How to Picture Frame
A Nine Step Tutorial

Step One:  Measuring and Design

Picture framing is mainly about understanding your choices and proceeding in the right order.  Always begin by planning.  Avoid buying your supplies (including your frame) until you've worked things out on paper.

There are four sets of measurements you will need to determine:  1.)  The size of the artwork; 2.) The size of the mat's window; 3.)  The size of the mat's borders; 4.)  The size of the frame.  Here's how to determine them:

Measuring Step 1:  

Lay your artwork flat and measure it.  The long part is the length and the short part is the width.  Jot down the "artwork size" and label it as such.

Measuring Step 2:

Now you will need to determine the size of the mat's window.  Here, you will have a choice because the size of the window will be determined by how you present the artwork in the mat.

Let's look at an example.  Let's take the same piece of artwork and see, by displaying it in different ways, how it affects the size of the window.
 

	The image is 18"x24" on paper that's 19"x25" (in other words, there is a 1/2" wide blank border area surrounding the image.)
	Option 1.  Show Only the Image If you choose to display only the image in the window of the mat, plan to encroach on the edges of the image with the edges of the mat's window by 1/4", in which case the window will be smaller than the image.  Example: The image is 18"x24" and you want the window's edges to overlap the edges of the image by 1/4".  So the mat's window will be 17½"x23½".
	Option 2:  Reveal the Image Border You may choose to display a portion of blank border area surrounding the image - but not all of it.  Even when a portion of the image's border is revealed some of the remaining border goes behind the mat. Example: The image is 18"x24" (but the paper is 19"x25") and you want to show 1/4" of the blank area surrounding the image within the window of the mat. So the mat's window will be 18½"x24½".  Note:  1/4" of blank border area still goes behind the mat.
	Option 3:  Show the Paper Complete You may choose to display the paper complete in the window of the mat.  In other words, you wish to display the image, its complete borders and the edges of the paper.  In this case, the artwork must first be mounted to a separate piece of matboard and then a window mat will be placed over it.  The window of the mat will, of course, be larger than the artwork.    Example: The image is 18"x24" (but the paper is 19"x25") and you want to show the paper complete.  If you make the window 1/4" larger along each edge than the artwork, the window size will be 19½"x25½".

So, you see, the way you decide to display the artwork in the window of the mat impacts the size of the window.  Jot down you window size and label it as such.

Measuring Step 3:
Next, decide the size of the mat borders to surround the window.  Remember, a mat only consists of the window and its surrounding borders, so by adding the mat's borders together with its window you will arrive at the overall mat size. 

A chart called The Border Finder will help you.  With A Border Finder you can determine the appropriate size borders for any size window you may have. 
 

By adding the appropriate borders to the window, you will discover the overall mat size but you will also discover something more - the frame size!
 

Remember:  The "frame size" is ALWAYS the same size as the recess at the back of the frame that contains the mat, glass and backing.  The "frame size" is NEVER the size of the frame measured from edge to edge.

Therefore, the overall size of the mat is also the frame size, and it is also the size of the glass that lies over the matted artwork and the foamboard backing that goes behind it.

Consequently, by arriving at the overall mat size you are also arriving at the all important frame size. 

Measuring Step Four: 

Ah, but what if the frame size that results is not exactly to your liking?  No problem.  Modify it.  The Border Finder provides borders meant to be a good starting point.  They are not written in stone.  You may expand or contract your mat borders as necessary to reach a more agreeable frame size.

For more on determining measurements for matting, click here.

There you go.  It's as simple as that.  Once you have the artwork size, window size, border size and frame size jotted down, you are ready for the next step in the planning process.


Continue on to Step 2, Color Selection

Step 1   Step 2   Step 3   Step 4   Step 5   Step 6   Step 7   Step 8   Step 9

For more information on measuring:

Framing4Yourself Workshops give you hands-on instruction in measuring and design for picture framing.  To find a workshop location near you, click the link below:

Framing4Yourself Workshops


Helpful tools and equipment for measuring:  

• 36” Center Finding Ruler

• 36" or 48" Regular Ruler

• MatLine Marker

• Corner Marker

• 42" Steel Straightedge

Continue on to Step 2, Color Selection


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