Please explain why print and frame sizes don't match.

[jordan.dickinson]

A lot of "standard" frame sizes have been defined more by artwork pertaining to paintings and other mixed medias. 35mm proportions often clash with this predetermined "standard" and can be difficult to deal with. I've run into this same problem recently for small show, and found that a 13"x 19" sectional frame worked very well for my own prints of 35mm photos.

I don't know if there's a better explanation, but this is what I've learned in the last couple of months. Best of luck!

 

[Dektol Dan]

Wrong!

Wrong!

Well, no, none that I am aware of. Just about all, except for square frames, are based upon paper formats - which, being moderately rectangular can't be altogether far off the golden ratio. But there are few, if any exact matches - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paper_size#Loose_sizes for a list of widespread sizes, where none are particularly close to the roughly 1.618 golden ratio.

What's more, frames tend to be less elongated than the underlying paper size, as identical margins add more to the narrow side, so that frames generally are even more off the golden ratio.

Very few frames are not Golden Mean. Go here and read it for yourself:
http://www.pictureframes.com/script....woa/wa/Home?gclid=CNzIrprnqasCFRpkgwodJiJmCQ

 

[Roger Hicks]

Film sizes and print sizes match perfectly. You're just shooting the wrong film sizes. What's wromng with 10x8 and 11x14?

Otherwise, Blackways has it:

"I usually buy a standard size frame and cut the mat opening to the image size. Crop if the composition asks for it, not if the frame does."

Cheers,

R.

 

[Tim Gray]

Thanks for this suggestion Chris,
Do you have recommendations of where to buy frames? US distributors are fine because I'm in Canada. It doesn't look like Nielsen & Bainbridge sell them direct from their website.

I buy mine from framedestination.com. They are an APUG sponsor. Decent prices. I get the frame, backing board, mat board, and glass/acrylic all at once. They have standard sizes pre packaged, or you can get custom openings cut. I think there's a setup fee on the custom mats, but if you get two or three at the same time, it's really not much more expensive.

 

[rogerzilla]

The most common print sizes are based around old sheet film formats. Newer ones like A4 (ugh!) simply fit inkjet printers.

Buy a matte cutter like the Olfa 45 degree one and a long steel rule. Some carpet tiles (not fitted!) are good for cutting on. Then you can make your own mattes - it is critical to keep everything extremely clean and to make the cuts gradually to avoid tearing. Nothing ruins an exhibition print quite like a badly-cut matte.

 

[t.s.k.]

Buy a matte cutter like the Olfa 45 degree

I cut hundreds of mats in college with one of these. Is it still the "standard" for cheap home-cut mats?

btw, another detail I didn't see mention is cutting the mat weighted at the bottom. Some do it some don't, but this is how I was taught many moons ago. Equal mat borders just don't look right to me. Anyways, this also can throw a wrench in the calculations.

 

[sevo]

Very few frames are not Golden Mean. Go here and read it for yourself: (possible spam link deleted)

Well, that link does not link to any information on the golden mean, at least going by a site search. But none of the "popular sizes" that site lists are even remotely close to the golden mean - the side ratios of their frames are in the 1.20-1.50 range, whereas

is 1.61803...

 

[KenR]

Try 14x18 frames - available in most good frames stores in either black or silver metal or occasionally in wood. I like this for my 9x13.5 full frame prints and various other print sizes based on 11x14 paper. I find that 16x20 frames are too big for anything other than full 11x14 prints.
However, this size frame generally doesn't come with a precut mat. If you're going to do a lot of framing, it pays to buy a good mat cutter as you save a bundle not having to have mats custom cut in a frame store.

 

[Steve M.]

This is one of the more frustrating things about photography, the disconnect between paper sizes, 35mm film ratios, and frame sizes. If you shot 4x5, which is what the frames seem to be sized for, no problem. But it doesn't bother me anymore because I have given up on framing and matting photographs. A neighbor convinced me with his dry mounted, fiber, B&W prints..... man, that's the way to go. No matte, no frame, no glass, and best of all, no infernal reflections from the glass or plexi. B&W photos were just made to be exhibited dry mounted w/o frames.

 

[Chris101]

Thanks Chris. I am looking for a simple type of "poster" frame. I have a number of prints I am hanging in my classroom. I thought that would be a nice place to enjoy them for myself, and I might generate some interest in my students.

Mount them on board with heat activated adhesive sheet. You don't really need a press, it irons on just fine. Make sure the board fits the frame and ... voila!

 

[Pablito]

if you cut your own, change the blade OFTEN