Foamcore is one of the most popular mounting and frame backing board materials for photos and other items. The name “foamcore” refers to the inner portion of the mount board, which gives it its rigidity —and makes it perfect for mounting photos. There are many different types of mounting boards, varying in terms of thickness and suitability for archival framing. Your choice of mounting board depends on a few factors.
Foam board, another name for foamcore mount board, is most commonly available in a 3/16- or 1/8-inch thickness. Though Frame Destination offers both at the same price, we often recommend selecting 3/16-inch mounting board unless the rabbet of the picture frame — the recessed area inside the frame where the mount board, mat board and glazing sit — cannot accommodate it. A 3/16-inch backing board is also less likely to warp, providing additional stability for large picture frames.
However, customers that sell photography in art shows will often use 1/8-inch foamcore mounting board when selling only matted artwork (i.e. frame packages that feature a mounting board but no frame) because they take up less space. Not only will more matted artwork will fit in display bins, they are easier to transport to and from shows.
The second major concern is archivability, meaning whether or not it will prevent the artwork from degrading. Foamboard is generally available in regular and acid-free versions, the latter of which are used for archival-quality framing. If you are concerned about the degradation of your artwork, the best option is the acid-free mounting board.
Those that are not concerned with preserving their work and are looking for temporary framing solutions can select regular foam board. Regular foam board can be a cost-effective material for presentations and many craft projects.
Foamcore is one of the most popular mounting and frame backing board materials for photos and other items. The name “foamcore” refers to the inner portion of the mount board, which gives it its rigidity —and makes it perfect for mounting photos. There are many different types of mounting boards, varying in terms of thickness […]
From the National Institute of Standards and Technology's special publication of the care and handling of Cds and DVDs
From the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s special publication of the care and handling of Cds and DVDs Quick Reference Guide for Care and Handling Do: Handle discs by the outer edge or the center hole. Use a non solvent-based felt-tip permanent marker to mark the label side of the disc. Keep dirt or […]
Acrylic, sold under the brand names Acrylite and Plexiglas, is an extremely popular option for picture frame glazing. This type of frame glazing is shatterproof, lightweight and an excellent thermal insulator, making it ideal for large framing projects — glass can be restrictively heavy — or picture frames in children’s rooms, as there is no risk of breaking. Like traditional glass glazing, acrylic glazing also comes in UV-filter and non-glare varieties to further protect photos and art.
While acrylic glazing has many advantages, it is more prone to scratching than glass. Traditional cleaning and dusting methods could actually damage the glazing permanently — paper towels, for example, are basically ground up wood pulp, making them too rough to use when cleaning acrylic. To protect your frame and keep your art visible, use acrylic-safe cleaning supplies and methods.
Instead of dusting or cleaning with a paper towel, use a smooth microfiber towel to wipe down your frames. These soft towels, often made from polyester and/or nylon, will not scratch the delicate acrylic unlike tougher rags. They also trap dirt more easily due to the tiny size of the fibers, allowing you to really dig into the corners of the frame and trap dust without damaging any part of the frame. Lint-free options are best to keep the frame’s viewing area clean and clear, and this style of towel won’t scratch the acrylic or leave particles behind. As an added bonus, microfiber towels are better for the environment as they’re machine washable and reusable.
Pay close attention to the type of cleaner you use on the acrylic. Alcohol-based cleaners can be damaging to plastic — acrylic is a type of plastic — and other common cleaning ingredients can seep through the frame and damage the art or photo. When cleaning or dusting picture frames, avoid any cleaners that contain ammonia as it can be harmful to the artwork. Many common glass cleaners contain some amount of ammonia, so take care to read the label.
Choose cleaners made for frame and art cleaning to care for your framed artwork. Brillianize Acrylic Cleaner & Polish is an all-in-one frame glazing cleaner and polisher that is safe for use on glass, acrylic and other plastics, and most hard, shiny surfaces such as metal picture frames. The cleaner is ammonia-free and alcohol-free, making it safe for both the frame and the art. Brillianize not only cleans glazing, it reduces static charge on and around the frame, helping to prevent dust buildup.
When you first receive a picture frame with acrylic glazing, it will arrive with a thin protective cover. Before removing the protective cover, dampen a soft cloth with water and wipe down all the edges to reduce static charge. You can then apply Brillianize to both sides of the acrylic to reduce the buildup of static electricity. Watch a video to learn more about acrylic glazing.
You may only have to lightly dust frames on a weekly basis. If you don’t have the time or need for weekly dusting, clean your picture frames with the acrylic cleaner if you notice dust quickly accumulating or the glazing is smudged or dotted with fingerprints.
With these simple tips for cleaning picture frames with acrylic glazing, you can keep your artwork looking like new for years to come.
Acrylic, sold under the brand names Acrylite and Plexiglas, is an extremely popular option for picture frame glazing. This type of frame glazing is shatterproof, lightweight and an excellent thermal insulator, making it ideal for large framing projects — glass can be restrictively heavy — or picture frames in children’s rooms, as there is no […]
You have purchased a wonderful photo printer that can create beautiful images – now you must decide what size image you'd like to print and what size paper to print it on. The sizing depends on what you intend to do with the finished print. Let's look at some options – and the trade-offs – for printing images on various paper sizes. Keep in mind that if you plan to sell your images, many customers prefer that the external mat size is a standard picture frame size such as 11x14, 16x20, or 18x24 so they are not forced into a custom frame shop.
13x19 Printer Paper – Framing Options
Aside from roll or special panoramic photo paper, the largest common paper size is 13x19 inches. The simplest option is to use the entire sheet and print a 13x19 image. If you have an SLR, which normally has an image aspect ratio of 3:2, this is a convenient size because it requires almost no cropping. An un-cropped 3:2 image printed on 13x19 paper will only lose one-half inch of the image. (In other words, the un-cropped image would measure 13x19.5 inches.)
Another excellent image size for 13x19 paper is 12x18. This size creates its own border, which is advantageous because some printers are not able to print full borderless on all papers. The borders on the paper can be used for the artist's signature, or as a mounting aid utilizing photo corners . (The corners can be concealed with a mat.)
The 13x19 and 12x18 are not standard picture frame sizes. However, some specialty companies such as Frame Destination Inc. do offer inexpensive, ready-made frames in these sizes. These frames are inexpensive for two reasons: They do not contain a mat and they use less expensive non-archival components. Another advantage to these frames is that they typically require no mounting. You simply slip the paper into the frame and you're done. In the case of the 13x19 picture frame , you don't even need to trim the paper.
Some photographers prefer using a mat board with their prints. Although mat boards with 12x18 and 13x19 openings are is not readily available, specialty companies like Frame Destination Inc. offer mats with openings in many sizes . An 18x24 standard frame size with mat is ideal for these image sizes. With the 18x24 the 12x18 will have an even three-inch mat border surrounding the image, and the 13x19 will have an even 2.5 inch mat border.
Compact cameras such as Canon PowerShot and the Nikon Coolpix, and SLRs such as the Olympus E-400 use the 4:3 aspect ratio size, which is perfect for 12x16 prints. Although this picture frame size is not nearly as common as 11x14 or 16x20, it is still a standard frame size.
Although a 10x15 print would normally be done on smaller paper, think BIG and print a 10x15 centered image onto 13x19 paper. You get free a white border, and if placed in a 13x19 frame, the result will be a 1.5-inch top and bottom border, and two-inch side border. A 9x15 image can also be printed onto 13x19 paper, and with a little cropping you can achieve an even two-inch border surrounding the image.
Summary of Options for 13x19 Paper
Paper Size: 13x19
Standard Frame Sizes: 12x16
Non-standard frame Sizes: 12x18 , 13x19
Standard Matted Frame Size: 18x24
Recommended Image Sizes: 10x15, 12x16, 12x18, 13x19
17x22 Printer Paper – Framing Options
17x22 is a new common paper size for 17-inch printers such as Epson Stylus Pro 3800 and Canon iPF5000. This is ideal for 16x20 images, which have an infinite selection of matted and un-matted frames. Unfortunately, 16x20 is neither a 3:2 nor 4:3 ratio; 16x24 is the 3:2 ratio but can only be printed on 17-inch roll paper.
Summary of Options for 17x22
Paper Size: 17x22
Standard Frame Sizes: 16x20
Non-standard frame Sizes: 17x22
Standard Matted Frame Size: 20x24, 22x28
Recommended Image Sizes: 16x20, 17x22
11x17 and 11x16.5 Printer Paper – Framing Options
These paper sizes are good choices for 3:2 and 4:3 aspect ratio images. The 11x17 is close to the 3:2 image ratio. It can be matted to the standard 18x24 frame size, which creates an even 3.5-inch border around the image. Another interesting option with these two paper sizes is to print an image as 6x9 and then crop the paper to fit in an 11x14 picture frame. The result will be an even 2.5-inch white paper border surrounding the image.
Summary of Options for 11x17 and 11x16.5 Paper
Paper Size: 11x17, 11x16.5
Standard Frame Sizes: 11x14, 9x12
Non-standard frame Sizes: 11x17
Standard Matted Frame Size: 16x20, 20x24
Recommended Image Sizes: 6x9, 8x12, 9x12, 10x13, 10x15, 11x14, 11x17
8.5x11 Printer Paper – Framing Options
Although 8x10 paper is available, 8.5x11 is a common paper size. Most 8.5x11 frames are designed for certificates rather that photos, although some specialty frame shops do offer 8.5x11 picture frames.
Summary of Options for 8.5x11 Paper
Paper Size: 8.5x11
Standard Frame Sizes: 8x10, 8.5x11
Non-standard frame Sizes: 8.5x11 (non-certificate frames less common)
Standard Matted Frame Size: 9x12, 11x14, 16x20
Recommended Image Sizes: 6x9, 8x10, 8.5x11
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Updated January 27, 2021
You have purchased a wonderful photo printer that can create beautiful images – now you must decide what size image you’d like to print and what size paper to print it on. The sizing depends on what you intend to do with the finished print. Let’s look at some options – and the trade-offs – […]
You have purchased a wonderful photo printer that can create beautiful images – now you must decide what size image you'd like to print and what size paper to print it on. The sizing depends on what you intend to do with the finished print. Let's look at some options – and the trade-offs – for printing images on various paper sizes. Keep in mind that if you plan to sell your images, many customers prefer that the external mat size is a standard picture frame size such as 11x14, 16x20, or 18x24 so they are not forced into a custom frame shop.
13x19 Printer Paper – Framing Options
Aside from roll or special panoramic sheet paper, the largest common paper size is 13x19 inches. The simplest option is to use the entire sheet and print a 13x19 image. If you have an SLR, which normally has an image aspect ratio of 3:2, this is a convenient size because it requires almost no cropping. An un-cropped 3:2 image printed on 13x19 paper will only lose one-half inch of the image. (In other words, the un-cropped image would measure 13x19.5 inches.)
Another excellent image size for 13x19 paper is 12x18. This size creates its own border, which is advantageous because some printers are not able to print full borderless on all papers. The borders on the paper can be used for the artist's signature, or as a mounting aid utilizing photo corners . (The corners can be concealed with a mat.)
The 13x19 and 12x18 are not standard picture frame sizes. However, some specialty companies such as Frame Destination Inc. do offer inexpensive, ready-made frames in these sizes. These frames are inexpensive for two reasons: They do not contain a mat and they use less expensive non-archival components. Another advantage to these frames is that they typically require no mounting. You simply slip the paper into the frame and you're done. In the case of the 13x19 picture frame , you don't even need to trim the paper.
Some photographers prefer using a mat board with their prints. Although mat boards with 12x18 and 13x19 openings are is not readily available, specialty companies like Frame Destination Inc. offer mats with openings in many sizes . An 18x24 standard frame size with mat is ideal for these image sizes. With the 18x24 the 12x18 will have an even three-inch mat border surrounding the image, and the 13x19 will have an even 2.5 inch mat border.
Compact cameras such as Canon PowerShot and the Nikon Coolpix, and SLRs such as the Olympus E-400 use the 4:3 aspect ratio size, which is perfect for 12x16 prints. Although this picture frame size is not nearly as common as 11x14 or 16x20, it is still a standard frame size.
Although a 10x15 print would normally be done on smaller paper, think BIG and print a 10x15 centered image onto 13x19 paper. You get free a white border, and if placed in a 13x19 frame, the result will be a 1.5-inch top and bottom border, and two-inch side border. A 9x15 image can also be printed onto 13x19 paper, and with a little cropping you can achieve an even two-inch border surrounding the image.
Summary of Options for 13x19 Paper
Paper Size: 13x19
Standard Frame Sizes: 12x16
Non-standard frame Sizes: 12x18 , 13x19
Standard Matted Frame Size: 18x24
Recommended Image Sizes: 10x15, 12x16, 12x18, 13x19
17x22 Printer Paper – Framing Options
17x22 is a new common paper size for 17-inch printers such as Epson Stylus Pro 3800 and Canon iPF5000. This is ideal for 16x20 images, which have an infinite selection of matted and un-matted frames. Unfortunately, 16x20 is neither a 3:2 nor 4:3 ratio; 16x24 is the 3:2 ratio but can only be printed on 17-inch roll paper.
Summary of Options for 17x22
Paper Size: 17x22
Standard Frame Sizes: 16x20
Non-standard frame Sizes: 17x22
Standard Matted Frame Size: 20x24, 22x28
Recommended Image Sizes: 16x20, 17x22
11x17 and 11x16.5 Printer Paper – Framing Options
These paper sizes are good choices for 3:2 and 4:3 aspect ratio images. The 11x17 is close to the 3:2 image ratio. It can be matted to the standard 18x24 frame size, which creates an even 3.5-inch border around the image. Another interesting option with these two paper sizes is to print an image as 6x9 and then crop the paper to fit in an 11x14 picture frame. The result will be an even 2.5-inch white paper border surrounding the image.
Summary of Options for 11x17 and 11x16.5 Paper
Paper Size: 11x17, 11x16.5
Standard Frame Sizes: 11x14, 9x12
Non-standard frame Sizes: 11x17
Standard Matted Frame Size: 16x20, 20x24
Recommended Image Sizes: 6x9, 8x12, 9x12, 10x13, 10x15, 11x14, 11x17
8.5x11 Printer Paper – Framing Options
Although 8x10 paper is available, 8.5x11 is a common paper size. Most 8.5x11 frames are designed for certificates rather that photos, although some specialty frame shops do offer 8.5x11 picture frames.
Summary of Options for 8.5x11 Paper
Paper Size: 8.5x11
Standard Frame Sizes: 8x10, 8.5x11
Non-standard frame Sizes: 8.5x11 (non-certificate frames less common)
Standard Matted Frame Size: 9x12, 11x14, 16x20
Recommended Image Sizes: 6x9, 8x10, 8.5x11
You have purchased a wonderful photo printer that can create beautiful images – now you must decide what size image you’d like to print and what size paper to print it on. The sizing depends on what you intend to do with the finished print. Let’s look at some options – and the trade-offs – […]
You may spend hours taking the perfect photo or creating a masterpiece to display in your home, but there is often far less thought put into mounting that artwork — which can end up being a big mistake.
Your memories and painstakingly created artwork need the right mounting materials to both safely display them and preserve them for future generations to enjoy. But it can be difficult to know which products to use, especially since there are so many different types. We’ll break down three mounting products you should have in your framing arsenal — and when you should use them.
Archiving photographs and prints with regular adhesive tape is risky. Most store-bought brands of tape are made with chemicals that can degrade the photos over time, leading to irreversible damage.
Instead, opt for photo tabs specially designed to archive photos, such as the Lineco photo tabs. Lineco photo tabs are acid-free, double-sided adhesives that can permanently mount photos, prints, paper and even fragile newspaper clippings to photo albums or scrapbooks without yellowing. These tabs pass the Photographic Activity Test (PAT), so you can rest assured knowing your memories are safe for decades to come.
Photo tabs work great for smaller photographs and paper, but larger photos and artwork need more support along their straight edges — and that’s where Lineco’s 4- and 12-inch mounting strips come in.
These clear strips from Lineco are not only affordable — they are acid- and lignin-free, meaning they won’t harm artwork. They use a pH-neutral and pressure-sensitive adhesive that is safer for priceless photos and artwork, and none of the adhesive comes into contact with the surface.
The 4-inch strips are the best choice for smaller photographs and artwork, but the longer 12-inch strips can be cut to fit your needs. You can even use the mounting strips to add extra support to photo tabs in albums and scrapbooks.
Mounting large prints can be a frustrating process: you get one side mounted, but then the other corners roll up, ruining your perfectly centered mount. Instead of getting frustrated, use one of our one-pound print weights, made of non-abrasive leather, to hold your prints or artwork in place so you can center and securely attach them to the mat or backing board.
Cutting a few corners when mounting your photos might save you a few dollars in the beginning, but it’ll cost you more in the long run. Don’t risk regret by using any old mounting product off the shelf. Your future self — and your family — will thank you for investing in products that will preserve your memories for generations to come.
You may spend hours taking the perfect photo or creating a masterpiece to display in your home, but there is often far less thought put into mounting that artwork — which can end up being a big mistake. Your memories and painstakingly created artwork need the right mounting materials to both safely display them and […]