Garyminor Loc: Raleigh, NC

Before photography went digital, there were just a few print sizes. The more popular were 5x7, 8x10, 11x14, and 16x20.

You could have the print fit the frame, or you could have a larger mat to fit the frame, with an opening to fit a picture one size smaller. Everything was simple.

Now I can buy paper in 8.5x11, 13x19, etc. The local Michael's craft store doesn't carry any 8.5x11 mats, so I've decided to buy 32x40 mats and a mat cutter.
Then I will be able to make any size mats I choose. I have a woodworking shop, so I can make custom sized frames.

Can someone tell me what the ideal size mat and frame should be used for an 8.5x11 print or for a 13x19 print?

I know that it is somewhat my own judgement, but your suggestions would be appreciated.

alliebess Loc: suburban Philadelphia

I was taught that mats should be about 2-3" wide on the top and two sides and about 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 on the bottom.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Not much mystery here. Most photo paper comes in 8 1/2 X 11 size instead of 8 X 10 because that's "letter size", same as normal typing paper. For matting and framing I print 8 X 10 inch which leaves 1/4 margin on the long sides and 1/2 inch margin on the short ends. Makes for easy mounting behind an 8 X 10 mat opening. For frames I go to standard 11 X 14 inch. That leaves 1 1/2 mat exposed on the long sides and 2 inches on the short sides.

Same story with 13 X 19 paper. Print 12 X 18, use an 18 X 24 mat and frame.

No need for custom sizes unless you're doing unusual shapes like panorama or triptysh.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Depending on how I crop, I print 8x12 or 8x10. I get either of those mats for an 11x14 frame. I guess no one makes 5x7.5 mats to keep the 24x36 ratio..... Yea, I hate paper/mat sizes available. It makes it hard to print full frame, and I have two cameras with different sensor sizes.

CO

Our camera club had someone who owns a framing shop come in and tell us about matting and framing. These are the border widths for mats. These widths are approximate and will vary in order to fit in the frame properly
.
8x10 print - 2" mat width
11x14 print - 2-1/2" mat width
16x20 print - 3" mat width

If you have a 2" mat width, the frame width should be 1" or less.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

I go framless, matless, using the wall as my mat. Frames restrict our freedom of vision, coralling it so to speak. Matts simply isolate the photo from disagreeable colors or patterns on the wall ... like yuck wallpaper. humm, Then again, perhaps one may consider that my photos are my wall paper.

I use edge painted Pre-Stretched Canvas from Michel's Crafts and using 3M 42GP spray make the canvas tacky. Alternate is Masonite with gift wrap folding of adhered photo. The Masonite has 3/4" blocks glued to the back and it stands out from the wall.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

Alliebess has given you one theory of matting which is, in more general terms, bottom is the largest, top is smaller, and the sides are the smallest.
Or, you could just mat evenly all around and fit a frame to the final result.
Or, you can mat the image to fit a specific sized frame. The last can offer I pleasing results if the frame/image/mat combination is too extreme.

The paper size is standard and you will fit your image with th paper size.

Buy a Logan at Michael's but wait for a sale which they always have. I have the $100 + or - model and that's all I need. Look for the 40 or 50% off sales and sign up for email notices for future discounts. If you're not making your own frames watch Michael's for frame sales. They have really great prices for the frames, too. B, B & B has frame sales from time to time.
Avoid buying mat board from Michael's. They tend to be high.
Dick Blick has the widest color selection and you can sign up,for a discount card & specials too.
Finally, if you have a smartphone, there are some mat cutting apps that will help you. A little bit of a learning curve but will help you in the long run. The one I use on my iPhone is called, approximately, Matte Cutter.

elee950021 Loc: New York, NY

My suggestion is to buy a mat cutter and cut your own. You'll save $$$ especially when cutting expensive acid free boards. Plus you'll have the central portion of the board for cutting smaller mats! As previously suggested, there are kits around $100 or less for cutting rectangles, even ovals or multi-openings. I've used a Dexter hand cutter for over 30 years and have cut hundreds of mats for myself and others. I just noticed one in its original box for $7.99 and $5 postage (original cost $20!) on eBay. A few years ago I also purchased a Logan hand cutter as well.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Been using a Logan Mat cutter since my college days back in 2000. Take good care of it and it'll last.

pete-m Loc: Casper, WY

I still have mats and frames using those standards. I generally used the next larger size for the mat. Example 11x14 mat for 8x10 print.

Having said that, please read dpullum's posts. One should not believe these standards are absolute.

Today, if I were going to print something for display I would use a matte finish without covering it with glass. (In my opinion reflections ruin the display). Using an oversize mat is optional.

For the record I am a year older than dpullum (1935).
Everybody wore hats back then but times have changed.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

When framing, I prefer to cut my own mats for which I have the equipment. For the frames, I prefer to purchase from PictureFrames.com or Michael's, so I but the standard sizes. As a rule of thumb, I like a total of 5" of extra space in each direction which allows for a 2.5" mat. For 13 x 19, that works out to an 18 x 24 frame, of which there is a large selection. Normally, I make the bottom portion of the mat just a bit bigger than the top. Just MY thoughts on the subject. Best of luck.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

That depends entirely on the picture, the ideal size mat and frame would be different for each print!

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Wow, Pete, we are gettin to be old dudes... prob only got 15-20 years left.

Hats... Yes, and in English Movies, the great white hunters wore wool suits, ties, and pith helmits to match their mush for brains... wool there in a jungle ?!?! Tarzan wore little, certainly not a hat... and he and Jane were swingers... tree to tree that is. Johnny Weismuller was a strong man in his 80s. There is hope for us.

We learned to read with Dick & Jane readers.. we wondered why Baby Sally looked like Zeek the Gardner and why Zeek smiled all the time.. working hard while Father was out to work. Father did not have a name. Mother would say Dick, Jane... go run run run. Zeek will help Mother help help help.

Yes, those were the readers filling our head with non-sense.

Hats??? Well, as Bob Dilan says "get out the door way, times are a changin" :thumbup: :lol:

pdsdville Loc: Midlothian, Tx

Having worked at one times, part time, for numerous framing companies such as Michael's and a few that are no longer around, I've framed literally thousands of photos. Until the framing companies come up with frames to go with the somewhat new formats to get a good fit you have to go custom on the frame. It's a little more expensive but if the photo is worth it, so is the frame. Now for the matting. Almost every single photo in the 8.5x11 and 13x19 formats were matted the same on all sides unless they had a title opening or a good reason for the lower part of the mat to be wider. Recommendations are for the smaller format 1.5 inches on all sides. On the larger format go with 2 to 2.5 inches on all sides. One pleasing option is to make the lower section on a horizontal shot maybe a quarter inch wider. For a photo with a good color you want to bring attention to consider a double mat with the narrow inner mat in the color you want to bring attention to. I know some will disagree completely but this is what my experience has been in dealing with a rather picky public.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

The rule of thumb is approximately 3 inches on each side for "Gallery" type framing.