Picture framing can be undertaken fairly simply by buying in ready made frames and mounting images, can be undertaken also at a wide variety of levels up to a professional framing shop.
We now offer three, 1 to 1 framing courses, varying from the basic 1 day framing course up to a 3 day course that goes as far as you would need to undertake commercial framing of photographs, as for example would be necessary if you were to market top end fine art limited edition prints.
Framing is a very practical art form, and as you learn far more by doing it yourself than watching others, we decided that even 3 to 1 was not ideal, and not real value, let alone the 10 to 1 or greater that you see being offered elsewhere. Group courses are often organised in levels, and you would have to undertake a number of these to be able to get anywhere near the level of knowledge and skill acquired on a one to one course. With these courses we have also added a cost towards material costs, this allows us to use the same quality of materials that we use with the limited editions we publish, and with two of these courses this includes producing one of the finished prints to the very highest standard even using museum glass.
You can combine framing courses FC1, FC2 or FC3 with other 1 to 1 courses to qualify for discounts by getting larger numbers of training vouchers.
On each of the courses you take away with you some development materials you have worked on and at least 1 fully professionally finished exhibition framed print that you have personally produced. With FC2 and FC3 you have 3 of these fine works, one of which has museum glass. With FC2 and FC3 these prints are of your own photographs, starting from a file that you bring, is edited here and printed. With FC1 you can either send us before a file that we can print in advance for you or bring your own 10x8 print.
FC1 - Basic framing - 1 day
We start with a print that you have either brought with you or has been printed by us from a file that you sent us in advance, this is because we need at least a day for the print to dry before framing. By the end of the day this will have been double mounted by hand cut mounts you have cut and produced as a finished framed print ready for hanging.
On this day we don't get involved in the complexities of making frames or refinements like different hanging systems, but concentrate on the basics of framing, looking at the stages and materials involved, where kit or complete frames can be obtained from, and how they are put together. We look at different types of mount board, and where we can get it from, as well as the different methods that can be used to cut it. We also explore mail order sources for mounts cut to your own sizes. We look in detail at archival mounting so that prints will last.
We look at how mounts are cut, and concentrate on low cost simple to use manual systems that are readily available as well as looking at a slightly larger system. We use on this day only small tools and low cost items. We don't make any real use of our full framing workshop, but instead look at what can be done in a home on an average table. You get to see the effects of using different colours of mount board and different styles, as well as considering other additions you could make to add yet more personality to your prints.
This is a very practical day, and you will during the day cut a number of mounts and get to use a variety of other items.
This course lasts from 9:30am to 4:30pm. and includes lunch. This is 7 hours, and requires 7 training vouchers a further two are used to cover the cost of materials used, so 9 training vouchers in total. The maximum cost of this is £513, but it could be a lot less if you decide to get a larger number of training vouchers and qualify for discounts.
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FC2 - Practical Framing - 2 days
This two day course, covers just about all you will need to know to undertake quality framing. This includes making the frames as well as mounting the images. Much of this is not as difficult or needs as much equipment as you might expect as you can use 'chop' services to get moulding already cut to the right size and shapes, ready for assembly, as well as buy in glass cut to your requirements. You can also order in mounts cut to your specification if you wish, although this is something that you can do yourself.
We have both low cost compact equipment of the size that many could use in their home and a full framing workshop where we can start with large packs of moulding and produce volume frames. A framing workshop requires a space equivalent to a fairly large garage. We show you both options over the two days. You will get to use most of what we have, but not usually the mitring guillotine, although you will see one of us use it. For our limited editions we do everything ourselves except cutting the glass, and buy this in cut to size, as large sheets of glass are difficult to handle and store, however on the course we will also cut some pieces of glass into smaller sizes, so that you have experience of the full range of skills.
On day one we start with some of your photographs, which you bring with you either on CD or your camera card, and with you select at least three to edit and print. By the end of the second day these will have dried, each been double mounted, and framed by you. One of these will be produced to the highest standard possible including using museum glass. Two of the three frames you will have made yourself, one by hand using small tools and the second assembled using a professional underpinner from chop pieces. All will be complete including hanging systems.
Over the two days we will look at framing in detail, the stages involved, lists of parts, and then look at each component including:-
We also, at hands on level, have a go at all the stages involved, from mountboard cutting, to all the stages involved in measuring, cutting and making a frame, as well as putting the finished frames together. This involves looking in detail at simple tools, including a small table top underpinner and at a professional underpinner. You cut a frame using a saw, choosing to use either a hand model with guides or power model, but also see a mitre guillotine demonstrated.
You take home with you three of your prints framed by you, complete and ready to hang.
These days run from 9:30am to 4:30pm and include lunch.
The cost of this course covers 2 days, 7 hours long that requires 14 training vouchers, and 2 more each day to cover the cost of materials used, so 18 training vouchers in total. The maximum cost of this would be £1,026, but it could be a lot less if you decide to get a larger number of training vouchers and qualify for discounts. You also of course take home several quality framed works you have created to professional standards.
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FC3 - Commercial framing - 3 days
The first two days of FC3 are the same as FC2. On day three we have added a business day extension, we turn our attention to doing things in a larger way, being able to produce more, and look in detail at costs, considering both the cost of various equipment options but also the savings that scale produces. We look at the variety of mouldings required and how the costs involved on stock holding can be reduced by using both chop and cross cut services. We take a far more detailed look at different suppliers, and sources for materials in larger amounts.
We also look at where and how equipment can be obtained at a discount, varying from discounts from some suppliers who want to get your custom to buying second hand on eBay.
We also look at how you might price framing jobs for others. Depending on your area of interest we work with you at either creating a financial model to explore a framing business, or a costing model to work out the cost of producing limited editions in different sizes and styles.
We also provide you with contact lists, identifying suppliers and various types of equipment.
Most who run framing courses are also suppliers with an agenda to sell you other products or services, we don't and the information we share with you could save you more than the course costs. It took us a considerable time and expense to work all this out ourselves and if we had found a course like the one now being offered it would have cut our development time by approaching a year and saved us many thousands.
Like the other framing courses this runs from 9:30am to 4:30pm with lunch included.
FC3 is three days, each 7 hours long, requiring 21 training vouchers, plus 2 of the days requiring 2 vouchers a day to cover materials used, so 25 in total. 25 training vouchers is a volume break point qualifying for a £142.50 discount, so the cost is only £1,282.50. It could be a lot less if you decide to get a larger number of training vouchers and qualify for a larger discount. You also of course take home several quality framed works you have created to professional standards.
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FC4 - 1 day framing business extension
Covering the same as day 3 of the FC3 course, this is a concentrated business day looking at commercial framing.
If you have not already done FC1 or FC2 we will, within this day, also go over the theory, explosion of parts, and show you some samples of materials etc. but there is not time to get into so much detail, or practical framing, but should be enough to allow you to buy in services rather than undertake tasks yourself. This is designed to be a later addition for those having already done FC1 or FC2. If you have done a group framing workshop elsewhere, we will do our best to fill in all the very many gaps, but this is problematic, as you may have been told information to point you towards buying services or products offered and are unlikely to have a complete and balanced picture.
This runs from 9:30am to 4:30pm, and includes lunch.
As there are no materials involved this is a straight 7 hours requiring 7 training vouchers. The maximum cost of this is £399, but it could be a lot less if you decide to get a larger number of training vouchers and qualify for discounts.
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