How to Frame a Picture/Calculate the sizes
- Keep a workbook of notes and measurements, so that you can track back specifics
- Extra space at bottom of frame, unless frame re-use needed.
- Always measure off the frame
Matt width - 5cm.
The calculations are in centimeters.
| Width | Height | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Artwork | <ArtWidth> | <ArtHeight> | |
| Inner edge (red) | <ArtWidth> - 1 | <ArtHeight> - 1 | Need overlap to keep picture in place |
| Matt size (green) | <ArtWidth>-1 + (2*<MattWidth>) | <ArtHeight>-1 + (2*<MattHeight>) +1 | extra matt at bottom to stop optical illusion of frame leaning forward |
| Frame size (blue) | <ArtWidth>-1+(2*<MattWidth>) +(2*<FrameWidth>) | <ArtHeight>-1+(2*<MattHeight>)+1 +(2*<FrameHeight>) |
Which means that ...
you need this much frame prior to cutting: left + right + top + bottom
2*(<ArtWidth>-1+(2*<MattWidth>)+(2*<FrameWidth>))+ 2 * (<ArtHeight>-1+(2*<MattHeight>)+1+(2*<FrameHeight>)) = (2*<ArtWidth>)-2+(4*<MattWidth>)+(4*<FrameWidth>)+ (2*<ArtHeight>)+(4*<MattHeight>)+(4*<FrameHeight>)
Measuring for Mounts
edit- Someone should merge this section into the above.
Calculating the Mount Size (to be cut from a sheet of mount board).
- Decide how much of the picture you want to show (add to, or take away from the art size) = WINDOW SIZE.
- Decide how much mount you want around the window (margins).
- Top and both sides are the same.
- For bottom margin allow extra 20% to compensate for the optical illusion which makes the bottom border seem narrower than it actually is.
- Standard margin sizes:
- Top and sides 50mm, bottom 65mm.
- Top and sides 65mm, bottom 75mm.
- Top and sides 75mm, bottom 90mm.
- Allow for width of frame rebate by adding that amount to each margin width = MARGIN WIDTH.
- Therefore MOUNT HEIGHT = rebate allowance + top margin + window height + bottom margin + rebate allowance.
- Therefore MOUNT WIDTH = rebate allowance + right margin + window width + left margin + rebate allowance.
- Therefore MOUNT SIZE = MOUNT HEIGHT * MOUNT WIDTH