A photo wall

Imposter

I've been mulling with the idea of creating a photo wall from pics that I have taken and wondering if people have any ideas/suggestions on how to do this?

At the moment I guess I'd be looking initially at 10 or so photos but would maybe extend that to more photos later.

I'm currently thinking frames of different sizes, pretty much randomly displayed on the wall. The wall is currently painted white and i'd prefer to leave it that way.

Anyone got any ideas on what frames/mounts/borders etc. to use?
I was thinking of using simple and cheap clip frames (for now at least) and using a border on every picture. I've yet to decide whether I print the borders as part of the picture or use a seperate border. I think different pictures will work better with different colour borders and against the white wall I think this will work well too.

I was considering going with 'proper' frames but then there are a lot of questions such as thick or thin frame; what colour/style of frame; all the same or a mixture of different ones; how would this work with different border colours; etc... Looking at the price of these too with 10+ frames it could be fairly costly.

As printing is fairly cheap I guess I could play around with a few ideas but any and all feedback is welcome.

Fajitas!

Lomography used to do (And probably still do) overpriced clips for prints, they were pretty nice all the same though. Tbh, in my last place, I just used blu-tac for that... 'rustic' look..

ThOnda

I'd second blue-tac. However I use 3M sticky gum that is designed for that purpose and is a little easier to clean from walls and furniture.

Imposter

I'd prefer to use frames of some sort even if they are only simple clip frames with a glass front. It's not a student apartment :pac:

I'd prefer not to have the expense of 'proper' frames but more important I guess would be availibility - if I wanted to add some photos later i'd need to be able to find the frame type I used before.

Mantel

Blu-tac does the job! It's worked well for me over the years, as long as you don't use too much or the picture isn't too heavy. In one apartment I rented I seen the previous occupants used alot of blu-tac to hang picture frames on the wall, that must have been messy when they took it down.

dakar

I've had a plan like this in mind for a fair while. We moved into our new build house earlier this year and I've a wall earmarked for the kind of thing you're talking about.

I intend to have a mix of old family photos (scans from prints from the 30's to the 90's), baby photos of the kids and some of my own favourite random shots. I want to have a mix of styles and sizes so I can chop and change and not be reliant on finding an exact match down the line.

What I've done is gradually acquire frames over about a year, basically whenever I come across something fairly plain but nice, preferably with a precut mount, I pick up a couple. I keep an eye on Dunnes, Tesco, Homebase, TK Maxx etc. and sales here and there. Dunnes often sell off end of line stuff at 50% off and have really nice frames sometimes. This frame obsession is driving Mrs. dakar to distraction as I'm now up to about 20-odd empty frames and really should get around to bringing this to fruition.

When I get sorted out, I'll post up a pic, really should use this thread as a spur, I suppose:)

Fajitas!

Actually, have a look at the posters, etc you can make on www.photobox.com - You could make a collage or 8!

stcstc

i could print you wallpaper in strips with all the images on

ie we could mock it up in illustrator or something and then print it in strips

you could then stick the whole thing to the wall edge on edge

Imposter

That wallpaper idea sounds cool but it's not quite what I want. It would be too much hassle adding pictures or changing pictures.

I've thought about a collage too and I might do some for other places in the apartment but not on this wall. The wall is quite big so I don't think a collage poster would work here. Again adding to it or changing things around ain't so easy with this idea.

stcstc

what about using the wallpaper with graphic frames built into it

that way you can stick images in the frames, and changes them when you want

Imposter

stcstc wrote: »

what about using the wallpaper with graphic frames built into it

that way you can stick images in the frames, and changes them when you want

I like that idea but again when it comes to extending the pics this is more hassle.

I think i'm set on the simple clip frames and print the border as part of the picture now. Hopefully it turns out ok!

Tactical

The likes of Tesco sell a range of "frames" with a glass cover held on by metal clips. The backboard is decent enough, the glass could be a little better but they won't break the bank and are available in a range of sizes.

I'm going to do the very same thing here in the office (not an office a client would ever be in I might add) and to be honest at upwards of €40 per frame for a sinple black wood and a single snow white 2" mount (i.e. nothing fancy at all...) it'd be just too expensive. Besides which, my framer of choice who used to do an excellent job and offer genuinely good advice has shut up her art gallery and is leaving the country:eek:. The next closest place I have used one and won't be using again I'm sorry to say:mad:.

So it looks like I'll be running to Tesco for the moment, they also give clubcard points too:D