Edited 10/19/2022 to update pricing and details on locations that can provide framing services.
Today I’d like to answer the number one question I get with almost every sale of the Neighborhoods of Indianapolis Map, “How do I frame this Naplab map?” But before I get to details I wanted to share a little about Naplab’s Neighborhoods of Indianapolis map.
Neighborhoods of Indianapolis map mounted on gator board and on display in my home.
In 2015 I became the caretaker of Naplab’s Neighborhoods of Indianapolis map. I like to say I am the producer and distributor of the map because I am the one person that pays to have them printed, rolled, boxed, stored and I am the one person who distributes the maps around Indianapolis (and Carmel!) to different store such as Silver in the City, Homespun, the Indiana Historical Society and several locations of The Great Frame Up, and I ship them across the country from California to New York, and even to countries as far as England and Israel.
You can read more about the history of the Neighborhoods of Indianapolis map in this anniversary story from 2017. I think it’s important to clarify that I did not originally design the map. The map was designed by NapLab’s Matt Hale and Josh Anderson and that sometimes causes confusion because as Sunday Afternoon Housewife I took over the map printing and distribution in late 2015. In 2017 I worked with Josh to update the map for the 2018 and 2021 anniversary edition.
Aside from framing questions people always ask me about the updates to the maps over the years and ask, “Do the neighborhoods really change that much?” and the answer is both yes and no. Since I took over the map production we did a full overhaul on the west side of Indianapolis thanks in large part to assistance from City Councilor Jared Evans. Some neighborhoods have chosen to change their names over the years and you can compare those changes from edition to edition. The 10th Anniversary Edition has sold nearly 2,000 copies and nearly everyone seems happy with the current updates but that doesn’t mean there wouldn’t be changes in a future edition. Because I print the map 1,000 copies at a time it makes sense to re-evaluate any necessary changes before doing a reprint. I always tell folks to send me an email if they have a documentable change that needs made to the map and we will add it to our research and reviews. Also feel free to comment below on this post with any possible suggestions.
Now, on to the topic of framing. First of all, as a reminder I did not design this map at its massive 46”x48” size. At Nearly 4’ square it’s really easy to think a smaller version would be ideal and yes I get asked for that a lot, but it’s not going to happen any time soon. If you’ve ever taken the time to look at some of the smallest neighborhoods, take Woodruff Place as an example, you will see they are already so small and printing the map at a smaller scale would make them nearly microscopic. So yes, we have made a large map and you bought it and now you want to frame it.
Map on display at The Great Frame Up on Delaware Street
If you’d like to get it professionally framed I personally suggest any of The Great Frame Up locations. You can take a pre-purchased map to their store and they can frame it for you for $430 (this is the price as of 10/19/2022 and is subject to change) or you can purchase maps from them in the store and have it framed with their discounted package for $450 (again, this is the price as of 10/19/2022 and is subject to change). For this package, The Great Frame Up on Delaware Street in Downtown Indianapolis uses an approximately 1” black metal frame and framing grade acrylic (instead of glass) to cover the map. To care for the acrylic you use a microfiber cloth or acrylic cleaner instead of paper towel and Windex which will scratch the acrylic.
The alternative option to the metal frame and acrylic cover is to have your map mounted on something called gator board or Mount Core which is a 1/4”- 1/2” very rigid board that keeps the map stiff but does not protect the paper from scratches. Please note that this can no longer be done at The Great Frame Up. I have been told that Repro Graphix and Northside Glass and Frame are both places which can provide this service but I have not used them personally or seen their work or know their price. It is up to you to call and ask if they provide this service. This is the process I chose for my map but it was done at a place that not longer provides the service (pictured above near the stair case and yellow couch). This mounting process has worked well for me as I was not sure our 100+ year old plaster walls would even be able to bear the weight of a framed map and I generally like the way the map looks when mounted. Some people choose to cut the white edge off and have it mounted that way which also looks very cool. The only real issues I have had in the 3 years since I had my map mounted is that I bumped an edge when moving the map from my pop up shop to my house and bent it a smidge and that dust likes to gather along the top edge of the gator board and it isn’t super easy to remove, but I have found a dry microfiber cloth works well enough for dusting the mounted map.
A DIY Frame made by a friend’s husband.
Other options for framing including getting DIY and making a frame yourself which my friend Robyn’s husband did. As you can see the frame doesn’t have glass or acrylic covering the map, but this is a cost effective option if you are handy with a table saw and a staple gun.
A customer shared this photo with me of a wood magnet frame which she made herself.
The last option that I want to mention I have not tried myself or seen in person but have had several people share with me. Amazon sells a poster hanging kit and you can purchase the size of wooden bars needed to hang the map or you can use a magnet and wood frame to hang the map. You can find instructions for how to make a magnet wood frame on YouTube. This works relatively well and can be accomplished for around $40 or less, but of course this method does not keep the map from getting torn, bent or otherwise damaged. It’s great however if you can hang it this way and get it up and don’t plan to move it around often.
These are just a few of the options for DIY framing and if you visit my Instagram and scroll through you will see a wide variety of DIY frames, hanging methods and even a Neighborhoods of Indianapolis coffee table!
Do tell me in the comments below if you have a Neighborhoods of Indianapolis map and how you have it displayed in your home. If you would like to purchase a map you can order the Neighborhoods of Indianapolis map on my website.