Years of family outings, birthday parties, school events and other photograph-worthy moments can amount to innumerable boxes of printed photographs and negatives. It can be overwhelming to think about organizing hundreds or even thousands of photos that you’ve left to “take care of later.” Instead of putting it off once again, start with a plan.

If you have multiple boxes of photos to organize, prepare to dedicate at least a week to this task. Our recommended plan will give you a systematic way to organize the photos you have and the ones you will take in the future. The goal is to put a system in place that enables you to find your photos easily and preserve them for future generations.

1. Gather all of your loose photos in one place.

Over the years, it is likely that you have collected photos in several different places. This may be in the attic, basement, junk drawers, cabinets, your purse and any nook and cranny of the house. Gather all the photos and loose negatives you can find in one place, including any photo albums that are in need of attention.

2. Create categories for your photos.

Create categories for your photos: they can be organized by years or decades, holidays, occasions or people. Place the photos into these piles accordingly. If you have recently acquired photos from a relative, you may have to dedicate more time to this task — especially if you intend to organize by people in the photos — as you may not be able to recognize all the photo subjects. Involve a family member to help, and make it a fun family event!

For this first step of categorization, choose four to six general categories. Keep them broad at first:

      • Year: If you have photos spanning many years to sort through, choose decades as a starting point instead.
      • Events: This is broad at first, including holidays, vacations, weddings, birthdays, reunions and other occasions.
      • Location: If you travel frequently, sort by country or continent, for example.
      • Family member: You can begin by organizing by your side of the family or your spouse’s.
      • Negatives

This is meant to be a quick portion of the entire process, so don’t slow yourself down by nostalgia. Get the sorting done and save the reminiscing for later! After you’ve done the first round of sorting, you can start to create sub-categories, such as specific holidays — Christmas or Halloween, for examples — and events.

Pro Tip: Clean out the clutter!

Consider discarding photos that are blurry, out of focus, or irrelevant — a shot of the sidewalk, for example. Photos can also be handed off to someone else: a good-quality photo depicting a friend of a friend may be more meaningful to someone else.

3. Label based on what you know.

Using an archival photo pen, write a description on the back of the photos. Use the same information, such as the date, year or decade; the names of people in the photo; and the location to make retrieving photos even easier.

4. Label and store the photo boxes.

After you have sorted your photos, label each box with its category. Write it on the outside of each photo box and store them in a dry and climate controlled room. Do not keep them in an attic or basement as this can cause damage due to humidity and fluctuating temperatures.

Pro Tip: Use archival photo storage boxes.

High-quality archival photo storage boxes will protect your photos when they are stored away for safekeeping. Frame Destination’s acid-free photo storage boxes and tissue paper protect photos from fading and discoloration.

5. Put your photos in albums. (Optional)

After you have properly organized your photos, decide if you would like to have some photos easily accessible in albums. Many people opt to keep photo albums as they are easy to view and share with guests.

6. Digitize your printed photographs. (Optional)

Go a step further in your photograph preservation by saving your images digitally. Digitizing photographs is not only a great way to save them from damage and loss, it makes them easier to share with family and friends. This can be a time-consuming process, but there are many photo scanning services available that can take physical photos and digitize them.

7. Organize your negatives.

Now is the time to address the pile of negatives. The rule of thumb is to keep negatives as flat as possible, preferably using negative storage sheets, which are specially made to keep them flat and protected. For ease of sorting, you can write on the sheets to label them clearly. Place your labeled negatives in a photo storage box to avoid damage.

8. Maintain an organized routine

After you’ve gone through the mammoth task of organizing loose photos, create a habit of staying organized. Label your photos as soon as they are printed, including the date, location, subjects and any other relevant information. Add them to the labeled photo storage boxes or photo album.

Organizing your printed photos and negatives can be time consuming, but it is a worthwhile endeavor. When your photos are labeled clearly and placed neatly in photo albums, you will be more likely to share them with friends and family — and not just on social media. A family gathering in which stories are shared is made much richer when a photo album can be retrieved to illustrate the story. Best of all, when photos are stored safely, your family can enjoy them for years to come.

Years of family outings, birthday parties, school events and other photograph-worthy moments can amount to innumerable boxes of printed photographs and negatives. It can be overwhelming to think about organizing hundreds or even thousands of photos that you’ve left to “take care of later.” Instead of putting it off once again, start with a plan. […]

A store-bought photo frame is a quick solution, but the only option you get to choose is the frame itself. Everything else in the package, such as the mat board and glazing, is selected for you, and they may not be exactly what you want. Ordering a custom frame from Frame Destination, however, allows you to customize every part of the frame — and it’s just as easy as walking into a store.

Step 1: Choose the frame.

The first step of the ordering process is simple: selecting the frame itself. There are numerous wood and metal frame options available, many in a variety of colors, and there are multiple views of the frames to provide as much detail as possible.

Once you’ve selected the frame, you can choose to only order the frame itself or complete the package with mat board, backing board, and glazing, though you can always leave out individual items.

Step 2: Select the number of mats.

You next select the number of mat boards in the frame; single, double and triple mat options are available. You can also choose to exclude mat board from the package.

Step 3: Customize the size.

Many people struggle with the size of the frame, especially if there is mat board involved. In this step, the frame and the mat board are calculated automatically to ensure a perfect fit, though everything is still customizable. You can choose from dozens of popular preset sizes, which show both the size of the artwork and the size of the frame.

If you’d like create your own size, simply choose the size that is closest to the one you’d like and click the checkbox in front of “Customize this preset frame size”. You can then enter the size of the artwork and determine how much of image you would like to be covered by the mat board. Negative values leave a border around the artwork, which is useful when float mounting.

You can also further customize the mat board, selecting the width of the sides as well as the top and bottom. You can also make the bottom border larger, called bottom weighting; this will increase the size of the frame.

Step 4: Decide on your mat board.

Once you’ve selected the sizes, you can choose the actual materials of the package. The type of matboard depends upon aesthetics and concern for preservation. Paper mat board is best for temporary framing and comes in a wider range of colors, while cotton rag or alpha cellulose are suitable for long-term framing but are often limited to neutral colors such as cream, white and black. Some mat board is not available for frames larger than 32 x 40. Those that are offered for oversize frames are marked (OS).

Step 5: Select the glazing.

The choice of glazing is not limited to just plain glass or acrylic. The glass options include standard glass, but also premium-quality Artglass for antireflective or UV protection. Acrylic is also available in antireflective, UV-protective and non-glare options. We can only ship glass up to 24 x 28, so larger frames must use acrylic.

Step 6: Pick the backing.

Backing board, to which the artwork is mounted, is available in a number of options, such as museum-quality or self-adhesive. Some backing options are not available larger than 32 x 40 or 24 x 36.

Step 7: Select the points.

In a wood frame, the points are what keeps everything in place. When you order a custom wood frame from Frame Destination, we will place the points at the proper depth if you select “Fit Contents Ordered). If you are adding other components to a frame package, you must calculate and select the correct point depth yourself.

Step 8: Order the frame.

At the bottom of the Configure Frame page, you can view the unit price as well as a list of the quantity discounts. Once it’s in the cart — and before you proceed to checkout — you can still edit the frame package. Simply click “Edit Product” from the shopping cart.

Ordering the same frame or a very similar frame is easy, as the link at the top of the Configure Frame page after editing the product can be bookmarked — making future orders even easier. For an in-depth ordering guide, check out the video:

A store-bought photo frame is a quick solution, but the only option you get to choose is the frame itself. Everything else in the package, such as the mat board and glazing, is selected for you, and they may not be exactly what you want. Ordering a custom frame from Frame Destination, however, allows you […]

Most people are familiar with the basic components of a framing package, including the frame itself and the glazing. But there’s more to it than that — namely the mat board and mount board. (The latter is sometimes called foam core.) Although mat board and mount board both look like thick sheets of paper, they serve different purposes.

What Is Mat Board?

Not only does mat board separate the artwork from the glass or acrylic glazing by providing a barrier to protect and preserve it, it also provides an aesthetically pleasing border. Mat boards are most commonly in shades of white or cream, but you can get them in a variety of rich hues and pastels to complement a variety of art.

Mat board sits just below the glazing in the framing package and on top of the artwork or photograph itself. It features a cutout, or mat window opening, to display the artwork underneath it. The cutout is often rectangular but sometimes circular or other shapes.

Mat board can be constructed from a number of different materials, all affecting the mat’s archival abilities. Some archival mat board is made of cotton rag, but have wood-based face papers; other cotton rag mat board features no face papers, providing museum-quality protection. Materials also include alpha-cellulose, a processed paper-based material that is considered archival but not museum quality, and wood pulp, which is suitable for temporary framing.

Dyed mat boards (i.e. mat boards that are not cream or white) are often not museum-quality, as the dye used can sometimes negatively affect the artwork.

Mat board, in general terms, is a high-quality paper product that is easily cut. This makes it an ideal material for scrapbooking and other paper-based craft projects where quality is important.

What Is Mount Board?

Much like mat board, mount board serves to protect a framed photograph or piece of artwork by providing a rigid, sturdy backing to keep photographs and artwork from moving or warping in the frame.

The location of mount board is basically the opposite of mat board. Instead of sitting on top of the artwork, it sits behind it. The artwork is attached to the mount board, which is against the back of the frame, with hinging tape or other adhesives.

Unlike mat board, mount board is generally made of foam — often polystyrene — with a smooth, sometimes paper-based face on either side. Some mounting boards, like the Artcare AlphaRag cotton mounting board, do not use foam in order to enhance the ability to preserve the artwork.

Mount board is also used for presentations and other display purposes, especially those that have integrated adhesive properties like the Fome-Core® Self-Adhesive mounting boards. With these mount boards, no other adhesive is required to create a display. If you’re framing a three-dimensional item like pressed flowers, 3/16 inch foamcore board is a good choice. For something heavier than flowers, you may need a thicker or stronger mount board like Gatorfoam®.

So, What Is Foam Core?

Mount board goes by many names, including mounting board, backing board, foam board and foam core. Foam core describes exactly what a mounting board is: a substrate with a core made of foam. Foam core is no different than most other mounting boards — it’s all the same type of product.

With so many “boards,” it can be confusing to know just what you’re looking for when assembling a complete framing package. Mat board and mount board (or foam core) may be similar in name and serve to protect your artwork, but they’re used in very different ways.

If you go to our site and choose “Customize a Frame,” it will walk you through the process of choosing a frame, a mat board, glazing (glass or acrylic), backing, and anything else you might need as part of your framing package. Our customer service team is also available to help you from start to finish via email ([email protected]), phone (972-479-1188) or live chat on our website as you're building.

Last Updated March 24, 2022

Most people are familiar with the basic components of a framing package, including the frame itself and the glazing. But there’s more to it than that — namely the mat board and mount board. (The latter is sometimes called foam core.) Although mat board and mount board both look like thick sheets of paper, they […]

Going to the nearest big box store or department store when you need a picture frame is the natural inclination of many people. But the selections and styles at these stores are limited and you’re likely to see the same frames in your friends and family’s homes.

Custom picture frames give you the chance to personalize your frame and truly match it to the photo you’re framing and to your home’s unique décor and aesthetic. Here are a few particular instances when a custom picture frame is a better option than a generic store-bought frame.

Unusual Photo Sizes

With the increasing popularity of hobby photography, more and more people want to hang custom art in their home. Whether you’re taking the photos yourself or buying the art from a vendor at your local farmer’s market, these one-of-kind prints bring amazing character to your home.

This rising trend has introduced a tangent trend: photos of unusual sizes. While your typical 4x6 and 8x10 photos are still popular, more and more custom photography is being produced in unusual sizes and dimensions. Smaller photos, large format, panoramic, all these styles are hard to frame if you’re shopping for frames at a department store. However, ordering a custom picture frame means these atypical dimensions aren’t a problem and your choices of frame style and look aren’t limited.

Adding Color

Store-bought frames generally come with a white or cream mat board, if the frame includes a mat board at all (which many store-bought frames don’t). A mat board is the “border” within the frame that gives you framed photos a professional, finished look.

Opting for a custom picture frame means you get to customize every aspect of your frame package – including the mat board that surrounds the photo. Buying a custom mat board lets you add color to your framed photo. You can choose a color that will complement the photo by highlighting accent colors, or get a mat board in a color that makes the framed photo seamlessly fit in with your room’s décor. Custom mat boards range from soft neutrals to bright bolds, giving you plenty of options to experiment with.

With custom frames, you also have the option of layered mat boards – something that’s very hard to find in store board frames. Layered mat boards allow you to add a thin line of additional color to the framed photo. This technique is ideal for calling out accent colors in the photo, particularly when framing wedding photos.

Dramatic Look

When creating a wall display of family photos, framing an important document, or using a framed picture as the focal point of a wall or room, you may want a particular look or a frame that adds a little extra flair to the photo.

Department stores do a good job of carrying popular styles, but you don’t have many options if you’re looking for something a little different. Whether you want a bolder frame, a different finish or something ornate, you’re not likely to find these styles at a store. Custom picture framers carry a much wider selection of frame styles to help you achieve the look you’re envisioning.

By ordering a custom frame you can also control the size of the mat board. This gives you the option of framing your photo in a frame that’s much larger than the print itself, relying on a wide mat board or an offset mat opening to add style and drama to your cherished photo.

Preservation

If you’re framing a one-of-a-kind piece of art or precious family photos, you want to make sure those memories last for a long time. Cheaper framing materials can introduce acid into the frame was the paper and other wood-based materials being to leach naturally occurring acid over time. This can cause yellowing and other discoloration in your photo. Another harmful element to photos and art is direct UV rays, which will cause pictures of fade over time.

Custom framing gives you the option of protecting your photos with archival-quality framing materials, such as acid-free mat boards and UV-filter glazing (picture frame glass).

Custom picture frames are easy and affordable to order online, making this option just as realistic as running to the store. When your custom framed photo is hanging on display exactly the way you pictured it, you’ll be glad you opted for the custom frame.

Going to the nearest big box store or department store when you need a picture frame is the natural inclination of many people. But the selections and styles at these stores are limited and you’re likely to see the same frames in your friends and family’s homes. Custom picture frames give you the chance to […]

“What do I need to frame a photo?” is a common question from DIY framers. While many people turn to pre-made kits from department stores, those kits can’t always give you the custom look that you want. Whether it’s a different mat size or color, a larger frame, a deeper frame, or any other “out of the ordinary” element, there are times you need a custom frame for your artwork and photos. In these instances, taking your pictures to a professional framer is an option, but buying and framing them with custom frames yourself is considerably cheaper and not as difficult as you might think.

The first step to framing your own photos and artwork at home is to understand all the elements of a proper picture frame. Once you understand what’s needed, you can make style decisions to give your framed photo the perfect – not off the shelf – look.

For DIY framing, you’ll need:

Frame

The frame is the most obvious item you’ll need. When custom framing, the options are nearly endless – from sleek, modern frames to ornate, classic frames. The first step is to envision your framed piece. What type of frame do you imagine? How big is it? How wide is the frame and how deep-set is the art? What color and material is the frame? Once you have an image in mind you can start searching.

Frame Destination carries a wide variety of metal and wood frames in a range of sizes, depths, and finishes to help you make your vision a reality. If you’re not sure which frame will look best with your art, try ordering a sample kit to see your options in person.

Backing Board

Backing board, or mounting board, is important to help keep your photo stable. Mounting board comes in several options, including archival-quality to protect your pictures from pollutants and yellowing and even black backing board.

If you opt for a non-adhesive backing board, be sure to also purchase a photo-safe adhesive to securely attach your photo. If you’re not sure which backing board is best for your project, contact the experts at Frame Destination and we’ll be happy to advise you.

Mat Board

The mat board is the border material that surrounds the photo inside the frame. In many store-bought kits, the mat board is white, off white, or occasionally gray. However, with custom framing the option for mat board colors are nearly endless. You have your option of soft neutrals all the way to bright, vibrant colors – there are even options when it comes to the exact color of your white mat board. When custom framing, you can add two or three mat boards for a layered look and additional pops of color.

To help you decide how large your mat should be and how to position your photo within the mat and frame, see our recent blogs:

Like backing board, archival-quality mat board is available to help protect your photo and make it last longer.

When you use Frame Destination’s interactive, online frame building tool, you’ll be able to see what the mat looks like in the frame before ordering. If you opt for more than one mat board, you’ll also be able to see the layering effect and decide how much of each layer you’d like to be visible. You can also order sample color kits to see the mat color in person. This is particularly helpful if you already have a display location in mind as you’ll be able to see how the mat interacts with the room’s lighting.

Glazing

Frame glazing is the “frame glass” and can either be glass or acrylic. Each has its pros and cons; for instance, acrylic is shatter-proof and lighter weight, but is more prone to scratching.

The best way to decide between glass and acrylic glazing is to determine where your photo will be displayed. If your photo will be displayed around children or in a high traffic area, the shatter proof qualities of acrylic might be the better option for your framing project. Another consideration is the size of the frame. For particularly large pieces, lighter weight acrylic often makes hanging easier and safer.

When choosing your glazing, you have your choice of glass or acrylic with the following finishes:

Hanging Kit

Finally, if you want to hang your framed photo you’ll need a hanging kit. Different types of frames require different hanging hardware to ensure its installed in the right location to not disrupt the frame. While there are different hanging kits for wood frames, side-loading metal frames, and back-loading metal frames, all kits generally include frame brackets, screws, hanging wire, and wall bumpers.

When you order a complete framing kit from Frame Destination, the appropriate hanging hardware is included. 

Optional Items

In addition to the basic framing needs, there are specialty items available to help further protect your photo or artwork while it’s framed.

Dust Cover

Also known as backing paper, this light-weight yet durable paper can be attached to the back of the frame, covering all the “internal” components – including the mount board – and protecting your framing materials and artwork from outside contaminants.

Frame Spacers

Have you ever seen a photo that looks like it’s stuck to the frame glass in some places? When the frame glazing presses up directly against the photo or artwork it can cause damage, and even trap moisture if it gets into the frame. Frame spacers add a protective air cushion between your artwork and the glazing, preventing many of these issues.

With these simple items, you’ll be able to frame your own photos and artwork at home – saving money and achieving the exact look you’re envisioning.

“What do I need to frame a photo?” is a common question from DIY framers. While many people turn to pre-made kits from department stores, those kits can’t always give you the custom look that you want. Whether it’s a different mat size or color, a larger frame, a deeper frame, or any other “out […]

One of the most common framing questions we get is how to tell the difference between white mat boards we sell. In this post, I’ll explain the basic differences between the and provide suggestions as to what types of art look best with each color of white mat board.

Artists and DIY picture framers use white mat boards for many different reasons such as gallery and museum requirements and the type of artwork being framed.  Wondering "Which white should I use?" is a common question. Many artists assume that matching a white mat board with your art is easier than matching your art with a colored mat board, but both can be a tricky process.

If you decide to go with a white mat board, the next question is often “What COLOR of white mat board?” In the framing world, white is definitely not just standard printer paper white.

(Very) Basic Color Theory

COLOR is a broad concept that includes three components: Tonal value (degree of lightness or darkness), the hue (innate or actual color), and the saturation (intensity). Looking at a color wheel, you can see that HUES are the 12 purest and brightest colors and that the spectrum runs clockwise from warm to cool.

Frame Destination - Color Wheel

What Color Is White?

Notice that white is not included on the color wheel; this is because white is achromatic, or a color without chroma or hue. As you can see from the collage of “white” objects below though, few things are absolutely pure white. This is especially the case with white mat board, which tends to be either a cool or warm white.

Frame Destination - Collage of Shades of White

What Colors of White Mat Board Does Frame Destination Sell?

Frame Destination sells four brands of mat board – Papermat, Alphamat, Alpharag, and Crescent. Each brand offers several different whites. I have listed all of the true whites that we carry for each brand below and provided a brief color description. Please note that it’s always best to get samples due to the color calibration differences in monitors. This list, however, should provide a basic idea of which ones might work best with your art so you can request the appropriate samples.

Papermat – WC 4Ply  

Bainbridge Alphamat 4Ply

Bainbridge Alpharag 4Ply

Bainbridge Alpharag 8Ply

Crescent Select 4Ply

Crescent 4Ply RagMat Museum

Crescent Select Conservation Solid 8Ply

Crescent 8Ply Rag Mat Museum

Which Color of White Mat Board Is Right for My Art?

This is another frequent question from our customers. As a general rule, I tell customers that black and white photographs, floral art, and artwork with heavy or bright saturated colors tend to look best with bright to neutral white mat boards. Sepia-toned photos, beach and/or autumn scenes, or any image with a strong yellow undertone usually calls for a warm, off-white, creamy, or yellowish mat board. Remember, the final choice is always up to you!

For this post, I came up with a couple of white mat board pairing ideas for the images below. Keep in mind these are guidelines only. If you are in doubt about what color mat board you need, please contact us and/or order samples.

B&W Image

Frame Destination - Black and White Picture

Suggested White Mat Boards:

 

Saturated and/or Bright Colors

Bright Color Picture

Suggested White Mat Boards:

 

Sepia and Warm/Yellow-Toned Images

Yellow Tone Image

Suggested White Mat Boards:

 

Nature Images with a Greenish Tint 

Neutral Colored Photo

Suggested White Mat Boards:

 

One of the most common framing questions we get is how to tell the difference between white mat boards we sell. In this post, I’ll explain the basic differences between the and provide suggestions as to what types of art look best with each color of white mat board. Artists and DIY picture framers use […]