How to Frame a Matted Print: 16 × 20 and 18 × 24
By Ning Ma
Buy a frame the same size as the mat, not the image. My 8.5 × 11 inch prints come in a 16 × 20 inch mat and need a 16 × 20 frame. My 13 × 19 inch prints come in an 18 × 24 inch mat and need an 18 × 24 frame. Both are standard sizes, so a ready-made frame will fit.
Frame sizes
| Image | Mat (outside) | Frame to buy |
|---|---|---|
| 8.5 × 11 in | 16 × 20 in | 16 × 20 in |
| 13 × 19 in | 18 × 24 in | 18 × 24 in |
A frame's size is the size of what it holds, not its outer edge. A 16 × 20 frame with a two-inch molding will take up about 20 × 24 inches of wall.
The glass matters more than the frame
Light fades paper prints, and ultraviolet light does most of the damage. The glazing is your protection.
- Plain glass is the cheapest and blocks the least ultraviolet light.
- UV-filtering glass, often sold as conservation glass, blocks most of it. This is the one to ask for.
- Acrylic is lighter and does not shatter, which helps with large frames and with shipping. It also comes in UV-filtering versions. It scratches more easily than glass.
- Anti-reflective glass, often sold as museum glass, cuts glare as well as ultraviolet light and costs the most.
If the budget only stretches to one upgrade, spend it on UV-filtering glass or acrylic.
Ready-made or custom
A ready-made frame works because the mats are standard sizes. Check what glazing it comes with. Many come with plain glass, and a frame shop can swap in UV-filtering glass.
A custom framer costs more and gives you more choice of molding and glass. Ask for three things:
- UV-filtering glass or acrylic.
- An acid-free backing board behind the mat.
- A sealed back, to keep dust out.
The mat already keeps the print from touching the glass, which is what you want. A print pressed against glass can stick to it over time.
Choosing the frame itself
A thin black, white or natural wood frame suits most landscape photographs, because it stays out of the way of the picture. Match the frame to the room, not to a color in the print. If you are hanging two or three prints together, use the same frame for all of them.
Handling the print
Hold the mat by its edges and keep your fingers off the print surface. If you will not frame it right away, keep it flat, in its packaging, somewhere dry.
The Silver Lining, Þórsmörk, Iceland.
For where to hang it, see what size print goes above a sofa or bed. If you would rather skip framing, the metal prints arrive in a float frame, ready to hang.
Quick answers
- What size frame do I need for a matted 8.5 × 11 print?
- A 16 × 20 inch frame. Frames are sized by the mat they hold, and the mat is 16 × 20 inches.
- What size frame do I need for a matted 13 × 19 print?
- An 18 × 24 inch frame, to fit the 18 × 24 inch mat.
- What glass is best for framing a photograph?
- UV-filtering glass or acrylic. Ultraviolet light does most of the fading, and plain glass blocks little of it.
- Do your paper prints come framed?
- No. They come signed and matted, ready to drop into a standard frame.