FAQ
READYMADE PRODUCTS
CP stores offer a wide variety of options in readymade framing. We carry photo frames, also known as tabletop or easel-back frames, wall and poster frames, open back frames, which are fully assembled frames with no glass or backing, collage frames, sectional frames, hinged frames, value frames and shadowbox frames. Our website shop offers the most popular readymade wall frame and poster frames, the Bay Area Built by Cheap Pete’s frame collections.
Most readymade picture frame manufacturers build frames at dimensions that have become "standard" to the industry. These standard size frames are the most popular sizes and are not always based on common photograph sizes.
Although Cheap Pete's carries many readymade frames that are not at standard sizes, we stock up on the standard size frames based on their popularity.
Most popular standard sizes: 4x6, 5x7, 8x10, 11x14, 16x20, 18x24, 24x30 & 24x36
Yes. The popularity of digital sizes has grown over the years, as many have been printing from their phones and digital cameras, which produce various image sizes that are not typical "standard" frame sizes. The digital sizes we carry in-store are: 6x8, 8x12, 9x12, 11x17, 12x16, 12x18 & various square sizes
Our Fillmore poster frames are 13"x19". The concert posters that are produced for The Fillmore's sold out shows have in the past (and still sometimes even now) been made at different sizes, but 13"x19" is the most common size of the posters currently in production.
Measure your concert posters first or bring them into one of our stores so we can make sure that the 13"x19" size works. If your poster is not 13"x19", we can help you find other frame sizes and options.
We have a large variety of pre-cut mats available for purchase. There are 3 types of mats we sell at various sizes and colors: single 4-ply mats, double 4-ply mats, & single 8-ply Mat Packs. Currently, single 4-ply mats and single 8-ply Mat Packs are available for purchase in our online store.
Starting from 4x6 opening size that fit into 8x10 frames to 16x20 opening size that fit into 20x24 frames, we have a wide range to help you put together a custom look at a readymade price.
Yes. We know that some of our customers enjoy and are very good at framing their own pieces. And we also acknowledge that savings in both time and money can be found when you do it yourself. We offer a range of framing supplies that would allow a customer to take their project home and have it fully framed and hung that same day. Supplies available in-store include art hinging tape, backings, glazing, framing spacers, hanging hardware, earthquake safety supplies and moulding hooks. We currently sell backings and framing spacers online.
CUSTOM SERVICES & OPTIONS
We do our best to give our customers options for their precious pieces of art and photographs, so many things are considered when we create designs and choose those options.
FULL CUSTOM FRAMING - This option allows the customer to design practically every aspect of his or her piece. Designs can include custom-cut matting, mounting, glazing (glass and acrylic) preferences, and of course a custom cut frame moulding. Also, many times art isn't produced at standard frame sizes, so full custom framing allows each design to fit your unique piece.
READYMADE FRAMES - This option is substantially more cost-effective than custom framing. Readymade frames come in various sizes, from the most popular standard size frames to the less common digital or European sizes. We try to carry a wide range of readymade frame sizes, in order to accommodate most customers' pieces.
We strongly recommend that you bring your piece of art or photo into one of our stores to get a quote. While you can email or call us to try to get a quote, even for a “basic” frame job, the best we can do is give you a rough price range, since custom frame jobs have so many variables, even at a basic level.
Custom framing can get a bit pricey, but we still encourage you to try out the design process with us in-store. There are different directions you can go with framing that may just fit within your budget.
PETE'S COMPLETE - We carry a collection of custom frame mouldings of which we order so much that we can offer it at a discounted price to our customers. The Pete's Complete package allows our customers to create custom frame designs using those mouldings and a set combination of framing elements, all for about 25% off a typical full custom frame price. A selection of these mouldings are exclusively the frames available in our Upload & Design section of our website shop. Shop in-store to see the full line of Pete’s Complete mouldings.
CUSTOM-READYMADE COMBO - If your piece doesn't fit a readymade frame or mat because its size is off by a fraction of an inch, we know it can be frustrating. But we can help by putting together a custom-readymade combo. That means we can cut a custom mat to fit your unique piece into a readymade frame. We'll assist you in finding the right color, getting the precise measurements, cutting the mat, and you can go home with a readymade frame and everything you need to get your piece framed up right--at a price much less expensive than doing a full custom order.
Currently, the custom framing aspect of our site is only available on desktop browsers. We are hard at work to develop the Upload & Design feature for mobile devices.
REPAIRS & RESTORATION
We do not do repairs on damaged frames or other framing materials. CP has been in the framing business for over 40 years, and we have strict policies with regards to dealing with outside framing and materials. Many picture frames, matting materials, and various framing supplies are unique and one-of-a-kind, and are therefore not easy to replace, sometime irreplaceable. Because of this, we do not accept requests for frame repairs or restorations. Instead, we can provide guidance on reframing or even recommend trusted local businesses that may deal in specialty repairs. Pay us a visit, and we'll see what we can help you with.
We do not offer art restoration services, but we work with various professionals throughout the SF Bay Area that specialize in art restoration. Let us know the type of repairs you may need done, and we can refer you to an art restorer to contact and consult with.
PRINTING PHOTOS & ART
We offer on-site high quality printing at most of our stores and through our website’s “Upload & Design Framing” page. You can upload and design framing on our website, or you can order as a print only to frame later. You can choose Store Pickup for your print only and shop framing at one of our stores. We print at common photo sizes, starting at 5x7 up to 16x20 at our stores, up to 20x24 online.
On our Upload & Design page, we accept JPEG & PNG files up to 25MB in size. If you have larger files or formats, you are welcome to contact us at feedback@cheappetes.com or visit us at our stores to see how we can accommodate you.
There are 3 paper options offered for printing, all professional photograph papers:
ENHANCED MATTE - This matte-finished paper is the most popular paper type, chosen by most of our customers, employees, and artist clients who get printing done with Cheap Pete's. With a smooth surface and at 104 ISO brightness, this paper yields sharp and rich images.
PREMIUM LUSTER - This photo paper features a Luster E surface (orange peel). This paper has a 97 ISO brightness and is the 2nd most popular paper ordered.
COLD PRESS BRIGHT - This last of the 4 papers we offer for printing is a textured matte paper, much like watercolor paper. It's the thickest of all the papers we offer (almost double the thickness of the Enhanced Matte and Premium Luster papers). The Cold Press Bright is made of 100% cotton rag, is acid free & pH buffered.
We do not offer photo enhancements or editing on print orders. We only offer cropping to your specifications.
At this time, we do not offer scanning services.
Yes! We print on EXHIBITION CANVAS SATIN – This is a poly-cotton blend canvas with a smooth satin finish. You can upload your photo for printing and gallery stretching on our Upload & Design Framing page. Stretched canvas custom ordered on our website is gallery stretched and wired, ready to hang on your wall.
You can custom design framing for your stretched canvas at our stores. We currently do not offer custom framing for stretched canvas online.
We recommend bringing your canvas into our stores for proper measuring or ordering your custom uploaded stretched canvas (ordered through our Upload & Design Framing page) for Store Pickup at your choice CP location, to design your custom frame. Stretched canvas requires extra consideration when designing framing, to account for depth, type of media, and quality of original stretch of the canvas or fabric. It’s also important for us to determine whether pre-stretched items are on the square or out of square, to properly fit into a perfectly squared frame.
ADDITIONAL SERVICES
Yes. We recommend bringing in your frame into the store (be careful picking and packing everything up), so we can help you assess your needs. Note that simply ordering a replacement piece of glazing over the phone often results in incorrectly cut sizes, which is why we request frames be brought in, so we can properly measure your replacement piece of glazing.
Full glass replacements—disassembly, cleanup, reassembly with new piece of glazing—are available with a determined wait time upon consultation. However, please note that it is at our designer’s discretion whether we can accept a full glass replacement order, as we cannot repair or work with broken or damaged frames and framing elements.
Cut glazing for you to take and replace at home can also be ordered, oftentimes while you wait.
We offer dry mounting onto foamcore board or Gator board, available at our stores. The process of dry mounting requires high heat and pressure to permanently adhere the piece to the chosen backing board.
Foamcore board – A fairly rigid foam sheet between 2 sheets of acid free paper. This board is ideal for smaller pieces that will be placed inside a picture frame.
Gator board - A rigid board with a polystyrene core with a wood fiber veneer laminate surface suffused in resin for water resistance and rigidity. Recommended for larger pieces and can be hung un-framed.
When bringing in your piece, our designers will examine the art or photograph to ensure that mounting is appropriate, as some items are not recommended for dry mounting (one-of-a-kind items, numbered art pieces, certain types of printing inks and papers, thin or fragile papers, and so on). We can suggest alternatives to mounting, if your pieces would not be able to withstand the conditions of our mount press.
Yes, custom cut mats are available to order at any of our stores. Our designers can help you determine the opening size and outside dimensions needed to fit your art and frame correctly. This is especially important if you are in need of a multi-opening “collage” mat. It’s best to bring in all your art, to get accurate measurements and to choose the perfect color(s) for your project.