Measuring Guide
How to measure a picture
Just when you thought you’d done the hard work getting the perfect shot, now you need to decide what to put it in for the perfect piece of wall art!
Measuring for a picture frame can often be more complicated than it needs to be, with lots of questions over image size, frame size, mount size and apertures. When viewing frames online it is hard to know if the size is for the image or should it include the frame? If it includes a mount then this can make deciding on size even more complex.
Don’t worry, here at Boldon Picture Framing, we aim to make this as simple as possible so have created this handy guide.
Measuring a simple print or photo
Lay your picture on a flat surface and measure the length and the width (the long and short sides). These are the measurements you need to pop into the frame calculator.
If you choose to have a mount, the mount will need to overlap by 4mm all the way around so that the picture doesn’t fall through, don’t worry though, we will calculate this for you, you just need to measure the picture itself.
Measuring a picture with text or a border
Lay your picture on a flat surface and measure the length and the width (the long and short sides). If your picture has a signature or title in the space around it you will need to include this in your measurements that go into the frame calculator. If you don’t want to see the border, just measure the image itself as before.
If you choose to have a mount on this too, the mount will need to overlap by 4mm all the way around so that the picture doesn’t fall through, don’t worry though, we will calculate this for you, you just need to measure the picture itself.
Measuring a picture you want to crop
Lay your picture on a flat surface and measure the length and the width (the long and short sides). If you don’t want to see all of the picture, just measure the part that you want to see and these are the measurements that go into the frame calculator. Never let a photo-bombing dog spoil a photo again!
If you choose to have a mount on this too, the mount will need to overlap by 4mm all the way around so that the picture doesn’t fall through, don’t worry though, we will calculate this for you, you just need to measure the picture itself.
Replacing an old frame?
It can get really confusing when you want to replace the frame on a picture you already have, do you measure the glazing? Do you measure the outside of the frame? Surprisingly the answer is neither.
To measure your frame simply take if off the wall and lie it face down so that you can see the back, to get the correct measurement for the frame calculator, simply measure the size of the back board. This is true 99% of the time but if in doubt just get in touch.
Things to keep in mind....
Frame Overlap
All frames overlap their picture by about 4-5mm, if it didn’t there would be nothing to keep the picture in the frame and it would just fall through the front.
Mounts
When you choose a frame with a single or double mount, the mount will overlap your artwork by 4mm on each side. For example, if you enter your artwork size as 100mm x 100mm, the inside of the mount will measure 92mm x 92mm. This is so that your have just enough room to attach your artwork behind the mount using tape. The mount will then make the frame larger, depending on the size of the mount you order. Don’t worry though, we will calculate this all for you.
We’re Here To Help
The last thing we want is to hear that you have received a frame that does not fit due to a measuring mistake.
If you are unsure about anything, please give us a call or send us an email. We’re here 9am to 4pm Monday to Saturday.
