Tips for Framing Artwork – Choosing Frames, Matting, and Sizes for Art Prints

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Tips for Framing Artwork

Choosing Frames, Matting, and Sizes for Art Prints

Picking out artwork for your abode is the fun part. Merely how do yous go almost framing information technology? There are a few tips and tricks you can use to make certain you're choosing the perfect frame for the perfect print.

Delight note: This page contains some affiliate links, which means if yous purchase an particular, I'll receive a pocket-sized commission at no extra toll to y'all. 😊

Size

Information technology's much easier to discover a not bad and gear up-made frame if your artwork fits a standard size frame.

In my store, I offer up to eleven sizes of art prints, each adhering to a standard size. I recommend buying frames online from Target or Michael's, which offers a broad pick of sizes and materials. If you're ordering online, you tin customize your frame + mat sizes with Art to Frame. IKEA is also ane of my top picks for inexpensive frames, only keep in mind that their sizes aren't all American-standard.

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Mat Window:

Using mat windows strategically is my ultimate framing trick. The mat window is the opening that is cut in a thick paper board, allowing the artwork to peek through. Mats can accomplish ii noteworthy things:

  1. You don't have to find an verbal-size frame to fit your artwork. This is especially helpful if you purchased a print that isn't a standard size. All you demand to exercise is buy a frame in the adjacent size (or two) up, then cut a mat board to fit the frame, with a window to showcase the art.

  2. Mats create visual space for the artwork to breathe. Instead of the artwork jutting right up to the frame, a mat provides a border of whitespace.

Problem: Yous've purchased a pocket-size impress and information technology feels swallowed by the wall.
Solution: Buy a frame a few sizes upward, then cut a mat board to fit in the frame and showcase the fine art.

Your mat board tin can exist any color of the rainbow. The key is to observe something that helps the art stand out without being too distracting itself. Personally, I always stick with a brilliant white mat on archival board. (Choosing archival ways that the white won't fade to grey or xanthous as time passes.)

Any framing store will be able to cut a mat for you. All y'all need to do is tell them your frame size, your artwork size, and your preferred mat board color. Be certain to leave a quarter inch of extra inch on each side so that the art impress doesn't but fall through the window. (For case: if the fine art print measures 8x10", the actual mat opening should exist 7.5x9.v")

Fifty-fifty easier: You tin can also buy a frame with a set-fabricated mat already included .

Mat sizes can range from sparse to thick:

Way

Ornate, lacquered wood? Or a sleek, contemporary surface? The way of your frame can make merely as much of a argument as the artwork itself.

I prefer a combination of statement frames and simple, gallery frames.

If you're unsure, I recommend choosing a no-fuss flat frame in either black or white. This allows the artwork to smooth and allows for a clean and modern artful.

Ornate Frames:

Simple Frames:

My Recommendations:

At present that you know the basics, I'm going to break everything down into my recommendations of mat + frame dimensions based on each size of art impress I offering on my store.

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If you purchased a 8 10 10" art print, then I recommend a 11 x 14" frame with a mat .

* * Southward I Z I North G    I North F O * *
Frame opening: 11" x 14"
Frame width: 0.5"
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Mat size: 11" x fourteen"
Mat window: vii.5" x nine.5"
Mat width: 2.25" (tiptop & bottom) & 1.75" (sides)

Easy solution: Frame with pre-cut mat available in white here or in black hither.

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If you purchased a 10 ten 10" fine art print, then I recommend a xiv x 14" frame with a mat .

* * Due south I Z I Northward G    I Northward F O * *
Frame opening: 14" x 14"
Frame width: 1"
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Mat size: 14" ten xiv"
Mat window: 9.5" 10 9.5"
Mat width: two"

Easy solution: Frame with pre-cutting mat available in white or black here.

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If you purchased a 12 10 12" fine art print, then I recommend a 16 ten 16" frame with a mat .

* * S I Z I North Grand    I N F O * *
Frame opening: 16" x xvi"
Frame width: 1"
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Mat size: 16" 10 16"
Mat window: eleven.v" x 11.5"
Mat width: 2"

Easy solution: Frame with pre-cut mat bachelor in white or black here.

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If yous purchased a 12 10 16" fine art print, so I recommend a xv.five 10 nineteen.v" frame with a mat .

* * South I Z I Northward Grand    I Due north F O * *
Frame opening: 12" x 16"
Frame width: 1.25"
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Mat size: 12" x 16"
Mat window: eleven.five" ten fifteen.5"
Mat width: 2"

Easy solution: Frame with pre-cutting mat available in white or black here.

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If you purchased a 14 x 14" art print, and so I recommend a 17.5" x 17.5" frame with a mat .

* * S I Z I Northward Yard    I Northward F O * *
Frame opening: xiv" ten 14"
Frame width: 1.25"
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Mat size: 17.5" x 17.5"
Mat window: xiii.5" ten 13.five"
Mat width: 2"

Like shooting fish in a barrel solution: Frame with pre-cut mat bachelor in white or black here.

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If you purchased a 16 x sixteen" art print, then I recommend a 20" x 20" frame with a mat .

* * S I Z I Due north Thou    I N F O * *
Frame opening: twenty" x 20"
Frame width: 1.25"
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Mat size: twenty" ten 20"
Mat window: fifteen.5" x xv.5"

Like shooting fish in a barrel solution: Frame with pre-cutting mat available in white or black here.

If you purchased a xvi x 22" art impress, then I recommend a 18 10 24" frame with a mat .

* * Due south I Z I Northward G    I N F O * *
Frame opening: 18" ten 24"
Frame width: ane"
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Mat size: 16" x 22"
Mat window: eleven.5" 10 17.5"
Mat width: 2.25"

Like shooting fish in a barrel solution: Frame with pre-cut mat available in white or black here.

If you purchased a eighteen 10 eighteen" art print, then I recommend a 22 x 22" frame with a mat .

* * S I Z I Northward One thousand    I N F O * *
Frame opening: 22" 10 22"
Frame width: one"
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Mat size: 22" ten 22"
Mat window: 17.5" ten 17.5"
Mat width: 2.25"

Piece of cake solution: Frame with pre-cut mat available in white or black hither.

If you lot purchased a 16 x xx" art print, then I recommend a 20 x 24" frame with a mat .

* * S I Z I N K    I N F O * *
Frame opening: 20" x 24"
Frame width: ane"
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Mat size: 22" x 24"
Mat window: 15.5" x 19.5"
Mat width: 2.25"

Piece of cake solution: Frame with pre-cut mat available in white or black here.

If yous purchased a xviii x 24" art print, and so I recommend a 18 x 24" frame.

* * Southward I Z I N K    I N F O * *
Frame opening: eighteen" x 24"
Frame width: 1 or ii"

Like shooting fish in a barrel solution: Frame with pre-cut mat available in white here or blackness here.

If you purchased a 24 x 36" art print, then I recommend a 24 x 36" frame.

* * S I Z I Due north Thousand    I N F O * *
Frame opening: 24" ten 36"
Frame width: 1 or 2"

Easy solution: Frame with pre-cut mat available in white here or black here.

Insight, Artist Resources, 2017

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