Frame Mat Sizes 1/2 inch off
Dec 11, 2021 06:31:47 #
Hamltnblue
Loc: Springfield PA
Good Morning
I recently noticed that a couple of frames I purchases from Michaels advertised that the opening was mated for 16x20. When I mounted a photo the crop looked noticeably off.
I measured the opening and they the actual is 15.5x19.5
Is this normal? I know that it is common practice with lumber but never noticed it with frames.
Checked a couple of others that have been hanging on the wall and sure enough they are the same.
Thanks
I recently noticed that a couple of frames I purchases from Michaels advertised that the opening was mated for 16x20. When I mounted a photo the crop looked noticeably off.
I measured the opening and they the actual is 15.5x19.5
Is this normal? I know that it is common practice with lumber but never noticed it with frames.
Checked a couple of others that have been hanging on the wall and sure enough they are the same.
Thanks
Dec 11, 2021 06:51:41 #
Dec 11, 2021 06:57:39 #
Hamltnblue wrote:
Good Morning
I recently noticed that a couple of frames I purchases from Michaels advertised that the opening was mated for 16x20. When I mounted a photo the crop looked noticeably off.
I measured the opening and they the actual is 15.5x19.5
Is this normal? I know that it is common practice with lumber but never noticed it with frames.
Checked a couple of others that have been hanging on the wall and sure enough they are the same.
Thanks
I recently noticed that a couple of frames I purchases from Michaels advertised that the opening was mated for 16x20. When I mounted a photo the crop looked noticeably off.
I measured the opening and they the actual is 15.5x19.5
Is this normal? I know that it is common practice with lumber but never noticed it with frames.
Checked a couple of others that have been hanging on the wall and sure enough they are the same.
Thanks
Yes that is the way they always do it. That way the mat holds the print in.
Tom
Dec 11, 2021 08:10:34 #
A good outfit will report the offsets as well. I tend to adjust my printing to account for part of the offsets.
Dec 11, 2021 08:42:53 #
Of course the print must be larger than the mat opening so that the mat can hold the print. If you print your image exactly the same size as the opening and have a white/black border around you have to align the print perfectly otherwise the border will show. So for me I rather have the mat crop my image a bit because I don't compose that tight.
Dec 11, 2021 11:06:07 #
I've never seen 1/4 inch on each side, but I have seen ~1/8.
Possibly an allowance for miss-cut mats?
Erroneous saw kerf allowance?
Possibly an allowance for miss-cut mats?
Erroneous saw kerf allowance?
Dec 11, 2021 12:34:16 #
cahale
Loc: San Angelo, TX
Hamltnblue wrote:
Good Morning
I recently noticed that a couple of frames I purchases from Michaels advertised that the opening was mated for 16x20. When I mounted a photo the crop looked noticeably off.
I measured the opening and they the actual is 15.5x19.5
Is this normal? I know that it is common practice with lumber but never noticed it with frames.
Checked a couple of others that have been hanging on the wall and sure enough they are the same.
Thanks
I recently noticed that a couple of frames I purchases from Michaels advertised that the opening was mated for 16x20. When I mounted a photo the crop looked noticeably off.
I measured the opening and they the actual is 15.5x19.5
Is this normal? I know that it is common practice with lumber but never noticed it with frames.
Checked a couple of others that have been hanging on the wall and sure enough they are the same.
Thanks
They are allowing for a quarter inch border all around the photograph. Lots of printers will leave such a border if "borderless" is not selected. Better to cut a bit than have white streak around photograph.
Dec 11, 2021 12:39:04 #
Hamltnblue wrote:
Good Morning
I recently noticed that a couple of frames I purchases from Michaels advertised that the opening was mated for 16x20. When I mounted a photo the crop looked noticeably off.
I measured the opening and they the actual is 15.5x19.5
Is this normal? I know that it is common practice with lumber but never noticed it with frames.
Checked a couple of others that have been hanging on the wall and sure enough they are the same.
Thanks
I recently noticed that a couple of frames I purchases from Michaels advertised that the opening was mated for 16x20. When I mounted a photo the crop looked noticeably off.
I measured the opening and they the actual is 15.5x19.5
Is this normal? I know that it is common practice with lumber but never noticed it with frames.
Checked a couple of others that have been hanging on the wall and sure enough they are the same.
Thanks
So now you know the dirty little secret of the art world. Keep calm and carry on !
Dec 11, 2021 12:46:09 #
cahale wrote:
They are allowing for a quarter inch border all around the photograph. Lots of printers will leave such a border if "borderless" is not selected. Better to cut a bit than have white streak around photograph.
On all the frames I've had for prints, no mats, the 'white' print border is covered by the front of the frame. The opening in the back is the full size of the print or a skosh larger. Too large of a rear opening will cause the print to become misaligned in the frame.
Are you interpreting the extra .5 inch being in the front of the frame or rear opening.
Most would refer to the rear opening.
Dec 11, 2021 14:26:22 #
Hamltnblue wrote:
Good Morning
I recently noticed that a couple of frames I purchases from Michaels advertised that the opening was mated for 16x20. When I mounted a photo the crop looked noticeably off.
I measured the opening and they the actual is 15.5x19.5
Is this normal? I know that it is common practice with lumber but never noticed it with frames.
Checked a couple of others that have been hanging on the wall and sure enough they are the same.
Thanks
I recently noticed that a couple of frames I purchases from Michaels advertised that the opening was mated for 16x20. When I mounted a photo the crop looked noticeably off.
I measured the opening and they the actual is 15.5x19.5
Is this normal? I know that it is common practice with lumber but never noticed it with frames.
Checked a couple of others that have been hanging on the wall and sure enough they are the same.
Thanks
16x20 print with a border is aprx. 15.5x19.5 or smaller unless you print borderless.
Dec 11, 2021 14:59:37 #
INDUSTRY STANDARD mat image openings are ≈1/4 smaller on all sides so the print does not fall through the opening.
Standard frame faces are ≈1/4 because the frame needs to hold the glass, ergo 1/4" inch border on prints.
Not sure why they came out with borderless prints... marketing gimmick? Put them in a frame and you loose 1/4" on each side of the image. Meant for albums?
I NEVER print borderless for that reason, waste of image area
Standard frame faces are ≈1/4 because the frame needs to hold the glass, ergo 1/4" inch border on prints.
Not sure why they came out with borderless prints... marketing gimmick? Put them in a frame and you loose 1/4" on each side of the image. Meant for albums?
I NEVER print borderless for that reason, waste of image area
Dec 11, 2021 15:01:14 #
Hamltnblue wrote:
Good Morning
I recently noticed that a couple of frames I purchases from Michaels advertised that the opening was mated for 16x20. When I mounted a photo the crop looked noticeably off.
I measured the opening and they the actual is 15.5x19.5
Is this normal? I know that it is common practice with lumber but never noticed it with frames.
Checked a couple of others that have been hanging on the wall and sure enough they are the same.
Thanks
I recently noticed that a couple of frames I purchases from Michaels advertised that the opening was mated for 16x20. When I mounted a photo the crop looked noticeably off.
I measured the opening and they the actual is 15.5x19.5
Is this normal? I know that it is common practice with lumber but never noticed it with frames.
Checked a couple of others that have been hanging on the wall and sure enough they are the same.
Thanks
You mean MATS you purchased??? Not frames?
Do you mean the frame FACE opening is 15.5x19.5? Yes, that is standard for a 16x19 frame.
Dec 11, 2021 17:16:23 #
Longshadow wrote:
INDUSTRY STANDARD mat image openings are ≈1/4 smaller on all sides so the print does not fall through the opening.
Standard frame faces are ≈1/4 because the frame needs to hold the glass, ergo 1/4" inch border on prints.
Not sure why they came out with borderless prints... marketing gimmick? Put them in a frame and you loose 1/4" on each side of the image. Meant for albums?
I NEVER print borderless for that reason, waste of image area
Standard frame faces are ≈1/4 because the frame needs to hold the glass, ergo 1/4" inch border on prints.
Not sure why they came out with borderless prints... marketing gimmick? Put them in a frame and you loose 1/4" on each side of the image. Meant for albums?
I NEVER print borderless for that reason, waste of image area
I have some frames from "Green Tree" that are made for borderless prints. I have 11x14 and 13x19 but the store had other sizes.
Dec 11, 2021 18:45:45 #
robertjerl wrote:
I have some frames from "Green Tree" that are made for borderless prints. I have 11x14 and 13x19 but the store had other sizes.
Interesting.
I've never seen any of those, but then again, I don't get frames on a regular basis,
and I don't do borderless printing so I would never look for them.
Dec 12, 2021 00:56:07 #
Longshadow wrote:
Interesting.
I've never seen any of those, but then again, I don't get frames on a regular basis,
and I don't do borderless printing so I would never look for them.
I've never seen any of those, but then again, I don't get frames on a regular basis,
and I don't do borderless printing so I would never look for them.
They were on sale. The are front loading with bevel edge glass and detachable stands if you want them to sit on a table. The edges are about 1/16" so overall they are just a tad bigger than the prints that go in them. I don't do borderless either but either a white border or black border on the print looks nice in them.
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