From Artist to Framer: My Journey to Dan the Frame Man
ABOUT DAN THE FRAME MAN
My journey into picture framing started unexpectedly around 1996. Fresh out of high school and pursuing my passion for art, I visited a local frame shop to order a frame for one of my paintings. The owner surprised me with a job offer!
I learned the craft from the ground up and eventually became the shop’s full-time framer. In the early 2000s, the rise of giclée printing caught my attention. I taught myself Adobe Photoshop and began producing fine-art reproductions for local artists, adding professional printing to my work.
After briefly owning another frame shop, my family and I returned home to Vermont. I continued framing and printing, eventually buying out my employer and moving the shop to a Main Street location, where we remain today.
I first tested Etsy in 2017, but with a busy shop and growing family, the timing wasn’t right. In 2025, I officially relaunched Dan the Frame Man on Etsy.
Today we offer custom matting, professional picture framing, and high-quality poster and photo printing. Thank you for visiting—we appreciate the opportunity to help with your project!
SHOP POLICIES & IMPORTANT INFORMATION
ORDER REVIEW
We review orders before production, including image quality, sizing, measurements, and custom instructions. We do not send a separate file-approval message for every order. If something requires clarification, we’ll contact you through Etsy Messages.
PRINTING & IMAGE FILES
We may resize, optimize, upscale, crop, or make other routine adjustments to prepare images for printing. We can often add text or make minor design changes to poster/photo files; we do not print text or designs directly onto matboard. Most orders do not require a proof.
SENDING FILES
Files may be attached through Etsy Messages. If a file is too large, email it to dantheframeman [!at] gmail.com and include your name or order number. Unless stated otherwise, each print purchased is for one image/file.
CUSTOM MATS & MEASUREMENTS
Customers are responsible for accurate outside dimensions, opening sizes, orientation, placement, and other specifications. Unless WINDOW EXACT is requested, mat openings are normally cut 1/4” smaller overall than the artwork, allowing about 1/8” overlap per side. For multiple openings, orientation-specific layouts, offset/uneven borders, or unusual designs, please include a sketch showing all measurements and placement. Photos cannot reliably provide exact measurements.
MAT COLORS
Screens and lighting can affect color appearance. If color selection is important, we recommend ordering a mat sample pack before ordering your finished mat.
FRAMES, GLASS & ACRYLIC
A frame’s inside lip may cover up to approximately 1/4” of artwork on each side. We do not ship glass by itself or without a frame. Glass/glazing listings are add-ons to qualifying frame orders; standalone glass orders will generally be canceled and refunded. 18x24 is the maximum framed size we ship with glass; larger shipped frames use acrylic.
SHIPPING & ADDRESSES
Production and carrier transit times are separate, and carrier delivery dates are estimates. Shipping upgrades may be available; message us with your ZIP code and needed-by date for options.
Customers are solely responsible for providing the correct shipping address. Contact us immediately if you notice an error. We may be able to change the address for that order before shipment, but changes are not guaranteed, even if we receive or reply to your message. A change by us does not update the address saved in your Etsy account.
DELAYED, LOST & DELIVERED PACKAGES
Tracking can occasionally go several days without an update while a package is still moving. For our voluntary replacement process, we generally allow up to 21 days after the expected delivery date or last meaningful tracking update before treating a shipment as lost. Packages showing confirmed delivery to the address provided are generally considered delivered.
DAMAGE & MISSING ITEMS
Report damage promptly, preferably within 7 days of delivery. Keep the item, box, and ALL packaging; we may request photos of the item, packaging, and shipping label. If something appears missing, check all packaging first—multiple mats may be separated between layers of cardboard and prints may be rolled together.
RETURNS & CANCELLATIONS
Please refer to Etsy’s Returns & Exchanges and Cancellations sections for the policies that apply to your order.
COPYRIGHT & CONTENT
By submitting material for reproduction, you confirm that you own it or have permission to reproduce it. We may decline projects involving intellectual-property violations, illegal material, sexually explicit content, hateful/discriminatory material, or other content we consider inappropriate.
AGREEMENT
By placing an order, you acknowledge the applicable shop policies, Etsy policies, listing descriptions, and product information. If you’re unsure about anything, please contact us before ordering—we’re happy to help.
