How to Frame a Picture/Printable version

How to Frame a Picture

The current, editable version of this book is available in Wikibooks, the open-content textbooks collection, at
https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_Frame_a_Picture

Permission is granted to copy, distribute, and/or modify this document under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License.

Equipment required

Equipment suggested for picture framing

• Sharp pencil (2B recommended, as it will leave clear sharp lines)
• Notebook (for recording colours for matboard, frame types and measurements - and for calculating costs)
• Retractable tape measure
• Metal ruler
• Sharp knife

Retractable snap-off bladed knife works well.

Frame cutting and assembly

• Mitre saw, or guillotine
• Bounding tape thing
• Corner tacking gun, with tacks

Glass cutting

• Oil filled glass cutter
• Cotton gloves

Mat cutting

• Square and rightangle ruler based cutter

Note: a ruler and a knife just doesn't cut it ;)

Advanced stuff

Storage

Mat board

The spare mat board is easy to store in an old map drawer cabinet. These can be often be picked up at ex-government furniture stores.

Frame material

Standing against the wall, or up in the rafters.

Material required

When selecting a frame, decide on the colour, window size and area of the mount. (A pale colour makes the picture look larger; a dark colour makes the picture look smaller). Normally, a frame is sold in a long strip which needs to be cut to size.

You will also need:

• Glass
• Matt board
• Foam core
• Sealing tape
• Wood glue
• Pins for securing the backing to the frame
• Eyelets
• Nylon cord

Choosing colours and styles

When choosing the appropriate surround for artwork, it is helpful to keep in mind several variables:

• Do you need to crop the picture?
• Is the piece destined for a single location?
• What materials do you have on hand?
• Will you need to re-use the frame?

And finally, and probably most importantly:

• Will your partner agree with your choice?

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

Someone should merge this section into the above.

Calculating the Mount Size (to be cut from a sheet of mount board).

1. Decide how much of the picture you want to show (add to, or take away from the art size) = WINDOW SIZE.
2. 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.
3. Therefore MOUNT HEIGHT = rebate allowance + top margin + window height + bottom margin + rebate allowance.
4. Therefore MOUNT WIDTH = rebate allowance + right margin + window width + left margin + rebate allowance.
5. Therefore MOUNT SIZE = MOUNT HEIGHT * MOUNT WIDTH

Creating a frame

Check

• Sanity check measurements

Cut

• Make clean cuts, taking care to approach the line.
• Undercut the edge to ensure tight fit on corner.

[Include profile shot of cutout of frame edge]

Assemble

• Use masking tape to temporarily hold frame in place.

Check

Place the frame over the artwork to check that it's the right shape and size.

Glue

• Add glue to edges
• Tape
• Use band to hold frame in place
• When tightening, check that the frame comes below the middle line of the frame, to ensure a tight edge on the face.

Pin

• Check for staples length pushing though the frame, especially for routed edges.

Check

• Glue on the front face

Fitting glass

The glass should be cut 1/8" smaller than the frame itself, however this should be achieved not by adjusting the size of the glass but by making the dimensions of the frame 1/8" larger than the objects to be placed in it.

Final assembly

• Clean glass
• Assemble pieces
• Check the look of the front

• Pin down the backing

For each side:

• Lay down tape
• Push it into corners and around the pins

• Add eyehooks
• Secure the hanging cord

Tips for pastel drawings

Tips for pastel drawings

• Ensure that the drawing is well bonded to the backing with ?sealant?
• Leave a gap at the bottom of the frame, between the paper and the matt, to allow for dust to settle inside the matt.