Pricing Frames & Mats
In ProSelect, frames and mats are not priced individually but are assigned a price group. Price groups help you organize frames and mats by their pricing structure when creating orders. ProSelect will assign "NAP: No Assigned Price" to frames and mats if one is not assigned. Frames and mats imported from a Supplier Collection already have an assigned price group utilizing the supplier cost. See Supplier Collections for more details.
- This system simplifies the pricing process by allowing you to categorize frames and mats based on their cost level, such as "Budget," "Standard," and "Deluxe."
- You can still use frames and mats in ProSelect when they are not priced. They will display as $0.00 (you can customize this in your Settings).
- Once your groups have been priced, you will need to assign frames using the Manage Frames dialog (Go to the top menu, Products > Frames > Manage Frames).
- To assign mats, use the Mat Design dialog (Go to the top menu, Products > Traditional Mats & Virtual Styles > Designer).
- You can set up as many Price Groups as you like, however, it is recommended that you use as few as possible to keep things simple.
- Each Price Group has a Group Code (up to 8 characters long), a Name, and a Pricing Method.
Go to the top menu, Products > Frame & Mat Pricing Manager. Select the tab at the top of the dialog to work with either Frames or Traditional Mats.
Before you start pricing your frames and mats, be sure you have selected the applicable price list from the drop-down menu on the bottom left.
- Drop-down arrow: Click to reveal all of the items within the Frame or Mat Group.
- Used: This column shows a green checkmark when the Pricing Group is currently being used by a product in the Product & Pricing Manager. Any changes you make here will be reflected in those price lists.
- Group Code: This is the code assigned to the price group.
- Name: This is the description of the price group.
- Pricing Method: This is the pricing method currently assigned to the price group. (xM) indicates a markup is being used. (+F) indicates an additional fixed cost has been added.
- Prod. Code: If you have enabled product codes in your Settings, this is where they appear.
- Tax: a T indicates the item is taxable. An N indicates the item is non-taxable.
- Markup: The item price (rate) and markup appear here.
- Price: This column indicates the total retail price of your frame or mat.
- Lock: This particular product is from a Supplier Collection and cannot be modified (except for the price).
- You can change the order of the price groups by selecting a row and dragging it to where you want it to be.
- There is a button to Set Product Codes (if enabled) located at the bottom of the window.
- Once you have made changes be sure to click the Save button.
Edit a Price Group
- Select the row of the price group you wish to edit.
- Click the Edit button on the right-hand side of the Frame & Mat Pricing Manager dialog.
- The selected price group window will appear.
- Make any changes you need to make.
- Click the Change Item button when you are finished.
Duplicate a Price Group
- Select the row of the price group you wish to duplicate.
- Click the Duplicate button on the right-hand side of the Frame & Mat Pricing Manager dialog.
- A confirmation window will open, click Yes to duplicate the group.
- The duplicate will appear by default at the bottom of the list. The name will be the same as the original group, with "Copy 1" added at the end.
Delete a Price Group
- Select the row of the price group you wish to delete.
- Click the Delete button on the right-hand side of the Frame & Mat Pricing Manager dialog.
- A confirmation window will open, click Yes to remove the price group.
Hold the OptionAlt key down while clicking the Delete button. This will delete the price group immediately without asking for confirmation first.
Options
- Import Frames/Traditional Mats: Use these options to import prices from a CSV spreadsheet.
- Export/Update Prices: Use these options to update your pricing using a CSV spreadsheet.
Automatic pricing methods can be used to calculate the price of an item based on its size. These methods work for Extras, Frames, and Mats. Using automatic pricing methods can greatly simplify your price list because you only need one price list entry for any ordered size. Because you can also specify different “rates” for the same item in each of your price lists, your prices can easily change when you change to a different price list.
The following Automatic Pricing Methods are available:
- Fixed price - Items using this method are priced at the specified price regardless of size.
- INC: Included - Select this method to always use a price of $0 for all mats or frames that use a price group with this pricing method selected.
- UI: United Inches - The price is calculated by adding the width and height of the outside of the print or product (the mat size) and multiplying it by the rate in the price list.
- UC: United Centimetres - Same as United Inches, but in metric units.
- AF: Area sq. ft - The price is calculated by multiplying the width and height of the outside of the print or product (the mat size) and multiplying it by the rate in the price list.
- AI: Area sq. in - Same as Area sq. ft. but in inches.
- AM: Area sq. m - Same as Area sq. ft. but in metric units.
- UIF: United Inches Framed - The price is calculated by adding the width and height of the outside edge including the frame and multiplying it by the rate in the price list. For items without a frame, this will be the same value as United Inches. This calculation includes a standard 1/4” (6mm) rebate on the frame but will support different rebate amounts for different frames in future releases.
- UCF: United Centimetres Framed - same as United Inches Framed, but in metric units.
- FPS: Fixed Price by Size - This price allows you to set a price for specific sizes of items.
- CF6: Chop PP Foot 6" - This method is for frames only. The price is calculated by getting the outside length of the frame in feet rounded up to the next 1/2 of a foot.
- CF4: Chop PP Foot 4" - This method is for frames only. The price is calculated by getting the outside length of the frame in feet rounded up to the next 1/3 of a foot.
Adding to these automatic pricing methods, you may want to include an additional fixed cost (+F) or markup (xM).
- Select either the "Frames" tab or the "Tradition Mats" tab if in the Frame & Mat Pricing Manager.
- Click the Add button on the right-hand side of the Frame & Mat Pricing Manager window (or the Extras Pricing panel).
- Supplier: Optionally assign a Supplier to the item.
- Display Name: Type in a description of the item.
- Group Code (Frames and Mats only): A group code will automatically be generated. Use this or create your own unique code.
- Available to (Extras only): To make the new Extras item available for specific products, check the boxes next to the products you want to include.
- Pricing Method: Select FPS - Fixed Price by Size.
- Size Using: There are two options to choose from, based on how your print lab charges for frames and mats.
- Traditional Mat/Frame Size: Selecting Traditional Mat/Frame Size will trigger a price based on the size of the traditional mat that would always equal the size of the frame. Most labs and framers use this size/pricing method. If you are unsure, choose Traditional Mat/Frame Size.
- Print Size: Selecting Print Size will trigger a price based on the size of the print regardless of the size of the mat or frame. In the example shown, with the Print Size selection, the frame and/or traditional mat would be priced at the 5x7 cost, although the frame and mat size are 8x10. The Print Size setting is rarely used.
- Size: Check the boxes to include as many sizes as you would like. You have the option to Select All or Select None. To add more sizes, click the Manage button.
- You can add sizes from your Paper Sizes, or allow custom sizes.
- Allow Custom Sizes: If your supplier can only supply selected specific sizes, you should NOT check the Allow Custom Sizes checkbox. If your supplier can supply any sizes and you wish to price items by size range, then check the Allow Custom Sizes checkbox. In this case, the price for the next larger listed size (based on the perimeter or United Inches values) will be used. You will not be allowed to select any size greater than the largest size you have added to the Price Group.
- Product Code: If enabled, one will be auto-generated.
- Check the Taxable box if you wish the item to be taxed.
- Click the Add Item button.
- Once the price group has been created, you will need to individually price each size being offered.
Another option when creating a Fixed Price by Size Pricing Group, is to import the data from a CSV file. These can sometimes be supplied by print labs. The following is an example of a CSV file provided by ACI:
- When working with Excel or Numbers, remember to export your file as a .csv before importing it into ProSelect.
When in the Frame & Mat Pricing Manager dialog (Go to the top menu, Products > Frame & Mat Pricing Manager) if you hold OptionAlt while clicking the Add button, you can select and import a CSV file containing a list of sizes and one or more price columns.
Select the file you wish to import, then click the Open button.
- Applies To: Select whether you are importing a Frame or Traditional Mat.
- Group Code: A group code will automatically be generated. Use this or create your own unique code.
- Description: A description will also be automatically generated. Use this or type in a description of your own choosing.
- Prefix: Checking this box allows you to add an acronym to each price group upon import.
- Size Using: There are two options to choose from, based on how your print lab charges for frames and mats.
- Frame (or Mat) Size: The listed sizes refer to the outside of the frame or mat.
- Print Size: The listed sizes refer to the inside of the frame or mat (the print size).
- Check the box if you wish to include a markup rate (xM).
- Allow Custom Sizes: If your supplier can only supply selected specific sizes, you should NOT check the Allow Custom Sizes checkbox. If your supplier can supply any sizes and you wish to price items by size range, then check the Allow Custom Sizes checkbox. In this case, the price for the next larger listed size (based on the perimeter or United Inches values) will be used. You will not be allowed to select any size greater than the largest size you have added to the Price Group.
- Product Code: If enabled in your Settings, you can add a product code here.
- Check the Taxable box if you wish the price group to be taxed.
- Import From: Select a group you would like to import from the drop-down menu. If the file contains a header row, then the title of each of the price columns will be displayed. As you can see from this example, the Import From drop-down menu matches the column headers in our CSV file. You can select one of the columns and create a new FPS price group using the selected sizes and the associated price in the selected column.
- Size: By default, all of the sizes will be checked. Uncheck any you don't wish to import.
- Click the Import button.
If you have multiple columns to import, the import window will remain open after each import until you have finished importing all columns.
- Select the appropriate tab (Frames or Traditional Mats).
- Click the Add button on the right-hand side of the dialog.
- Supplier: Optionally assign a supplier.
- Display Name: Type in a name for the price group.
- Group Code: A group code will automatically be generated. Use this or create your own unique code.
- Pricing Method: Select a pricing method from the drop-down box.
- Size Using: Certain pricing methods will have the "Size Using" option. To learn more, click on Fixed Price By Size.
- Check the box if you wish to add an additional fixed cost (F). This is useful when you have a fixed assembly cost plus a size-dependent part to your automatic pricing method. When this option is selected, you will need to enter the additional fixed cost at the bottom of the dialog.
- Product Code: If enabled, one will be auto-generated.
- Check the Taxable box if you wish the price group to be taxed.
- Type in a Rate and Markup for the product. Note that the final price will not appear here. A size must first be selected in ProSelect in order for the calculation to be complete.
- Type in an additional fixed cost (if the box is checked above).
- Click the Add Item/Save button.
For price groups using a Rate x Markup, pricing is complete. You can apply frames and mats to images in ProSelect, and the cost will be calculated based on the rate indicated in the price group. For FPS, you will need to individually price each size of frame or mat being offered. This is also required if you have chosen "Fixed Price" as your pricing method.
- Click the drop-down arrows on the left-hand side of the price group row. This will reveal all of the sizes included in the price group.
- Select the row you wish to price.
- Choose between a "Fixed Cost" or a "Supplier Cost x Markup". You can switch between these two methods by first selecting the price group row, then clicking on the pricing box, and choosing the other method. All sizes within the group will now use that particular pricing method.
- To add a fixed price, type a price into the "Price Box" on the bottom right of the dialog.
- To add a Supplier Cost, double-click on the line item.
- Click the Save button OR press the ReturnEnter button on your keyboard.
- The selection moves down to the next line for you to type in a price for the next item.
- Once your groups have been priced, you will need to assign frames using the Manage Frames dialog (Go to the top menu, Products > Frames > Manage Frames), and assign mats using the Mat Design dialog (Go to the top menu, Products > Traditional Mats & Virtual Styles > Designer).
With FPS, you can apply a markup to multiple sizes at once using CmdCtrl + A or Shift to select.
When ordering custom frames, frame companies often calculate pricing by using a United Inches chart. Below is an example of charts used by the companies. The charts calculate the length of frame molding required in decimal feet (including waste) as well as the cost per foot.
Example 1 - Ordering a 16"x20" Frame. The supplier rounds their lengths to the next 1/2 of a foot (6"):
To Order a 16" x 20" frame:
- Convert to United Inches (L+W), (16+20) = 36
- Using a 2.5" wide molding would require a total of 8.0' of molding to build.
- The supplier will round this up to the nearest 1/2 of a foot.
- The supplier charges $16.72 per foot (join cost). Giving us a total price of $133.76
- Charging a 3.0 markup would bring the total cost to $401.28
In this case, using the Chop PP Foot 6" pricing method will get the same result.
Setting Up Chop PP Foot 6" Pricing
- Click on the "Frames" tab at the top of the Frame & Mat Pricing Manager dialog.
- Add a new price group.
- Select CF6 - Chop PP Foot 6" as the pricing method. Check the "Include markup rate" box.
- Frame Price Group 30 has been created. It uses the CF6 pricing method, and we have checked the box allowing for a markup.
- Our new Price Group appears at the bottom of the Frame & Mat Pricing Manager dialog. Select the row by clicking on it.
- We know that our supplier charges $16.72 per foot for a frame. This is the price we enter in the Rate/Ft box.
- We would like to sell the frame to a client for 3 times that amount. Our markup is then 3.0. This is the value we enter into the Markup box.
- Click the Save button. *The total price won't be immediately assigned in the Product & Pricing Manager, as the price will vary depending on the size of the frame ordered.
- Once you have assigned a frame to use this newly created price group, any size you order will correctly calculate the cost.
- In the above example, we have applied a BAY Gallery BronzeReverse frame.
- The frame was assigned the Chop PP Foot 6" price group.
- When the frame is ordered, the total cost is $401.28 which matches the cost the supplier is charging plus the 3.0 markup.
If you use the FPS pricing method for any frames or mats, you'll see a green or red frame tag on the right side of these frames/mats when you use the Frame or Mat tool. Frame Validation depends on the supplier's ability to create a frame specific to the size required for the print. If a frame tag is red, this means “based on information provided by the supplier, the frame is not available in the selected size. Custom sizes may be available by contacting the supplier's customer service dept.” If you've allowed custom sizes in your frame/mat group setup, it's assumed all sizes are available, and the tags will all be green.
Any product templates you create using the Product Editor will also show a red or green frame/mat tag.
Pre-Framed Prints
In the case of Pre-Framed Prints, only producible products will be shown in the Price List Items dialog. If you find the standard products available to be limiting, potentially choose a frame supplier with a wider array of products available. For example, GNP Framing offers custom-sized products. More print/frame/mat combinations will be available if the chosen supplier offers custom sizes. Custom sizes are typically priced at the next largest size, but in some cases, they may add an additional fee. Also, be aware that sizes 30x40 and larger may incur shipping surcharges.
It is important to note that a red frame tag does not prevent you from choosing or ordering a frame or mat. It simply serves as a warning to indicate that in your current setup, the frame or mat is not available from the supplier at that size.
- This frame is available at the selected product size.
- This mat is available at the selected product size.
- This frame is NOT available at the selected product size.
- This mat is NOT available at the selected product size.
In the following example, we are framing a 16 x 20 print. It is a common size, so all of the ACI frames are available as indicated by the green frame tags.
This same concept works when using the Previous Size tool or Next Size tool in the right-hand toolbar. Once a frame is assigned, right-click on the Previous/Next Size tool to see available sizes.
If both a mat and frame, are applied, the red and green tags serve as an important indicator of which combinations are producible.
If you select a frame or mat with a red tag, the tags also appear in the upper right corner of the print, the bottom info bar, as well as in the Order Product popup menu.
Wall groupings may contain different-sized products, each with different mats and frames.
If you have "Show Unavailable Frame/Mat Size Tags" checked, (Go to the top menu, View > Show Unavailable Frame/Mat Size Tags), red tags will be displayed over the top right corner of any image that is using a frame or mat that is not available at the current size.
Click on Frame Validation - Frame and Mat Selection Tags to learn more.