Frames, why use them? Why not?

[dooda]

Just wondering what everyone's thoughts are on this. I personally can't stand anything beyone a basic black frame. I'm curious about alot of the elaborate frames I see here, some with special shading and fake 3d effects.

If I had my way I'd eliminate the invention of fake frames. In the physical world, frames serve to give you a dimension to lead your eye into the image. I find that on the computer, they distract.

[gstark]

I have yet to see a frame that enhances any image.

They're a total waste of time, and if I could invoke something like the word filter so that it would remove frames from images dispalyed here, restassured it would be in place.

A curse on all your frames!

[Andyt]

......for web use, a small one to tidy up the edge, and sometimes (to me) a small frame will help to focus on / delineate the pic.......

........but otherwise, they are like Volvo drivers who wear hats, a fact of life that one notices, but does not really see anymore...

[MCWB]

A jihad on all your frames!

I agree completely.

[big pix]

frames are a waste of space and detract from the image, a computer screen is not a wall, ....... but a small 2 or 3 mil border to help separate the image from the background, should be all that is needed........

[Andyt]

MCWB,

You know Osama?.....

.....I heard he hates frames 'cause he was framed himself once...

[dooda]

But there are some serious frame users here. Moreso here than most any other places for some reason. I'd love to hear what they think.

I could imagine that if you're displaying your stuff to people that don't look at many photos on the net, that maybe they might like the frames? That's the only reason I can think of that you'd want frames, and even that is a bit of a stretch. Aside of course from the a small bar separating it from the white or whatever.

[Frankenstein]

I use a Fred Miranda frame action that gives a narrow white matte and a thin black border...



I actually like a discreet frame around an image (most times) - I think it delineates the picture from the background and somehow "finishes" the image. Yes, I know the image should be able to stand alone - I agree - but I still like the look of a simple frame. What I don't like is the use of colours in a frame - now, that does detract from the image.

I'm surprised at the negative reactions thus far - am I in a minority here?

Just my opinion.

Frank

[ozczecho]

I used to put a *subtle* white + black frame around my images until a fellow flickr dude said that I should watch my images as a slide show with black b/ground. It is there when I saw that even a subtle frame detracts from the image.

[jben_net]

I like having a plain black border because It doesn't subtract from the image, and at times helps stop whites bleeding onto the white background of a webpage. Anything more than this, I feel subtracts from the image.

[Killakoala]

Minimalism is a good thing. The image is the important subject to me, howeveri sometimes use a simple white drop shadow when it suits the image and put my copyright on it.

[Finch]

Personally, I don't go for frames on computer images. I agree that a small, black frame can differentiate the image from the border, but that's it.

Great thing about us humans is that we are all different, with different tastes. Each to their own, but it just isn't my style.

Cheers

Michael

[losfp]

I don't like the elaborate borders. Maybe if I am putting my name/title etc on the image, then a simple 1px black border, and a thin white border that contains the (c) etc information.

But mostly just leave them as is. That way I can do anything I like with them in a webpage

[Greg B]

I use and like the thin white border, and I put a thinner black line around that because so many backgrounds are white or very light.

Rarely will any kind of fancy frame/border enhance an image (IMHO)

[Big V]

What does it really matter? We are fortunate to live in a world where we are allowed to have different tastes and this brings diversity to it. The problem with trying to change a persons opinion is you often only reaffirm it.

If the person who has taken the trouble to take the picture and then share it with others wants a frame or does not then it is up to them. You can still see the image and wether or not you think the image is weakened, improved or unchanged by the frame is only your opinion and there will be others that have a different one.

If we were all the same it would get very boring really quickly. And yes I do put a frame around my images that I post here it gives me a place to title them, do they add or take away from the quality of my images - who cares, I like them and so do some of my customers that order them with them and there are those that order them without...but then again it is only my opinion and I will always respect and encourage your right to what ever opinion you have...

The real question should be how can we encourage more members to post examples of their work so that we can all learn and be enriched for the experience, even a photo which we do not necessary like or think is technically incorrect can teach us, even inspire...

Lets get back to the sharing and helpfulness of this community rather than giving an impression wether real or perceived that there are hard and fast rules which must be followed..

[phillipb]

Totally agree Big V, my Italian heritage is too strong to fight against,

Here's one I prepaired earlier...




ps. I restrained myself from posting one with a fancy gold reneissance type frame, I don't think you guys are ready for that yet.

[Big Red]

frames i dont mind but i really hate it when someone spoils a pic by writing in it.

while its very hard to pick an appropriate frame it sometimes just makes the pic look finished and is a good place to put the writing.

to each their own

[Manta]

Personally...
I used to use them and thought they were pretty cool but I found that I got bored with them fairly quickly and eventually stopped doing them.
In my view, most images I see here would look fine without any framing, but I certainly respect and defend the photographer/artist's right to put whatever he/she wants around their shot.
That being said, some frames go over the top while others are more subtle and enhance rather than detract from the image

[Zeeke]

I use them.. i admit im on Osama Bin Ladens wanted list because i use frames hehe.. i mainly use them because of there ease of use.. the one i use is a photoshop action and all ive got to do is click the play button, the action resizes the image and then at the end saves it as sRGB... .. which makes me bloody lazy.. cuz if i was doing each image individually, i wouldnt be resizing them then converting them to srgb and all that..

Tim

[Glen]

Philip, great example. I've always thought many people spoil a perfectly good frame by having an image in it. Yours is a good balance, now maybe if the image was 1/3 to 1/2 smaller.... wow!

[Frankenstein]

Totally agree Big V, my Italian heritage is too strong to fight against,

Here's one I prepaired earlier...




ps. I restrained myself from posting one with a fancy gold reneissance type frame, I don't think you guys are ready for that yet.

that's one bella frama spoilt by a very ordinary pic

Frank (also with an Italian heritage)

[Dug]

it's a photo

if you cannot se it without a frame go and start a frame site.

Photos just photos.

nothing else but photos

[dooda]

What does it really matter? We are fortunate to live in a world where we are allowed to have different tastes and this brings diversity to it. The problem with trying to change a persons opinion is you often only reaffirm it.

If the person who has taken the trouble to take the picture and then share it with others wants a frame or does not then it is up to them. You can still see the image and wether or not you think the image is weakened, improved or unchanged by the frame is only your opinion and there will be others that have a different one.

If we were all the same it would get very boring really quickly. And yes I do put a frame around my images that I post here it gives me a place to title them, do they add or take away from the quality of my images - who cares, I like them and so do some of my customers that order them with them and there are those that order them without...but then again it is only my opinion and I will always respect and encourage your right to what ever opinion you have...

The real question should be how can we encourage more members to post examples of their work so that we can all learn and be enriched for the experience, even a photo which we do not necessary like or think is technically incorrect can teach us, even inspire...

Lets get back to the sharing and helpfulness of this community rather than giving an impression wether real or perceived that there are hard and fast rules which must be followed..

Well, I suppose you could ask the question what does anything matter on this site? It's largely a bunch of dudes shooting the bull about random stuff floating through their brain in a generally friendly and open way.

I didn't read one post here where someone was trying to convince someone they were wrong on using frames, only that they either like or dislike them. Many who like them state why they do it, and that helps me. Every time I see a frame (you know the big gaudy ones) I fight the urge to plea, on behalf of the picture, to remove it. It's largely a lack of understanding on my part, which is why I started the thread.

Of course if everyone was the same life would be bloody boring. It would be even worse if we didn't discuss with eachother why we like and dislike things because of hypersensitivity.

[wendellt]

Philip, great example. I've always thought many people spoil a perfectly good frame by having an image in it. Yours is a good balance, now maybe if the image was 1/3 to 1/2 smaller.... wow!

thats funny Glen

[Greg B]

What does it really matter? We are fortunate to live in a world where we are allowed to have different tastes and this brings diversity to it. The problem with trying to change a persons opinion is you often only reaffirm it.

If the person who has taken the trouble to take the picture and then share it with others wants a frame or does not then it is up to them. You can still see the image and wether or not you think the image is weakened, improved or unchanged by the frame is only your opinion and there will be others that have a different one.

If we were all the same it would get very boring really quickly. And yes I do put a frame around my images that I post here it gives me a place to title them, do they add or take away from the quality of my images - who cares, I like them and so do some of my customers that order them with them and there are those that order them without...but then again it is only my opinion and I will always respect and encourage your right to what ever opinion you have...

The real question should be how can we encourage more members to post examples of their work so that we can all learn and be enriched for the experience, even a photo which we do not necessary like or think is technically incorrect can teach us, even inspire...

Lets get back to the sharing and helpfulness of this community rather than giving an impression wether real or perceived that there are hard and fast rules which must be followed..

Dave was simply asking what people thought. And there have been answers. I don't think there is a "real question" as such, just questions that members wish to raise.

It was just a discussion point BigV, nothing to worry about.

[thaddeus]

I generally find frames distracting. If it's just a bit of whitespace then I don't mind, but anything else seems to box in the image to me. The most distracting ones are the ones with heavy text around them.

[kipper]

Frames are a complete and utter waste of time, your PC isn't a wall. It doesn't need an artificial wooden frame around it. If you want to see the photo with a wooden frame around it, go get it blown up to A3 and put it on your wall. I used to like minimalistic frames such as white border, thicker black border with copyright info in it. Now I just don't even bother and just have my copyright in the bottom right. I might resort to a 1px black border for seperation on a website that has light bg but that's as far as I'll go. Purely because my photos are restricted to a max width/height (650px) I don't want to reduce the image detail by putting a large frame around it.

[Frankenstein]

Of course if everyone was the same life would be bloody boring.

We should edit this part for our British friends

Frank

[Big V]

Greg, do not worry for I am not worried by this at all...

[Dargan]

This for me is one of those depends on the circumstances answers. A frame doesn't have to mean an art nouveau wood creation it can be a simple line to delineate borders. Sometimes a drop shadow is very effective in setting up an image. Many images do benefit from this treatment, but as I said to start with, it depends on the image. I have gone through the fun of doing the big wooden frame thing on the screen simply because the programme was available but tend to be more simple in presentation now, but I still try to do something to the edge of an image even if it is a stroke line. Putting an image on a black/grey background is 'framing' it in a sense. Perhaps if you are hanging an image on a wall the issue becomes more important. Overall though I feel a frame can complement and even add to the presentation of an image, even on screen.

[Greg B]

Greg, do not worry for I am not worried by this at all...

No worries.....

[Matt. K]

The purpose of a matt and frame is to provide a neutral space between your image and the wall/background it is viewed against. Once you sell a work you have no control over the colour or texture of the wall it will be hung on. The colours may clash as may the texture and diminish the work. If you know the background against which your image will be shown then a frame/matt combination to suit should be chosen. Does this forum provide a neutral area for image viewing? You decide. Will a matt and frame enhance your image? You decide again. Simple ofen works best....but at times ornate is called for. You decide when.

[xerubus]

an interesting discussion...

i used to like using a 5px white border around images to separate it from the forum background, however now i don't bother. i just do the shots and post them.

for people that do use borders/frames, i think if you feel it enhances your shot than that's great... but for me looking at a photo with a couple of digital mattes and a big digital frame can be a little distracting.

cheers

[sirhc55]

To frame or not to frame - that is the question.

My feelings are premised by - when is a monitor a wall. The answer is simply, never!

IMO 95% of framed pics, when viewed on a monitor, detract from the pic itself

[kipper]

I'm still in two minds about putting a 1-2px single black or black/white border around my images.

[greencardigan]

Interesting topic...

I generally use frames on my web photos. I would be interested to hear what people think about the frame I usually use. Have a look at the frames on these picsI posted recently.

Personally I think a simple frame will enhance most photos.

[xerubus]

I would be interested to hear what people think about the frame I usually use. Have a look at the frames on these picsI posted recently.

Personally I think a simple frame will enhance most photos.

you photos are always good... but i think the particular frame takes just a bit away from the photo... perhaps just the small bit of white with the first 1px black outline would work? but that's just me.... everyone will have a different take on things...

cheers

[dooda]

The extra matte is too much for me. I agree with Mark.

[sirhc55]

I would be interested to hear what people think about the frame I usually use. Have a look at the frames on these picsI posted recently.

Personally I think a simple frame will enhance most photos.

you photos are always good... but i think the particular frame takes just a bit away from the photo... perhaps just the small bit of white with the first 1px black outline would work? but that's just me.... everyone will have a different take on things...

cheers

I agree 100%

[stubbsy]

Originally I didn't use frames. Now I always do. I do this for two reasons:

1. a white frame with a thin black border (to me) provides some separation between the pic and the post background

2. It provides a location for me to title the image and add my copyright info (since I hate copyright watermarks)

[Mj]

To frame or not to frame - that is the question.

My feelings are premised by - when is a monitor a wall. The answer is simply, never!

Chris... you need to get a bigger monitor !!!

[CraigVTR]

It is amazing how such a small issue elicits such robust discussion. I like small descrete frames I feel they add boundaries to the image, but sometimes larger ones do distract. However, if you are thinking of purchasing a photo the ability to see it in a frame may help picture how it will look on your wall, or very large monitor.

When i work out how to do frames in PSE3 and set up a web account to post my images, i will show you what i like in frames.

Variety is the spice of life.

Craig

[Dargan]

Thanks for that technical comment MattK. That rationale makes good sense to me. It is also a control issue (and part of your artistic choice you are illustrating)as much as an enhancement, in some cases I use a drop shadow and others no frame etc, it depends on the image and other variables.

[Mal]

I'm just too lazy to open up photoshop, create a frame, save it then upload it and then post it..... I have enough trouble doing any PP on my pictures...

[Dargan]

Mal Don't take this the wrong way, but I was looking at your avatar as I read your comment

[Big V]

Well wether people like them or not at least it did not prevent the picture of the week from being chosen...so that is good

[Mal]

Mal Don't take this the wrong way, but I was looking at your avatar as I read your comment

[Glen]

Big V, you mean the PotW got chosen because it didn't have a frame?

[Big V]

Glen , I was refering to the week before...the field shot..

[Glen]

Makes sense now I don't think anyone would ever rule out a shot because of or due to a frame, I think you can get a POTW with anything, landscape, portrait, etc, just as long as the image is right