Four names are commonly used for the frames that display pictures on paper. This article explains what each one means.
What is a picture frame?
This is by far the most common term. A picture frame displays any flat artwork: prints, photos, needlework, watercolours, certificates and posters. It consists of the frame moulding (usually wood or aluminium), the glazing in front of the artwork and a backing board behind it. Picture mounts, title boxes and mount slips can be added to improve the look.
Most picture framers buy lengths of pre-finished moulding and cut them into four mitred pieces of the right size. A few highly skilled framers work from raw timber to create unique hand-finished designs, at a much higher price.
The four pieces are glued, then joined by driving metal wedges into the corners from underneath, which is called underpinning. The glazing and backing board are fitted into the frame, and flexible tabs are fired into the moulding to hold them in place.
So, at its most basic, a picture frame is four mitred pieces of wood or aluminium, a piece of glazing and a backing board. The other three terms below are variations on it.
Can I buy picture frames at EasyFrame?
Absolutely. Ours is a family-owned business with three generations of picture framers, and we have been making frames for decades. Our website offers hundreds of frame mouldings, along with picture mounts, multi-aperture frames, specialist glazing and much more.
What is a photo frame?
'Photo frame' usually means a small picture frame that stands on a shelf or table. Ready-made ones are sold in many shops at low prices, but only in standard sizes, and the cheapest are made with plastic mouldings. That is not what you want for a treasured photo.
Photo printing services print on standard sizes of paper, so ready-made photo frames are mass-produced in the same sizes.
Typical ready-made photo frame sizes
| Inches | Millimetres | Centimetres |
|---|---|---|
| 6 x 4" | 152 x 102mm | 15.2 x 10.2cm |
| 7 x 5" | 178 x 127mm | 17.8 x 12.7cm |
| 8 x 6" | 203 x 152mm | 20.3 x 15.2cm |
| 10 x 8" | 254 x 203mm | 25.4 x 20.3cm |
| A4 certificate | 297 x 210mm | 29.7 x 21cm |
| 12 x 10" | 305 x 254mm | 30.5 x 25.4cm |
| 14 x 11" | 355 x 280mm | 35.5 x 28cm |
| 16 x 12" | 406 x 305mm | 40.6 x 30.5cm |
Can I buy photo frames at EasyFrame?
Yes. There is no difference in the way a wooden or aluminium picture frame and a photo frame are made. All our frames are made to size, so just enter the size of your photo and choose a frame.
If you want the frame to stand up, choose the Stand Up Back option in the Extras tab when you design it. The option is offered only for frames of 320 x 320mm or smaller, because larger frames are not suitable for standing.
What is a poster frame?
'Poster frame' usually means a large budget frame for inexpensive, replaceable posters, sold by low-cost retailers. The glazing and moulding are basic, and the price reflects that. Its main purpose is to get a poster on to the wall without tape or tacks.
What sizes are large picture frames?
Typical sizes for mass-produced posters are:
- 1000 x 700mm
- 800 x 600mm
- 36 x 24"
- 30 x 20"
These are the posters of current films and music stars that you find in the shops. Many vintage film posters, however, are not standard sizes. Trimming a vintage poster reduces its value, so we recommend a frame made to the poster's actual size.
Can I buy poster frames at EasyFrame?
Yes. A poster frame is exactly the same thing as a picture frame. The difference in buying a quality frame from us is a much wider choice of styles, good glazing that does not distort, and a frame made to the size of your poster so that it does not have to be trimmed.
What is a clip frame?
A clip frame is the cheapest way to display a picture. It is simply a sheet of thin glazing and a sheet of thin board held together by a few clips around the edges, with no moulding at all. Clip frames are sold very cheaply, but they do little for the artwork and give it little protection.
Can I buy clip frames at EasyFrame?
No. We make frames that show artwork off and make it look better, and a clip frame does neither.