Choosing the right frame size and matboard for your art prints is the difference between a polished, gallery-worthy presentation and a display that looks cramped or poorly proportioned. The process requires balancing precise physical measurements with aesthetic choices that enhance the visual impact of your artwork. By understanding how to calculate dimensions, select appropriate mat borders, and choose frames that complement your interior design, you can protect your prints while elevating your home decor.
To achieve a balanced look, you must first establish the exact dimensions of your print, determine whether a matboard is necessary for protection and visual breathing room, and then calculate the final frame size. This guide walks you through each step of the framing process, ensuring your art wall frames fit your prints and your living space.
Measure Your Artwork to Establish the Baseline
Accurate measurements are the foundation of any successful framing project. Even a minor discrepancy of a few millimeters can result in a matboard that clips off important details or a frame that fails to hold the artwork securely. To begin, gather a rigid metal ruler or a steel tape measure. Avoid using flexible fabric sewing tapes, as these can stretch over time and lead to inaccurate readings.
Lay your artwork flat on a clean, dust-free surface, ensuring your hands are clean or wearing cotton gloves to prevent transferring oils to the paper. When measuring, it is crucial to distinguish between the image area and the overall paper size. The image area refers strictly to the printed portion of the artwork, while the paper size includes any white borders, margins, or artist signatures surrounding the image.
If you plan to use a matboard, you will need both measurements. The matboard opening will typically need to overlap the image area slightly to hold the print in place, while the overall paper size determines how much space is available for mounting behind the mat. This ensures the print remains stable and does not slip out of alignment over time.
Specialized or handmade papers often present unique challenges, such as deckled (rough, torn) edges, folded margins, or irregular shapes. If your print features a beautiful deckled edge, you may want to showcase it rather than hiding it behind a matboard. This technique, known as float mounting, involves securing the artwork on top of a backing board, leaving the edges exposed.
In a float mount scenario, measure the outermost limits of the paper to ensure the frame and mat opening provide enough clearance around the entire piece. This allows the irregular edges to float freely without touching the frame’s inner borders, preserving the organic texture of the paper.
Decide on the Matboard Border and Opening
A matboard serves two primary functions: visual enhancement and physical protection. Visually, a matboard provides a neutral border that separates the artwork from the frame and the surrounding wall, giving the viewer’s eyes a place to rest and drawing focus directly to the print. Physically, the matboard acts as a spacer, keeping the glass or acrylic glazing from directly touching the surface of the artwork.
This physical separation is vital for preventing moisture condensation, which can cause the print to stick to the glass and suffer irreversible damage over time. The width of your matboard border significantly influences how the artwork is perceived. Standard practices suggest a border width of 2 to 3 inches (approximately 5 to 7.5 centimeters) for medium-sized prints.
A narrow border can make the artwork feel cramped, while a generous, wide border can make a small print look dramatic, elegant, and expansive. For a balanced look, many designers use the bottom-weighting technique, where the bottom border of the mat is slightly wider than the top and sides. This compensates for an optical illusion that makes the bottom border appear narrower when hung on a wall.
To calculate the matboard opening size, you must ensure the opening is slightly smaller than the artwork or the image area you wish to display. If the opening is cut to the exact size of the print, the paper will slip through. The standard practice is to subtract 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch (about 3 to 6 millimeters) from both the width and height of the image area.
This subtraction creates a small overlap on all four sides, allowing the matboard to hold the edges of the print securely in place without obscuring critical elements of the artwork. It also provides a clean, professional edge that hides any minor alignment issues during mounting.
Calculate the Final Outer Frame Dimensions
Once you have determined your artwork size and your desired matboard border width, calculating the final outer frame dimensions is a straightforward mathematical process. The frame size you need to purchase or build corresponds to the outer dimensions of the matboard. To find this, take the width of your artwork opening and add twice the width of the matboard border (for the left and right sides).
Repeat this calculation for the height, adding twice the matboard border width (for the top and bottom sides). For example, if you have an 8×10 inch print and decide on a 2-inch matboard border all around, your calculation is simple. The width will be 8 inches plus 4 inches (2 inches for each side), totaling 12 inches.
The height will be 10 inches plus 4 inches (2 inches for the top and bottom), totaling 14 inches. Therefore, you will need a frame with an opening size of 12×14 inches. This formula ensures that the matboard and the frame opening align seamlessly, creating a clean and stable fit.
When selecting your frame, you must also factor in the frame’s rabbet depth and lip width. The rabbet is the inner groove on the back of the frame that holds the glass, matboard, artwork, and backing board. The lip is the front edge of the frame that keeps the contents from falling out.
The lip typically covers about 1/4 inch of the outer edge of your matboard, which is already accounted for in standard frame sizing. However, you must ensure the rabbet depth is deep enough to accommodate the combined thickness of your glazing, matboard, print, and backing material without forcing or warping the frame.
Select Art Wall Frames That Complement Your Space
Choosing the right style, material, and color for your art wall frames is essential for integrating your artwork into your home’s overall design scheme. The frame should complement the style of the print without competing with it. For modern, minimalist prints, abstract art, or black-and-white photography, thin metal or simple flat-profile wood frames in black, white, or natural tones work exceptionally well.
For classic oil paintings, traditional portraits, or vintage prints, wider, more ornate frame profiles with detailed moldings or metallic finishes can enhance the historical or formal feel of the piece. Color coordination is another critical factor to consider during selection.
Look at the dominant tones within your print as well as the color palette of the room where the frame will hang. A frame can match a secondary color in the artwork to draw that specific tone out, or it can coordinate with your furniture and wall color to create a cohesive look.
For instance, if your room features warm wood tones, choosing a wood frame with a similar finish can tie the display to the space. Alternatively, a stark black frame can create a bold, modern contrast against a light-colored wall, drawing immediate attention to the display.
Different frame materials offer distinct aesthetic and structural characteristics. Solid wood frames are highly durable, classic, and offer natural grain patterns that add warmth to a room. Metal frames, often made of aluminum, provide a sleek, contemporary look and are incredibly strong, making them ideal for very large prints that require rigid support.
Medium-density fiberboard (MDF) frames are a cost-effective alternative that can mimic the look of wood or painted finishes. However, they may not offer the same longevity or structural strength for heavy, oversized pieces, so they are best reserved for smaller, lightweight prints.
Verify the Fit and Prepare for Wall Display
Before hanging your newly framed artwork, perform a final check to ensure everything is secure and properly aligned. Lay the frame face down on a clean, soft surface to protect the glass and frame finish. Assemble the layers in order: the glazing (glass or acrylic), the matboard, the mounted artwork, and finally, the backing board.
Check that the rabbet depth is sufficient to hold all these layers comfortably. If the layers protrude past the back of the frame, you may need to use offset clips to secure them, or choose a frame with a deeper rabbet. Secure the backing board using turn buttons, flexible tabs, or framing points.
Ensure there are no gaps where dust, moisture, or insects could enter and damage the print over time. Once secured, turn the frame over and inspect the front. Verify that the artwork is precisely centered within the mat opening and that no dust or lint is trapped between the glass and the print.
If you spot any debris, disassemble the frame immediately to clean it, as trapped particles can be highly distracting once the frame is mounted on the wall. Finally, select the appropriate hanging hardware based on the weight of the framed piece.
Light frames can often be hung using simple picture hooks, while heavier wood or metal frames require sturdier solutions like D-rings, heavy-duty hanging wire, or strap hangers. For exceptionally heavy or large frames, always use wall anchors or screw directly into wall studs to prevent the frame from falling. If you are hanging art in a high-traffic area or at a significant height, ensure the mounting is secure and stable to prevent accidental falls or damage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I frame a print without using a matboard?
Yes, you can frame a print without a matboard, a style often referred to as straight framing. This approach is common for modern, minimalist displays or when the frame matches the exact dimensions of the print. However, because the print will sit directly against the glass, you must install plastic or archival spacers along the inside edges of the frame. These spacers create a small gap between the artwork and the glazing, preventing moisture buildup and ensuring the print does not stick to the glass over time.
What if my art print is a non-standard size?
If your artwork does not match standard frame sizes, you have two main options. The most cost-effective solution is to purchase a larger, standard-sized frame and order a custom-cut matboard. The outer dimensions of the matboard will match the standard frame, while the inner opening is custom-cut to fit your unique print. Alternatively, you can order a custom frame built to your exact specifications, which is ideal for showcasing high-value art or achieving a specific, tailored look in your space.
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