FAQs

Frames

  • Why should I use a mat to frame my photo or art print?

    Many people look at mats strictly to complement their art or photo. But mats serve a purpose beyond just looking good. In fact, the primary purpose of a mat is to protect artwork by creating a space between it and the glass or acrylic sheet in order for air to circulate. Mats also add value to reproductions and project importance, indicating that the artwork is worth that “little extra touch”. Matting helps to draw the viewer’s eye into the picture while at the same time providing a neutral setting in which the art can be appreciated.

  • How do I choose a mat and frame color?

    The color wheel provides an easy way to see how colors relate to one another. Using one color, with a range of shades, tints and intensity (monochromatic color) is soothing to the eye. Colors next to each other on the wheel (related colors) have a calming effect when the colors are dull or muted. Colors directly across from each other on the wheel (complementary colors) create more visual impact because of their obvious differences in hue and intensity.

  • How do I get started hanging my pictures and artwork?

    Before you start hanging your pictures, be sure you gather all your supplies together. You will need at the minimum your frames, pictures, hanging wire, a hammer, pencil and some wall screws. If you can, enlist the assistance of a housemate or family member to help you hang pictures. They will help you decide if your pictures are placed correctly and hung evenly.

  • If I don’t have someone to help me, how can I plan where to hang a group of pictures on my wall?

    If you don't have someone to assist you, you can use a piece of paper or cardboard cut to the exact size of the picture. Take this "pattern" and tape it to the place you want to hang the picture. That way you can move it about easily to see exactly where you want it without having to put a bunch of holes in your wall! This works particularly well if you want to group several pictures together.

  • How do I decide how many pieces of artwork will look right on my wall?

    Keep in mind when hanging picture frames for decorations, you want each photo to add to the room, not detract from it. You don't need to cover your walls in hundreds of pictures to make a statement. Rather select a few key pieces that will accent the room. If you have a group of pictures that are too large to display at once, you can rotate them seasonally.

  • How does the furniture in my room determine where my artwork should hang?

    Think about the room's layout. This includes other accessories in the room such as a table, TV, lamp and more. Decide where the best place to put your picture is. Then hold it up to the wall and experiment with different angles. Not all pictures need to be centered in the middle of the wall. Figure out where the picture looks best relative to the other furniture in the room.

  • How can I make sure that my artwork or picture hangs evenly?

    Measure the distance of your picture from each corner to the edge of the wall. You can use a tape measure if that helps. Mark your spot with a pencil once you decide what place the picture is most even.

  • Should I use nails or picture hooks to hang my artwork?

    Most pictures hang well using ordinary picture hooks. You should have a supply of these readily available. The bottom of the picture hook should land at the spot you marked for your hole. If you need to hang heavier pictures you should use nails and not hooks. You can use two instead of one to provide added support.

  • How can I show off a large collection of framed pictures?

    The most important thing to remember when decorating is to have fun. Remember you can rotate out pictures during certain times of the month or year. Decorating with picture frames is one of the easiest ways to accent your home in a loving and personal manner.

Art

  • What should I consider when choosing a frame for a piece of art?

    Consider the profile of the frame. When framing landscapes, both historic and modern, the best choice for a frame is one with a concave profile which leads the eye into the picture. However, if the scene has less depth, for example a portrait or still life, the best shape of frame would be a convex one. Because it falls away from the image at the outer edge, a convex frame presents the picture toward you and offers the illusion of depth to a two-dimensional painting.

  • What should I consider when choosing a frame for a small picture?

    Scale is important. Small pictures present particular problems with regard to scale because they can lose impact when framed according to conventional proportions. For a small picture, you should use a frame that is proportionately wider than you would use for a normal-sized painting. This ensures that the eye is arrested and the painting is noticed. Another option for a small painting would be to set it into a box frame. This makes it look like what it is, a tiny jewel of a painting.

  • How do I design my mat to compliment my frame?

    The mat and frame should be viewed as a complete composition. Sometimes it is enough that they are complementary in color and harmonize with the picture they contain. You may wish to use a fine gold line of an inner mat to make a visual echo with a gold frame. This effect helps to anchor the picture within the frame and makes a transition from the outer edge to the heart of the painting.

  • What should I consider when designing the size of my mat?

    Be generous with the proportions of any mat. To create a pleasing effect, a mat is seldom designed with strictly equal borders around all sides. The proportions are often subtly adjusted so that the width at the bottom of the image is greater than that at the top and sides. This compensates for the optical illusion that makes the space at the bottom of a picture appear smaller than the space at the top.

My Stuff

  • How do I choose the right color of mats for my photos?

    Stick to the tones and colors present in the artwork; do not introduce a new color into the mix.Determine the focal point. Choose colors that compliment the focal point and allow it to stand out. Choosing colors that are the same as the focal point will compete with it. Look at the background and choose a color similar to it to allow the foreground to pop. Pick the three colors that take up the most space in the work of art and these will generally be your best choices for the mats.