the acid free mat and UV glass and all the other fancy stuff. If it is a standard size poster, around 22x36 or so, it will be a couple hundred dollars.

11-04-2016, 11:24 AM	#4
Cecil Terwilliger That Crazy Guy at the Bus Stop Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Springfield Penitentiary Exp:	Unless you go to a custom framing place, you don't have a lot of options beyond Michaels. Beyond that it is ikea or walmart for the cheap stuff. There are a number of options at michaels and you can usually get a good deal, but you have to watch for sales. Option 1 is to wait until a sale on custom framing and specifically a sale on the type of custom framing you want. Michaels has about 4 levels of custom framing materials, depending on the quality you want. The more expensive stuff goes on sale less often, sometimes not at all. I've found that they also don't always seem to put every piece on sale meaning that frames might be on sale but glass and mats will be full price, or vice versa. If you can find a custom framing sale on the whole job, that's your best bet. Option 2: Wait for a sale on a certain style of regular frame off the rack and just buy it and put it in there. Again Michaels has a ton of typical size frames from small to huge and they go from low to med quality. 40-50% off is what I'd be looking for. This only works is your poster is a conventional size. Option 3: Do both 1 and 2. Buy a regular off the rack frame but get a custom mat put on. This is essential for any odd sized poster, or if you just want a larger frame with a mat because that usually looks better. What I've done in the past is bring in my odd sized poster (or at least the dimensions) and had the person at the counter show me on their fancy computer program what kind of mat I need and how it will look dimension wise. Then I go find the size of frame I want on sale and make sure the mat and custom job work is also on sale. Sometimes they aren't on sale at the same time so I buy the frame first and wait for a custom framing sale to get the mat done. They will happily put a mat into your existing frame, you don't have to do the whole job as custom. If you really want to go all out, get the acid free mat and UV glass and all the other fancy stuff. If it is a standard size poster, around 22x36 or so, it will be a couple hundred dollars. Last edited by Cecil Terwilliger; 11-04-2016 at 11:26 AM.