How to Measure an Art Print with a Border

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An art print with a border can be framed in two ways: with the border and title on show, or with a mount that hides the border and shows only the image. This guide covers how to measure for each.

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Preparation

Gather these before you start:

• Metal tape measure or sturdy ruler
• A flat, clean surface
• Pencil and paper

Lay the art print on a flat, clean surface, with enough room to use the tape measure or ruler comfortably.

Option 1: border and title on show

To frame your art print with its border and title visible:

1. Measure the whole print. Measure the full width of the print, including the border, from one edge of the paper to the other, and write it down. Do the same for the full height, from the top edge to the bottom edge.
2. Double-check. Measure twice. It is the simplest way to avoid an expensive mistake.
3. Choose a frame. Use your measurements to choose a frame that suits the print and your room. The whole print, with its border and title, will be on show.

Option 2: border hidden by a mount

To hide the border and show only the image:

1. Measure the image area. Measure the image itself and leave out the border. Measure the width from one edge of the printed image to the other and write it down, then do the same for the height.
2. Border overlap. To hide the border, our website makes the mount aperture 6mm smaller than the image size you enter. That is a 3mm overlap on each side, enough to cover the border and keep attention on the image.
3. Double-check. Check your measurements again. Even a small error will show in the finished frame.
4. Choose a frame and mount. Choose a frame and mount on our website. We make everything to the sizes you enter.
5. Avoid trimming. Make sure the external mount size or frame size shown as you design is larger than the full size of your print, including its border. If it is smaller, you would have to trim the print to get it into the frame.

Video timeline and key tips

0:09 - The ground rules

• Use a reliable metal tape measure, not the fabric kind used for sewing. Fabric tapes can be imprecise, and an error of even a few millimetres can mean the frame or mount does not fit the print.
• Measure everything twice, or ask someone else to check your figures.

1:04 - Option 2: mounting to the image

• Measure the exact width and height of the printed image only, and write the sizes down.
• Enter these sizes on our website and choose the frame and mount you want.
• The mount aperture is cut to overlap the image size you entered by 3mm on each side, and the mount fits the opening at the back of the frame.

1:34 - Ordering tips

• Do not select the Exact Size option when designing your frame and mount here, because the mount aperture needs to overlap the image slightly.
• Make sure the external mount size is larger than the paper size of your print, so that you do not have to trim it.

Final thoughts

Measuring a print with a border takes a little care. Whether you show the border and title or hide them behind a mount, accurate measurements are what make the finished frame fit.

Need help? If you are still unsure about your measurements, contact our customer service team with a photo of your print and we will be happy to advise.