Framing Photographs and Prints

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Framing Photographs and Prints

Standard sizes, mounts, glazing and hanging a group

Framing well is mostly about a few choices made before ordering, and standard sizes are what keep the cost sensible.

Standard sizes save money

Custom framing costs several times a ready-made frame. Printing or trimming to a standard size, or using a mount to bridge the gap, is what keeps framing affordable.

Check whether a frame's stated size is the aperture or the outer dimension, since these are quoted differently.

Mounts

A mount board separates the image from the glass, which matters because a photograph pressed against glass can stick over time. It also gives the eye somewhere to rest.

Use acid-free or conservation board for anything you care about, since ordinary card yellows and stains prints over years.

A wider mount looks more considered than a narrow one, and a slightly deeper bottom margin is the traditional proportion.

Glazing

Standard glass is cheap and heavy. Acrylic is lighter, safer around children and scratches more easily. Ultraviolet-filtering glazing is worth it for anything valuable or in a bright room.

Non-reflective glass reduces glare and slightly softens the image.

Light

Direct sunlight fades photographs and prints permanently, and no glazing prevents it entirely. Avoid walls opposite south-facing windows for anything irreplaceable.

Hanging

Centre at around 145 to 150 centimetres from the floor, which is average eye level. Above furniture, leave fifteen to twenty-five centimetres between the top of the furniture and the frame.

For a group, lay it out on the floor first, keep gaps consistent at around five to eight centimetres, and treat the whole group as one shape.

Printing

Check the resolution before enlarging, since an image that looks sharp on a phone frequently does not hold up at A3. Ask for a proof or order a small test print first.

Matte and lustre finishes show fewer fingerprints and less glare than gloss behind glass.

Protecting originals

Never trim, glue or write on the front of an original photograph. Frame a copy and store the original flat, in acid-free sleeves, somewhere cool and dark.

Framing objects and textiles

Medals, shirts and other objects need a deep box frame and should be mounted rather than glued, so they can be removed. Textiles should be supported along their length rather than pinned at a few points.

Use acid-free materials throughout for anything with sentimental value.

Hanging on different walls

Plasterboard needs proper hollow-wall anchors rather than plastic plugs, and masonry needs the right drill and plug. Check for cables and pipes before drilling near sockets and switches.

Fixings

Use anchors suited to the wall, and two fixings for anything wide so it stays level.

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