Making multiple, differently sized picture frames for exhibi

[fearfeasog]

I am a preparator at an art museum. we display primarily works on paper, some books, and some case material. I am starting to learn sketchup in order to make the exhibition design process a little easier, but I'm a little stuck on how to make picture frames for various works. Ideally I would create the frame to scale of the actual finished framing, then import the image of the artwork into the frame. (does that make sense?) I'll be using a basic molding for each frame, as I do in real life, nothing fancy there--flat stock, easy to make in SU.

So..how do I do that? Do i have to make every frame custom for each work? can i make a frame appear around an object easily (follow me? some other way?) can the images be stretched slightly to fit a frame that isn't perfectly proportioned?

I want this to be quick, as it's just me here. I may not have time to custom frame each work twice--once virtually and once really!

thanks, ff

[Box]

It's actually very simple and quick to create frames. Draw a square and use follow me on the appropriate frame profile
You can also setup dynamic frames that can easily be adjusted to suit.
On phone in pub so no examples just now.
Work on building your gallery, hanging the art will become click and place.

[pbacot]

So do the frames need to be different?

If they are all the same, I would

Import the picture make it the size you want.
Create a four sided frame group it
Place the frame so it's corner is at a corner of the image.
open the group, (Set View/ Component edit/ hide rest of model OFF)
left-right select each side of the frame (including corners) and move it to fit the picture.
close the group and make a group of the image and the frame

Note if you use soft or hidden edges, Turn on "hidden geometry" to do the work

Repeat with copies of the group for other pictures

[driven]

or you can easily modify the DynamicArtFrame Dynamic Component that's in 3d Warehouse...

I just added the dims to this one...

john

[pbacot]

Would be nice if you could adjust parametrically (size of art) or by snapping to the art piece. Otherwise it looks like this frame would be a bitch to work with as you have to adjust using the handles, and it only resets after you stretch.

[fearfeasog]

@box said:

It's actually very simple and quick to create frames. Draw a square and use follow me on the appropriate frame profile
You can also setup dynamic frames that can easily be adjusted to suit.
On phone in pub so no examples just now.
Work on building your gallery, hanging the art will become click and place.

follow me i get.

dynamic frames? not there yet. I'll look into that. Thanks!

ff

[fearfeasog]

@pbacot said:

So do the frames need to be different?

If they are all the same, I would

Import the picture make it the size you want.
Create a four sided frame group it
Place the frame so it's corner is at a corner of the image.
open the group, (Set View/ Component edit/ hide rest of model OFF)
left-right select each side of the frame (including corners) and move it to fit the picture.
close the group and make a group of the image and the frame

Note if you use soft or hidden edges, Turn on "hidden geometry" to do the work

Repeat with copies of the group for other pictures

yes, generally there will be groups of frames that will be the same, but often there are many different sizes. Depends on the exhibition.

What I was just messing around with worked ok. like this:

import image, size at import.
place profile at corner of image.
draw rectangle over image
follow me around the rectangle (it wouldn't do it around the image.)
delete rectangle.
make group

For a matted image, first I drew a rectangle the size of the mat
then i imported the image, sized it, and placed it on the rectangle. (sometimes the image gets buried by the rectangle, not sure why.)
place profile at corner of rectangle
follow me around rectangle
make group

It seems no matter what, you do have to "custom frame" each image. I may make some standard sizes just to have them around. but many will be custom, I think.

Anyway, thanks for your help!

ff

[fearfeasog]

@driven said:

or you can easily modify the DynamicArtFrame Dynamic Component that's in 3d Warehouse...
[attachment=0:q0xet8n3]<!-- ia0 -->dynamic_art_frame.gif<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment:q0xet8n3]

I just added the dims to this one...

john

That's pretty cool! I wish my company would spring for pro so I could make a frame we'd actually use!

ff