Adding Digital Frames - Love Or Hate?

[Cosha]

I Was messing around making a quick photobook last night, as a gift. The Book is black and white with some flower art work around the edges. I Scanned the art work of the books and did some photoshop to use as a digital frame for all of the images to keep the theme the same.

So then i sat down the a cuppa and have a good old mooch here on POTN....I became very aware that alot of users here do not like added digital frames

Can i kindly ask why? What do you not like about them? What do you like about them?

You know what frames im talking about, say 20pix of the edge of the frame turned to black etc...

Thanks for your time all

[400dabuser]

Errrr......bit of a hard one, some do, but it is something called "Time consuming", you can get it right in the first place, or maybe not......maybe it just doesn't look right on most of their photographs

For me, they are ok, nothing too brilliant about them

Could of added another option to the poll Indifferent/Don't Care

[Cosha]

Thanks for your input!

I dont know how others add borders, i have a few that are layers that i just place over? 5 Second job

[400dabuser]

Thanks for your input!

I dont know how others add borders, i have a few that are layers that i just place over? 5 Second job

True if you have an image editing software like photoshop, but they tend to be tacky

[Ruhan]

If you intend to print them and hang them, then a white border would suffice.

Photos are taken to be hung and framed and it is a real sin in the digital age that most photos do not make it past a PC screen. In a photobook I would either use a thin white border or none at all. There is a reason why most photography books follow this rule

In my view you should never use a black border on a photo either in a book or in digital format as this was such a cliche in the 1990's and can look quite cheesy. This obviously doesn't count for black frames which look fantastic on printed B&W photos.

[nphsbuckeye]

I put hate, because as Ruhun said, it's a shame that so many people don't take pictures past their computer screen.

However, if you're only going to have a picture on the computer, then a frame isn't so bad - if done well. If the frame is bad, then...

However, I can't imagine those frames being printed..

[DStanic]

"hate" because it's too easy to have them mess up a picture. Better off leaving it alone..

[tkbslc]

Have a hard time with this question. I see so many fake wood grain ones that make me cringe, but I do like a simple border on some images. Like this is one I just did last night, which I though the simple frame helped complete the picture:

http://tkbphoto.zenfolio.com/img/v7/p305329071-3.jpg

But that is just for my web gallery. When I print I will do so without the frame and use a real one.

[SOK]

[Slightly off topic]

Photos are taken to be hung and framed and it is a real sin in the digital age that most photos do not make it past a PC screen.

*Looks for an emoticon to express 100% disagreement*

I cannot fathom the logic of this comment.

If photos are meant to be 'hung and framed' then that would limit me sharing my photos with only people who come into my house.

The 'digital age' means that I can share my photos with friends and family on the other side of the world minutes after I've taken it.

I'd prefer the 'sin' of my photos not making it past a PC screen on websites, Flickr, Facebook and emails rather than only ever gracing the wall at the end of my hallway where no one is going to see it!

[\Slightly off topic]

As for frames. Some work, some don't. I have no preference.

[John_B]

Cosha,
You need a 3rd option of It Depends.
I think simple frames for internet/computer display are fine. However the more complex a frame and/or the more vibrant the colors of the frame can take the viewers attention from the photo. But for prints I personally only use wood frames ;)

Here is an example of the common frame I use on my online photos

http://johnbdigital.com/parks/hickories-park/hickories-park5.jpg
click for specs (http://johnbdigital.com/parks/hickories-park/hickories-park5.htm)

[Ruhan]

[Slightly off topic]



*Looks for an emoticon to express 100% disagreement*

I cannot fathom the logic of this comment.

If photos are meant to be 'hung and framed' then that would limit me sharing my photos with only people who come into my house.

The 'digital age' means that I can share my photos with friends and family on the other side of the world minutes after I've taken it.

I'd prefer the 'sin' of my photos not making it past a PC screen on websites, Flickr, Facebook and emails rather than only ever gracing the wall at the end of my hallway where no one is going to see it!

[\Slightly off topic]

As for frames. Some work, some don't. I have no preference.

Oh it's lovely to share and appreciate photos online. Most of us don't have access to galleries or photography books and so the digital age has been incredible in sharing and appreciating photos.

But a great photo deserves to be printed, framed and hung for a while so it can be appreciated not just on a screen or for a few seconds but in the ambience of a living room or gallery. The photo then enhances the atmosphere of a room and letting it breath like that will make you appreciate it even more and over time you will find new things that you love about it.

We started this little tradition where there is one frame in our living room where we print and hang on of my photos every month. It's a 5x4 ft hand crafted frame and we use a great print company. So it really inhabits the room but it takes on such a different element when it is lifted from a PC screen.

I highly recommend it!

[Cosha]

Great Examples thank-you everyone! The frames really do work on both your images.

The reason i Put Love Or Hate, is because when i have a look around the forum people are always saying "Loose the frame" etc...

I just took in onboard that frames were a no go or "Not Cool" etc...

Thank-you for the input

[neilwood32]

I would like anotheer option - sometimes!

There are some shots that would benefit with a frame just as there are some that should never be framed.

I have a number of shots that i have applied a border to, also a number that i havent. It depends on how it will be viewed, by whom, if i want to add information (ie a title) etc.

[jra]

Digital frames for digital photos and real frames for printed photos....I do like a photo nicely framed :)