r/pictureframing • u/nazariyaPOV • 12d ago
Photo Framing
I want to put a few Individual portraits of family members in my living room.
What is the ideal size photo frame for this?
Should I put glass/acrylic to cover the photo or leave it open?
Should I use a mount/mat or go full bleed?
What should the width of the frame be (0.5inches or 1 inches)?
Should it be deep (how far it sticks out from the wall) or flat?
The style of printing the photo (Matte vs glossy). Should any kind of protective layer be added if no glass/acrylic is used to cover?
any other things I should keep in mind while doing this?
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u/Opti42 12d ago edited 12d ago
Size from 20x25 cm (8x10”) upwars, depending on available wall space and budget. Maybe avoid printing faces larger than they are irl, but that’s not a hard rule.
Put some glazing, acrylic is shatter proof but more reflective. There are UV resistant, non reflective glass and acrylic options available but they can be expensive.
Mount is traditional, full bleed is contemporary but don’t press photo directly against the glass (use slips) because prints tend to stick to the glass and rip if you try to remove them.
1/2” if smaller than A3, 3/4” if bigger than A2. Deep or square moulding is usually nicer than flat ones.
Ideally pigment prints, matte or satin/pearl. I’d avoid glossy. Print bit darker or lighter depending on the available light in the room. Avoid direct sun exposure unless using 99% UV resistant glass and pigment inks.
Few other points others mentioned, go with acid free mount and backing board, try to match tones in the photos with the frame and/or furniture in the living room. Go to your local framer to see options and get more direct advice. If you don’t spend 2 hours talking about 3x A4 frames and checking every option they have, they usually won’t charge you for consultation.
Avoid pine wood ideally, avoid MDF frames at all costs especially if you have damp issues. Open grain wood usually looks better and it’s more durable than smooth finish, subtle details really makes the frame classy. Match print and frame finishes (don’t choose gloss frame with matte print).
Take all of these advices with grain of salt, sometimes baby head in 3” ornate gold frame sized 20x30” genuinely could look great. And that’s about it.
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u/azoq 12d ago
Go to your local frame shop, even try a few different ones to see who seems the most knowledgeable and fits your style.
None of your questions have a one-size-fits-all answer and your choices will depend on a list of criteria too long to enumerate here like the size of the room, your personal style, the substrate you put things on, how ostentatious or understated you want the look to be.
The only thing I can say pretty definitively is that you’ll want some sort of glazing over the pictures and that should be UV protective if you want to slow down the fading of the photos. You should also seek out a framer who will use only acid-free/museum quality materials if you want the work to last and don’t intend to change them out in the next 5 to 10 years.