what is the general feelings on this subject? never have worked with them, but willing to try... always liked the full picture and no interuptions, does it truly take away from the picture or does it add to it...... thoughts?

My opinion? It depends largely on theimage. A frame should enhance it somehow. Does the frame texture or color tie in to the image? Does it command too much attention?

I'd look around the site, and see if any of the frames appeal to you, and why.

Hope that helps.

Personally I can't stand frames. There are exceptions where a frame can enhance the image but in most cases they detract from the images.

there are frames, and then there are frames ... (cut this statement out and frame it) ... some revel in them, some revile them .. which side of the river you're on can be revealing

simple frames, like surrounding an image in black, harken back to the old practice of matting and beveling the corners to create a mild dimensional effect ...

but in computer terms, it can include just about anything .. and can require a decent amount of photoshop skill to achieve the right look ..


Check out the gallery of THIS En-Zedder .. it don't get no better


(*cashes Lyn's bank cheque*)

Some images are enhanced by frames some are not - I think it is as simple as that. There are those of us who in some instances can not resist the temptation! I think in my own case it stemmed from having no confidence in the quality of an image and started in a misguided attempt to 'improve' on what the camera had done for me. My advice would be if you like 'em - make em, if you don't, don't :) They can accentuate specific colours or shapes and give more impact to some images. For some of us it is an artistic outlet - some of you do fractals and CGA, and trailing far behind are the frame makers lol. The link to my framed lily that keifer provided is one I was pleased with the result as it did what I wanted it to do (for me, maybe not for others) A mediocre shot of a Christmas Lily and I think the borders made it look Christmas cardy - the lemony shading was an attempt to suggest the scent of the flower. As a comparison have a peep at This other lily shot left unadorned .I tried several different frames before deciding to leave it.
Interestingly, they received the same index score.

I think each completed image should be considered as a whole - if it has a frame/border this is part of the final offering and even if you despise anything with a frame it should be judged not as a photo with a frame round it but as the whole picture. A nice frame with a poor image is as bad as a good image spoiled by a poor or uneccessary frame.
To frame or not to frame - that is the question :)and as Keith said it depends a lot on which side of the river you are on.
I am somewhere midstream.

Personally I like my desktop to be uncluttered and the computer screen already frames the image so for desktops I want my image unframed.

Guess it depends on the number of icons you use. I keep a very tidy desktop (usually, lol) with approx 10 frequently used icons visible :) some images are busy and they get lost so a border/frame is often a good way to isolate them.

Lyn .. you can hide your icons into a little taskbar menu .. I'll tell you how for a nickel (you have to pay all bank fees and exchange rates .. I want my 5 cents free and clear)

Wow really ? My desktop looks like my kitchen.... junk scattered all over it.

Some of the pictures with frames date back to the era of fixed aspect ratios on this site. This left those with cameras that shot a different ratio with the choice of cropping, or adding a border. Also it wasn't possible to upload a picture that was in the portrait orientation. That caused some borders to show up as well.

Personally i put a small picture (550 x 360) with a 10 pixel white border on a black background for my desktop. That leaves most of the screen black. I think it looks the best, but i wouldn't upload my pictures like that. People seem to want choice, so leaving the border off always gives them the option of adding it if they want.

Keith- I'm not paying you! :) ! I already know how to do that - but why have a desk if there is nothing on it? I do have the REST of my millions of icons nicely hidden but that means two clicks and I dont want to wear out my mouse.

I have use a micro software program (freebie) called iconoid.. it hides all your desktop icons. with 1 click it shows all your icons.. and you can view your wallpaper with no distractions, a really nifty program... as I dont like to see mine..and keep my desktop icons to a min.. may want to check it out...and still want to try some borders when I get bored, if that ever happens..

Iconoid

steven:)

In Windows it is also possible to just right click the desktop and untick 'Show desktop icons'

I am going to check out Iconoid :)

Steven if you decide to try some borders (if you get bored lol) if you use Photoshop or PSP FotoFrame is a plugin I find very useful, free download here.

http://8bf.net/fotoframe.html

as it says on the site "The key to using this plugin is experimentation with the presets and the user controls."

Beware the Jabberwock and Lame Frame Flamers

Quoth the Raven .. nevermore



even if you don't use an actual STOCK image .. sometimes they will give you ideas .. may you be ready when they do

I post in the 3:2 format and no frame and here's why:

1) 3:2 is the 35mm format that the industrie had long accepted as the ideal format. it's also the format that been use in N.A. theaters while our ancient TV had no problem croping the sides for their 4:3 monitor ratio.

2)Also easy to crop a bit off the top, the bottom or both to get your 16:9 long screen.

So a framed 3:2 format would be severely amputated or it size would be greatly reduce.

As for the others:
16:9 framed for long screen does not leave much space for the picture, but framed in 4:3 format, scecially if is only framed top and bottom, should please both format. The 16:9 advocates will just chop your frame without loosing a bit of your image.

The 4:3 format is different only because it still hold 80% off the market, but beware, it is fast loosing to the long screen.

To me only the image size count. 10 years ago I was looking for images in the resolution 600x480, 5 years ago it was the 800x600, 3 years later it was at 1024x768 and today I want 2000 no less. All my early slide scan at 1200 don't make the cut anymore and will have to be redone.

Conclusion, if you frame, make sure the image size (without the frame) be at least 1200 or you will probably not be downloaded.

Hey, that's only my opinion. 8)