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Picture Framing Magazine

I am ranting

M

Michael Mintz

Active Participant
Messages
44
Loc
Charleston,SC
Company
Frames Unlimited
Just had a young lady in the shop whose diploma we framed last month. She proceeded to tell me how upset she was, because she felt it looked like "crap". It was rippling a bit, it's true. I explained to her how we handled it ( hinged on rag board) and why. She proceeded to tell me that she had never, in her entire life (all 20 something years) seen any other diploma that was not completely flat. Those were her words. After a long discussion with me explaining options, and she basically implying that she knew more than I, she chose dry mounting (no, not restore) in spite of my advice to the contrary.
Sheesh!!!! I really dislike the public on days like this.
 
No question, Cliff, it is what she's getting. I will put a disclaimer inside the dust cover so that anyone who gets into the back in the future understands why it's been dry mounted.
 
I'm not sure what your rant is? Are you sure you properly hinged it :)?

You don't say what the diploma is made from? Paper stock? Vellum? If it is truly vellum, you have other issues especially if you attempt to dry mount it or use any heat.

When I started framing, a significant number of diplomas were on animal skin and we routinely wet mounted them, which is a lost art (as will be cutting mats with a straight line mat cutter by hand).

What's the big deal about mounting a diploma, especially paper ones without embossed seals?

We do it all the time.

Properly done, it looks better and while not "reversible" can help to protect and preserve the diploma.

And why not use restore? At least it will have some reversibility and will meet the customer's lie flat requirement?
Why even give your customer a choice between conventional dry mounting and restore? Do you also give them a choice between types/brand of tissue? Mounting substrate? To use tissue and a board or a Speedmount type of product?

So what DID you use?

Over the past 10 years, framers have "over conserved" themselves out of business, especially with the "attitude" that there is only one "right" way.

I'm with Cliff- so long as what I am doing will not harm what is being framed, the customer gets what he/she wants.

I have yet to hear a compelling argument that properly done, mounting a diploma is harmful.
 
The diploma is on paper. We don't as a habit over-conserve in our shop. We also don't typically, permanently mount official documentation that cannot easily (yes I know diplomas can be re-printed) be replaced. We have seen way too many diplomas that have been irrepairably water damaged. How any shop chooses to handle these things is their own business. I choose not to permanently mount as a matter of routine procedure.
I also chose not to be lectured by clients who think they know my job better than I. I'll grin and bear it, but I don't have to like it.
For the record, yes, it was properly hinged. We used Hyaku on 4x rag. It was not rippling (admitted by the client) when it left our shop. We are not using restore because the client wanted the strongest, most permanent bond we could give her. She was given the option because we actually are honest and transparent with our clients. How you choose to operate is your own affair. We educate them and assume they are intelligent enough to make a decision after having all the information.
 
When hinging art on paper, the framer always introduces water to tow or more spots at the top of the artwork.
It is crucial, that this water gets drawn out fast by the use of blotting paper. I place blotting paper and replace them after a few minutes. This used blotting paper (1 ply rag) then gets thrown out instead of being reused.

It is advisable to place a strip of perspex across both hinges, then put weight on them. This prevents the paper from cockling between the hinges.

If a customer brings in a certificate that is as flat as the counter on which she places it, then it is reasonable for her to expect, that when her certificate is frames, that the certificate is still as flat as when she brought it in.
Of course, if she brings it in rolled up in a tube with wrinkles, then she cannot expect the certificate to come out flat when hinged.

Gluing the certificate onto board will solve the latter problem, by making the certificate more physically appealing.
There are other methods of framing a certificate to conservation / preservation standards that do not involve the use of hinges and introducing water to the artwork. That is among others with the use of corner-pockets. Various methods are explained in the PPFA Studyguides.
 
In the US, almost all diplomas larger than 11 x 14 (which this is) come rolled in a tube (as this did). Our procedure is to remove from the tube for a couple of days, flatten in a warm (not hot) press to remove the moisture and proceed. I am quite aware of the need to blot the hinges etc., but that was not the problem. The genesis of this issue was undoubtedly the change of seasons and transition from A/C to open windows. I am on the Southern coast where heat and humidity are our almost, constant companions. We see this sort of issue almost every year. As I stated earlier, the fix is easy. It was the attitude of the client that I was ranting about.
 
Michael-

Please explain to me how hinging vs mounting would prevent/protect diplomas from being "irrepairably water damaged."

If you are "on the Southern coast where heat and humidity are our almost, constant companions," and you "see this sort of issue almost every year,"

Why would you "choose not to permanently mount as a matter of routine procedure." Especially if you know you will routinely see this sort of issue?

I agree that how any shop chooses to handle these things is their own business, but it sure sounds to me like you are creating your own problems as a "matter of routine."

Consider this scenario-

You are a framer who is experienced (more so than your clients) and know that most clients prefer their diplomas to be perfectly flat. You also know that heat and humidity are issues that you and your clients are faced with and that if hinged, a diploma (especially if it was rolled) may ripple if exposed to changes in heat and humidity. So your routine procedure is to mount diplomas as it will make your clients happy - and if properly done will cause no harm. And your clients are happy and they come back to you and recommend your work to all of their friends......:)
 
Rob the reason is simple. As those of us who lived through the ravages of major hurricane disaster found out, documents that were permanently mounted were almost always destroyed because the backing substrates absorbed water and got mould and mildew quite rapidly. Items that were hinged or mounted in a less invasive fashion were much more easily rescued. Now, one could question the fatalistic approach that I am describing, however once you experience this sort of thing, it stays with you. I cannot begin to tell you how many thousands of things that were brought to us were ruined in this fashion. I can also tell you, though, how many people I was able to make ecstatic when I told them that I could save their items.
Again, we all have reasons for operating the way we do. I certainly get that and do not judge other framers choices. I do not take these decisions lightly. As I stated in a previous post, I am not one of those framers who "over conserves". This is just one area that I do have a lot of experience in dealing with.
BTW I did dry mount the aforementioned client's diploma this morning. And again, I was more upset with her attitude than the issue of how I handled her diploma. Lastly, we make it a point to advise all of our clients as to the possible ramifications of the way we handle any given piece left with us. We particularly mention that certain things might not (and this was the case with this young lady) lie perfectly flat. As most of us have long since learned, many of our clients have selective audio capabilities. They hear exactly what they want to hear.
 
Michael Mintz said:
... We educate them and assume they are intelligent enough to make a decision after having all the information.
Click to expand...
I agree that our job as framers is to do what our customers want, so long as their decisions are well-informed, and not made in ignorance.
...many of our clients have selective audio capabilities. They hear exactly what they want to hear.
Click to expand...
Am I the only one who senses a contradiction here? If a customer ignores the framer's information, then is an apparently-wrong decision a well-informed decision?
 
If a customer chooses to ignore advice from a framer and still prefers to frame an item differently, the the framer can add a disclaimer on the back of the picture, not stick on an identifying framer's label or make the customer sign a waifer or disclaimer on the invoice. It will not always cover against litigation, but is better than nothing.
 
Jim, we can present the information and educate our clients in the best manner possible. What we cannot do is guarantee that they process and interpret this information the a manner in which it is meant. Sometimes, as stated, they hear what they want to hear. Please do not tell me that you have not had clients do that very same thing. We all have. It's just a consequence of dealing with the public. The large majority, however, do comprehend.
@ Kai, we, in fact, do that.
 
"Old man talking"

After more than 3 decades I have come to the conclusion that less than 5% of framing customers are a pain in the posterior and 95% are the salt of the earth. Unfortunately, all framers spend more time and energy talking and worrying about the 5% losers and this should stop. We should spend 99% of our time worrying, catering and talking about our good customers. They will be honest with us, and if asked, make suggestions that will improve our business. Instead of putting up signs that inform the puplic that we have had idiots to deal with; i.e., bad check this, don't leave stuff here for years, if it's a rush don't wait a month to get it, we aren't a charity, if your Uncle can do it let him, you get the idea. We should ignore them and make life better for our many, many good customers. Please don't make life difficult for other customers becasue one person having a bad day or a bad life has just been a complete _ _ _ on you. By the by, a full moon doesn't seem to help much either. No matter how hard you try or how much you know, some one is going to be unhappy and you can not cure that. Your good customers are your worry, if they have a "problem" that is your problem. "Some Folks bitch if ya hang 'em with a new rope."
 
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