This shop is a Mission and SF institution. Great service and knowledgeable folks--highly recommend!

8/2/2023 Came in to select a specific frame and framing accessories for the son's newly acquired Japanese art work. I did not know how specific and detailed options you have from the frame to even the glass of the frame. Went with the selection one of the employees suggested. Can't wait til it's time to pick up.. read more

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Extremely good customer service, slow to get my picture done but we perfected it through a few iterations. Would recommend and i will come back. We redid my picture three times to change margins and the frame joining (a bit misaligned, minor gaps only I would notice, etc) and they were SUPER nice about it. Didn't charge me a dime for my edits and really promised that they wanted me to leave happy. Eventually, I did! Love the final product. It took a little time but we got there and the group was very knowledgeable. We did a super custom job (see photo) and it turned out amazing. Now my article will be well preserved and look good on the wall. read more

Back To the Picture - Final result. Bravo! Took three tries but we did it and I am super happy. Great, supportive customer service. - Art Galleries Near Me - San Francisco, California

I have purchased 2 custom frames from this company. The first being a large piece with upgraded glass, price point about $1,700 and a recent custom job under $200. The quality of the work is decent but my only 2 issues are the nickel and dime pricing such as buying a ready to hang frame and finding out it lacks a wire kit to hang, which is a separate charge of $6 for the kit and $5 in labor to put in place. There are plenty of shops that will appreciate returning customers and provide up front cost. read more

Back To the Picture - Custom Frame using museum glass. - Art Galleries Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I recently visited Back to the Picture for matting and framing a beautiful painting by my nephew. I needed it to be special. Alan has a great eye and made wonderful selections based on the art and my budget. Highly recommend! read more

My husband and I have several photos and art work we've collected over the years that we've now started to put into frames within the last year or so... we finally have more walls to decorate. :) I've been to at least 6 different framing shops in the Bay Area and this is my favorite thus far. I didn't have need for a custom order this time around as my pieces were straightforward, so I used their ready to purchase frames and matting. They have a very nice selection for a wide variety of tastes. What I like, too, is that they reuse leftover pieces from custom order larger frames to make additional smaller frames. So you can get a very good deal for a high quality frame, yay! The service is excellent. The general manager helped me today and he was super kind in offering advice on what I needed to do to make my art pop...he also saved me from making a costly mistake and advised not to remove my art from the canvas or else I would need to have it stretched out. Yikes! And finally, service was friendly and so refreshing. I even got tips on some of the features of the credit card I used that I wasn't aware of lol. Highly recommended, I'm happy I drove a few extra miles to this business and look forward to returning. read more

Back To the Picture - Just lovely - Art Galleries Near Me - San Francisco, California

DO NOT GO HERE. over priced to the max. More than any store I've ever been to. This was a simple framing for a newspaper of the Warriors winning the championship on the cheapest frame and cheapest glass they have and they are charging $250. Do not go here you'll be ripped off! read more

A large-scale collection of framing materials + eye-catching gallery space w/ vibrant paintings, bringing a hint of artsy-ness to the mission. - Came in first-time on a weekend. This store has quite an open space. The general vibe is welcoming, cozy, down-to-earth, and with a sense of creative inspiration. - An impressive variety of custom & ready-made frames available. A large selection of colors, styles, materials, and size. Including solid primary colors w/o patterns, gold w/ embroidery, white rustic on wood, modern sleek black, and more. - Backend display includes an open gallery of contemporary, colorful artworks. Event flyers of non-profit program Creativity Explored & other relevant info at the table. - I believe if you own paintings & need framing, this place is professional & will get the job done well. - Friendly staff & great customer service. WIll be a fun place to stroll around after getting some ice cream next door in the mission. read more

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This frame shop is totally amazing and provides wonderful professional service. I have worked with them on many projects and have always been completely satisfied with their assistance. It is managed by Servio Gomez, who is a master framer and incredible individual. They have my full confidence and highest recommendation!! read more

Excellent service as well as stellar results and care for my art and small repair projects related to frames and mirrors. This applies to many visits over several years now. Nice atmosphere - low pressure, not rushed, but very helpful and present at your pace providing useful suggestions and alternatives - you can spend a bloody fortune on a custom framing project, so you want someone like Randy, the manager, around to guide you with alternatives and estimates. I'm always happy with the outcome! Tip: There's a discount for folks in 94110. Often a sale on very good mirrors or prints. read more

Unfortunately I feel compelled to write an extremely negative review for this business. After placing an order in December (told it would be a January delivery) I am now here in May finally receiving the item. The staff have been extremely unprofessional and uncommunicative. This was despite multiple visits to the store and calls. When I asked for a discount the associate offered me $15. I will definitely never be back! read more

I brought my one of my kind picture to this place on 1/17/2022, it was suppose to be done by 2/7/2022. Never did I get a call to say it was going to be delayed, I even waited to March to call them giving the inventory problems every where. I was never told they could not get the border I paid for. I decided to go back, pick another border, Malia could not find my picture anywhere in the store, after searching for like 20 minutes she found it. , then she called me in early April, it was done, I went to pick it up only to find it had a smudge. I brought it back pointed out the problem, they were apologetic, said they would fix it. Today (5//10/2022) I pick up the picture only to see that it now a smudge on the picture itself. After pointing this out to the sales associate , he then reads me this note that said the picture had adhesive on it, as well as dust now under the glass, they said did the best could to clean it up. The picture had neither when I dropped it off. When I asked to speak to the supervisor/ owner I was told they would pass my information to him as they could not give that information out. When I got home I tried to call them, the sales person was aware of the condition of my picture, claiming the owner told her it was like that when I brought it in. I told her Malia there employee could vouch that the picture was in pristine condition when I brought it in. Malia is gone for the summer I am told. The inside border is crooked also. As I write this review I am still waiting for the owner to call me. " DON'T EVER BRING ANYTHING TO THEM" read more

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Nice people unfortunately as did research around to different frame shops in town beforehand and spent time prior on phone describing intent and size and was quoted $350-$400. After making my way to shop I was quoted close to $1,400 and it was noted the previous estimate was for basis specs which I then asked for and couldn't be produced. Unfortunate experience. read more

I paid for a print to be framed and after five months of checking in on the progress this store finally told me they'd lost the print. Though they did give me a refund after I went in person to discuss, they made sure to tell me multiple times that they only keep art for 60 days before throwing it away (as if it was my fault that they hadn't done the work I'd pre-paid for). Almost a year later they called me to say they'd found the print and asked me to come pick it up. I went in today and the person working there said he had no record related to my art except for the refund, again reminding me that they only retain art for 60 days. I asked if he could take a look in their inventory for the print, since the store had given me a call to say they have it. He went in the back for less than a minute and came back to say it wasn't there. What a joke! read more

Huge selection of picture frames at decent prices. I forgot a piece there and they kept it for two years before I was reminded to pick it up. They do great work and are very professional!! read more

Took ten minutes to repair my frame, while I waited. Free hanging nail thingy as well! read more

I'm an inexperienced picture framer. My hard-drive is littered with pictures of that should be posing along-side wall fixtures and mirrors. What is a man with plenty of pictures and a no skillz in glass & wood to do? Go to 'Back to the Picture' and talk to Randy. Choose a frame. Choose wood. Choose a matte with suede feel and beveled cutouts. Choose complementary colours. Choose a backing with sawtooth hangers. Choose to do it yourself. Choose Back to the Picture. The staff was eager to teach me to do the work, but make sure you have some time to spend because they have plenty of business to attend to. My frame and pictures came out wonderfully -- and are now posing on someone's fireplace. read more

I went in to order a print. Had a nice talk with one of the guys who worked there. He said he would order my print and call me when it came in. Two weeks later after no call I went in and politely inquired about my order. The same guy who took my order was there and I dealt with him again. He again took down my number and said he would check on it and get right back to me. I never heard from him. We are in a down economy, and this place can afford to turn away business. I have close to a thousand dollars worth of framing I need done. Guess who is NOT getting my business or my money? read more

Your very friendly neighborhood framing spot. The guys there will spend the time with you, and give you the benefit of their more experience eyes, while you try to envision what your print, poster, painting, etc. will look like with any number of their hundreds of choices for frames. Talk to Randy. It's also nice to just drop in and see what they have for sale and on the walls. Typically lots of nicely framed Rivera and Kahlo prints. read more

I remember back when Servio first opened this shop, we are talking eighties folks, I was in my late teens or about to be 20, and I still come back when I need quality work. So a couple of years ago, I walked in to have my wedding portrait framed, and it happened to be their 20 something year anniversary, so I got a 10% discount just for being a returning customer. And their work? PRIMO darling, you gotta try them.. To try them is to LOVE them. I have several Frida's around the house and my wedding portrait and I just adore the framing they did for me. read more

I am slightly biased since I live upstairs but I think this place is great. I had my only souvenir from Cuba framed here and they did an incredible job for cheap. I found a frame in the style and size that fit my print and they gave it to me for free (I paid for the mat and new glass). I really like that they encourage you to do it yourself here. I have worked on a couple of older frames on their back table and they let me borrow their tools and gave me the minor extra parts to make it work. Very artist friendly. Yesterday I picked-up my dad's hand-drawn elevations of our first house. These are prized possessions and they look even better now; safe and snug in their new natural wood frames. I might throw a party to show them off. read more

I'm an art collector and Alan is the only framer here who I'll work with. He's professional, thoughtful, and has a superb eye. He understands how a proper frame can make a piece come to life. The prices are also the best in the city as well for this tier of professional framing. Highly recommended. read more

Robin is a gem. Helpful, knowledgeable and has a creative eye. Excellent work. High cost, very expensive. Very, very slow delivery. read more

I have been using this frame shop for years. Go and ask for Randy Figueres. He's super nice, very knowledgable and a great help in picking the appropriate frames and mats for your artwork. They do first class work. Another big plus ... they have self framing. You can come in and for the cost of materials and a small fee frame your art yourself. The staff is super helpful showing you exactly how to do it the right way. If you're having trouble they will cut your mats for you. This shop is first rate!!! read more

This place is awesome!!!! My father has been coming here for ages, in fact so did I (only I was the kid in tow!). . . Randy totally helped us out! After agonizing over countless framing options, I found myself deferring to his better judgement! He picked out perfect frame styles for my very special paintings. . it just made them pop! They do amazing work here and they're great people too! While some complain about the pricing . . . the old motto goes: You get what you pay for! Oh, and don't forget. . . you're supporting a small business owner. . . not a chain!!! Three snaps up go the "Back to the Picture"! read more

This place really did me right. Now, I've always had some kind of affinity towards this store, since I am a total frida kahlo fanatic, and they represent. I think they've had that larger-than-life frida picture in the front window ever since I moved to the mission a year and a half ago. In any case, I recently decided that my dorm-style decor days were officially over, and to prove just how serious I was about that resolution, I decided to get a poster...FRAMED! :) imagine that! To my chagrin, I am an extremely detail-oriented perfectionist with a sharp eye for error, be it my own or someone else's, and I have to say, there is not one thing wrong with the way my print turned out. It looks incredible. It's one of those euro vintage reproduction prints, and it is currently hanging in my kitchen, a grand attestment to just how adult I now am! I mean, c'mon...I have framed art in my apartment! I'd also like to mention how patient they were with me when I initially came in to pick out the frame. Decisions are not my strong point, especially when presented with a variety of lovely options (which they certainly have), so I probably spent close to 45 minutes hemming and hawing over what to choose. When I finally picked, they mentioned that they'd give me a 10 percent "neighborhood discount," which helped bring the price down a bit, and frankly, don't worry about whether or not you live in the neighborhood, cuz nobody's asking. Lastly, I called them two days before the promise date they had given me, because I was having a party, and I wanted to have it by then. They accomodated me and I was able to pick it up early! Overall, I was very impressed by the whole experience. Highly recommended! Their work is truly exquisite. read more

It's a nice, neighborhood-y place, but there were a few problems. I have to say the staff is very friendly and they help you a lot, making some suggestions but always letting you make the final decisions. I like their non-pushy attitude and their recommendations on how you can save money. The selection is great, and I think you could really spend some time there to pick out the most perfect frame for your picture. And the staff there will help you patiently through the process. On to the few problems. First problem, it seemed to be a little expensive. We did the DIY option, and it was still over $100 to get a frame and matte for our picture. Second problem, when we got the picture back, our light beige matte had a noticeable black smudge on the corner. Third problem, the matte was not cut with clean edges. At the top, we found a little part where the matte was cut twice, leaving a little part hanging. These imperfections with the matte seemed unprofessional. Overall, I felt good about the final product but not great. read more

Their prints and always reasonably priced and their custom framing is superb. It takes a few weeks but worth the wait. The staff os very friendly and always happy to answer any questions. read more

Wow! I am super impressed with everything about my experience here. Framing is quite a pricey endeavor but we got great price. The owner handles most of the framing and is a consummate expert! He's very friendly and chooses the materials that are right for the project. Every time I walk past the lovely PhD diploma I got framed I notice it is the nicest frame in the house. Definitely will be using them from now on! read more

I have no idea why framing is so expensive. It just is. Now that I am a mature adult, I guess I can't get by with tacked-up posters anymore. So I'm cranky when I go in to Back to the Picture, but they are so helpful and patient that I leave happy. Happy to be spending hundreds of dollars. Happy about the number of years I'm going to enjoy looking at the finished product. Happy that my artwork is in good hands -- better than mine, probably. And happy to be supporting what seems to be a locally owned, longtime, independent small business. As other reviewers have noted, Randy is a gem. I have also been helped, during the very busy holiday season, by equally friendly and knowledgeable people. read more

Randy and the rest of the folks here were a super help to me when I had to get a picture framed and get the frame packed up and secured for my move back to Europe. Randy took the extra time to make sure my picture was secured in the frame in a way that will not damage it if the glass will break en route and also took the extra time to brace the frame itself with extra cardboard to make it super sturdy. On top of it all, even though Im leaving he still gave me the 10% Mission discount. Overall a very good experience, very helpful staff and good prices (lets be honest people, framing is expensive). Would recommend to anyone. read more

I have had a number of photos custom framed at Back to the Picture and each time I am so happy with the results. It is definitely worth it to have your art or photos framed here. The staff are very friendly and incredibly helpful. They even fixed a frame stand for me that had been accidentally bent. They are my go-to whenever I have an important photo for framing. read more

Great customer service! Alan is amazing and got so much knowledge on framing and art. Definitely coming back here again. Thanks Alan!

These guys certainly know their stuff, and the quality of their frame jobs is excellent. I've taken things to Aaron Brothers for years, thinking nothing of it, but the craftsmanship here is at least half again as good. However, they're also half again as expensive, it would seem - I can't put a real number on that, but I was shocked that framing a newspaper printing plate with their most basic black frame and non-glare glass cost over $130. I don't think I'll be able to afford going here too many more times, but it was nice to have the experience of a job well done. read more

Frame-o-Rama used to be my go-to frame shop, but since I've discovered Back to the Picture about two years ago I've never gone anywhere else. This place should be your frame shop of choice for three reasons: 1. Great selection and great prices on custom or pre-made frames (and a willingness to negotiate a bit if you're doing a large purchase) 2. Randy Figures has a great eye and is always friendly and helpful. If you know exactly what you want, that's cool, but I'd still get Randy's opinion. If you don't know what you want, even better! Put yourself in Randy's hands and watch the magic happen 3. Do-it-yourself station that has all the supplies you need to do your own professional-looking frame job. You have free reign to do your thing with people who can answer your questions nearby and ready to help P.S. Frame-o-Rama is still great, just not AS great as Back to the Picture. read more

Randy and team do a great job, and are super friendly and helpful to boot. I'm prone to getting intimidated at places like bike stores and frame shops, but these guys are really good at providing advice on framing options and make me feel good about my home decorating choices. Randy even helped me take the seats out of my messy minivan and loaded my picture for me. Thanks guys! read more

4.5 stars Delays. VERY reasonable. I'm used to months at a time for odd jobs that require the expert of the house, and we got the phone call quite fast. Price. We framed 12 items, so it adds up, but at the end and with the bulk discount, it came out VERY reasonable. Now the details. each of my pieces needed some special handling. The cross-stitch are STRAIGHT!!!! I can't believe it! One of the cross stitch was beyond hope (a dirty cloth from my great grandma) and I requested a reversed mat to salvage it. They ended up with a regular mat over a piece PERFECTLY stretched. I requested a old drawing to be recut to straighten it. Again, it looks better than ever. I would have given a 5 - save the young lady who was not very helpful - but allowed me to grab and choose. I spent an hour choosing all the mats and frames, and she wrote a perfect order, with all the pieces framed in the matching items. The job was so well done, I'm confident they would have called if something "looked wrong". Overall, excellent experience for a chore I dreaded for about 10 years. AND I'm happy to support a local business on Valencia, so we don't end up with one more clothing store. read more

Back To the Picture - it's STRAIGHT!!!! And they remeasured the mat to the 1/16 in so it would be perfectly even all around. - Art Galleries Near Me - San Francisco, California

I would've liked to know about their services (local shop, small business) but when I arrived at 5:20 (they say closes at 6), the fellow immediately said he wouldn't be able to get to me because they "hard close at 6"... I get it, you wanna leave at 6 pm, but there was still 40 minutes and 2 people working and two people being served at the time... guess he really had to go somewhere but I won't be going back to find out. : ( read more

The folks here are really nice, and they even replaced a piece of glass for free that I accidentally cracked within hours of purchasing. That's customer service! read more

It's a shame I can't give them zero stars. Took two pieces to them for framing. One they used the wrong matte and the other they mounted backwards ruining my child's art work. They refunded the payment, but you can't replace a one of a kind work of art by your child. Beware...don't take anything to this business that can't be replaced. read more