displaying b&w photos

greentea3 · 04-11-2009, 06:52 PM

I'd like to hang my b&w photos on the living room wall...and have no idea how to do it.

I want them to look nice and professional, as if they're in a gallery. Is there a how-to page somewhere online? I couldn't find it.

Cheers for any info you might have,

Doug

*Fl_Gulfer* · 04-11-2009, 09:03 PM

How many are you trying to hang?
There are different ways that work, Like where one photo leeds into the next in line, or all of simular subjects. Also hang them in a square if you have a even number say a inch apart with a large matt on each one.
Just a few Ideas.
Jack

greentea3 · 04-11-2009, 09:09 PM

Not many photos at the moment. They are going to be mostly 5x7 and some 4x6 perhaps. I guess what I'd really like to know is how to frame the photos. You mentioned putting the photo on a mat board. Would I glue it on, or would I put it in a traditional frame?

Venturi · 04-11-2009, 11:29 PM

I would foamcore mount them with single color mats, black or white depending on the shot, and basic slim black frames. If you don't mind the extra expense go for the museum grade glass so you get no glare and no darkening or detail loss.

I was about to say you can get all the supplies and/or have them mounted for you at Hobby Lobby - but they don't have stores in CA it appears. There's gotta be an equivalent arts-n-crafts store out there though.

*PeterAM* · 04-12-2009, 07:57 AM

Photos that size ( 4X6, 5X7 ) draw people close to them. Make sure that they are hung where people can get close in to look at them. If they are going to be hung next to each other (in a row or a cluster) I would use the same mats and frames (style & color) for all of them.

*Fl_Gulfer* · 04-12-2009, 09:07 AM

This is how I did my photo's, But I printed the pictures paper size and got 14x11 frames with no frame so your eyes are drawn to the photo and not the frame. If I were going to hand small photo's I'd get 8x10 frames and fill in the space with a nice matt. You can get these frames at Wallmart for 5 bucks. I used a small piece of scotch tape to hold the picture in place.

*jimH* · 04-12-2009, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by greentea3

I'd like to hang my b&w photos on the living room wall...and have no idea how to do it.

I want them to look nice and professional, as if they're in a gallery. Is there a how-to page somewhere online? I couldn't find it.

Cheers for any info you might have,

Doug

I've hung many b/w photos over the years, I tend to go with either a silver or black frame with a white mat. I've used a good spray adhesive such as 3M with good luck to adhere the prints to mat board cut to the size of the frame. With smaller prints you might try using an 11 x 14 or such size frame and center the print within the frame using a mat cut the size of the frame with a window sized for your print. I don't like colored mats with b/w photography. A bright white mat draws the eye to the darker print within the mat. It's fun to experiment with different styles of matting and frames, but I tend to keep it simple so that the eye is drawn to the photograph.
Jim

ryan s · 04-12-2009, 12:57 PM

Hobby Lobby or the equivalent offer empty frames for a decent price. In my city, a sheet of 16x20" anti-glare glass is $7.50 (that means...custom-sized for just $7.50!).

Call around to glass places and they just might cut you a deal on, say, 30 pieces of 11x14" glass or whatever size you'll use. I can tell you...the anti-glare glass is worth every penny!

Barry_S · 04-12-2009, 06:36 PM

I used white acid free board for everything. Some have silver frames but most are just museum clips. Just like the no frame look.

greentea3 · 04-12-2009, 10:29 PM

This is a great start, thank you! I like the look of the white mat board on top of the photo with a window cut out. I notice there's a black border on that window, which is nice. I'll ask the art store how that's done.

11x14 sure seems big for a 5x7 print. What about black mat board? A lot of photo galleries I see on people's websites have the photo framed in black.

*jimH* · 04-13-2009, 08:26 AM

Originally Posted by greentea3

This is a great start, thank you! I like the look of the white mat board on top of the photo with a window cut out. I notice there's a black border on that window, which is nice. I'll ask the art store how that's done.

11x14 sure seems big for a 5x7 print. What about black mat board? A lot of photo galleries I see on people's websites have the photo framed in black.

It's not uncommon to see a smaller print matted into a larger frame. Tends to give the photo a dramatic look, but as I said it all boils down to personal taste and nothing has to be permanent. It's nice just to try some different things to get a feeling for what you like.
Jim

HGMonaro · 04-13-2009, 09:07 PM

here's my picture wall (clicking on an image will show a larger view of the image but the frame shown around it is a digi creation). I swap the pictures every few months, I currently have colour landscapes. For a 'classy' muesem look, stick with the one colour. Black mat's can look good with B&W images but they can also over power them and the room. You can get "black core" mat board that gives the effect shown above by Fl Gulfer (the bevel around the pic is black instead of white).

*graphicgr8s* · 04-13-2009, 09:47 PM

Originally Posted by HGMonaro

here's my picture wall (clicking on an image will show a larger view of the image but the frame shown around it is a digi creation). I swap the pictures every few months, I currently have colour landscapes. For a 'classy' muesem look, stick with the one colour. Black mat's can look good with B&W images but they can also over power them and the room. You can get "black core" mat board that gives the effect shown above by Fl Gulfer (the bevel around the pic is black instead of white).

HG the only thing I see wrong with your frame (I know, computer generated) is that you have them centered in the mat. Correct way would be even margins top, left, right but with a larger margin on the bottom.

Venturi · 04-13-2009, 10:16 PM

Isn't the offset mounting typically used when there is text presented with the piece - like title, artist, etc.? (I'm askin', not preachin')

HGMonaro · 04-14-2009, 04:49 AM

Originally Posted by graphicgr8s

HG the only thing I see wrong with your frame (I know, computer generated) is that you have them centered in the mat. Correct way would be even margins top, left, right but with a larger margin on the bottom.

Yes, the actual prints are matted somewhat like this, although I use minimal offsets as I don't like obvious different top and bottom borders. There's a formula/cheat sheet that helps you find the 'visual centre' but I found it gives too much different for my liking.

Attempted to take a pic of my current pics (colour pics with black mat's) but getting bulk reflections. Still gives you an idea what 'black' can look like.

Cheers, Nige