Frame care essentials ~ Always hang the framed prints you wish to keep well preserved where they will not be exposed to direct sunlight, or even very bright artificial light. Nor, should you hang them over a heat source or in a high humidity area such as a bathroom. The application of adhesive cork, or felt, bump-guards "feet" to the back of your frames will allow air to circulate, which will help to prevent mold.

For advanced frame care details, see our Frame Care tutorial.


Standard photo frames ~ Low to moderately priced ready-made photo frames usually come in a limited number of standard sizes, such as 4x6, 5x7 or 8x10. And, they may, or may not, include a mat board. An 8x10 frame will accommodate an 8x10 photo without a mat or a 5x7 picture with a mat. Many different types of stores - such as, department, arts & craft, and photography stores - carry a selection of standard mats and frames.
These frames are fine if your photo is one of the default sizes. However, many older pictures were taken in non-standard sizes. Sometimes, It's best to take your picture to a frame shop for a custom made frame.


Framing aesthetics ~ The aesthetic principles of framing are mostly a matter of taste, but we offer these tips to help you make your framed prints look their best.

Keeping in mind whether a room will be used more for sitting or standing, whenever possible, hang prints at eye-level to facilitate the most comfortable viewing angle. It is often best to hang prints on a small wall or in a hallway or corridor. In this way they can be viewed and appreciated close up.

The judgement of size when framing a print is also important. Prints may look cramped if the matting is too narrow, and when a frame is too small, a feature print might lose it's sense of importance.

Curved lines in your framed prints tend to imply femininity, where straight lines can portray strength and simplicity. Keep an eye to combinations of lines and color to strengthen or soften the overall results to your tastes.

The rhythm between the framing, matting and print can create interest. This is usually done by introducing a variety of lines, textures, shapes and colors to compliment the print and the room.

Color considerations ~ Color plays a vital role in print framing. With the right choice of colors or color schemes, your prints will come alive.

If you want to achieve color balance and harmony between a room and a framed print, and you have to choose from in-store or studio selections, it will help if you utilize samples of the rooms curtains, carpet, wall color, etc. Trying to carry a color in your mind is inadvisable, the chance of color-memory distortion is high, so any sample you can carry will make the job easier.

Color scheme terms:

Monochomatic ( based on one color...usually a combination of one pure color with varied tints and shades. )

Analogous ( combining colors that are adjacent on the color wheel, such as blue, blue/green and green. They are usually based on three to five adjacent hues of varying intensity. )

Complimentary ( based on pairs of opposite colors on the color wheel, such as blue and orange or red and green. )

Tertiary ( Double-complimentary schemes, such as red/orange and red with blue/green and green. )


Mat boards ~ Although it is not necessary to use a mat board with your print and frame, we highly recommend you do when possible. When a picture fills the frame, the eye tends to take in the entire combination of picture and frame. A mat will help draw the eye to the image, thereby nicely enhancing it.
Mat color should never over-power the displayed print. Usually, mats work best when they have less color intensity than the subject and are closer to neutral. Ovelaying differently sized mats will add accent color.

Mat boards also perform the important task of keeping the print separate from the glass surface. Moisture will condense if there is no air gap, and could lead to mildew and mold. Moisture can also cause a print - especially a photograph - to adhere to the glass, which usually results in severe damage.

Always be sure you purchase acid-free mats, even if you must pay a little extra. Over time, chemical reactions from cheaply made mats can discolor a print.

Having your framing needs attended to by a frame shop specialist is always advisable. More often, the advantages in the professional quality of work will be worth the extra cost. A specialist can also advise and offer options on how to best preserve your prints and frames, with available special mats and glass.