how to measure a poster for a frame

Some rulers have an English side– inches, feet, yards, etc.– and a metric side– millimeters, centimeters, meters, etc. Trim excess foam from the board using a knife and metal ruler to make crisp edges. You do not want to upstage the poster if using a mat. A poster will usually stay secure on its own when it is inside the frame. Movie Poster As the name suggests, it is commonly used for movie posters, character posters, collectable vintage prints and large decorative posters. It can be difficult to cut the edges of a mat accurately and without damaging the mat so you can usually have this completed at a framing store for just a few dollars. You can always clean the other side again, so don't worry about touching it all over when putting into place. Securing the poster in the frame and mounting on the wall. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Make sure your poster backing is acid-free if you are using it or else it can damage the poster. They were, as they are now, advertisements collected as art, and even then were they carefully preserved. For instance, frame with the measurements of 8″ X 10″– the first number being “Width” and the second being “Height”– is portrait. Drill the screws in carefully so that the wood does not crack or become damaged. For digital artworks or photographs you generally won’t have to worry about manually measuring, but there are still some considerations when it comes to sizing. Start by measuring your poster. When lining up the ruler to your art, it’s important to line it up with the nearest fractional increment. You might only find a plain moulding that has a ledge in it, but do not worry, you can always customize colors later to add some decoration. )The spring clips that hold your art into the frame will adjust perfectly as long as your art doesn’t exceed this thickness.Our Wood frames have room for artwork up to 1/8″ thick if they have no mats or one mat, and up to 1/16″ if they have two mats. There is no real correct answer to this. Acrylic frames can also be useful in that they might be clear, which means they won't cover up any of the graphics. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. All picture frames generally require some sort of slight overlap (1/4″) to keep your art held in place. The second to longest ones mark each half-inch; the third-longest mark each quarter-inch; the fourth-longest mark each eighth of an inch; and the fifth-longest mark each sixteenth of an inch. To measure your artwork, first lay it flat on a table … To create this article, 14 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Remember that a foam board will increase the thickness of your poster and can affect the frame that you choose. Your art’s orientation is important as this will affect which direction your hanging wire is placed. There are two things that make framing posters so difficult: The Size and the cheap poster prices. I want to frame a very large envelope with a Japanese fan for display purposes. Higher-quality plexiglass can also be made so that it is glare-free and is much lighter weight than glass can be, making it ideal for large frames such as for posters, although it is more prone to scratches than glass. Regardless of use — concerts, movie or other events — posters grew in popularity and use in the 19th century, first in France and then in New York and London, thanks to advancements in lithography. You don't have to buy, and they'll likely be happy to give you advice. Once you've chosen your frame, attach your poster to an adhesive foam board so that it’s easier to frame. It can also add a more formal touch to the decorative item than just taping or pinning it to a wall would. You may not want a mat when framing a vintage poster or a poster of a classic work of art but that is completely your choice. You may need more than one picture hanger if your frame is particular large and/or heavy. Measure the dimensions of the area where you will insert the frame rather than the exterior size of the poster. The 27x40 is the most common movie poster size. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Please be patient with our shipping partners as we all do the best we can to get to get through this together! If having a professional frame your poster at a store, visit more than one store to get a pricing estimate and an idea for what the finished product would look like. Make sure your opposing pieces on the top and bottom or left and right are equal lengths so that the frame can be squared properly. Choose colors that work well with a width of at least 1.5 inches (3.8 cm). Having said that, you will need to measure the depth of the mounted fan for clearance. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Frames can be made of wood, metal or other material. Step Two: Measure the Outer Edge for Just a Frame. Measure your poster's length, width and thickness with a measuring tape or a ruler. This frame might not be particularly strong so it might not work with a glass piece in front. This article has been viewed 213,914 times. Width = the horizontal measurement left to right, Height = the vertical measurement top to bottom, *Thickness = the depth measurement from front to back. Poster Frame Sizes. Subtract 1" from each dimension to determine your interior frame size. If the poster is replaceable, you might consider having it dry mounted. To create this article, 14 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Otherwise, a cloudy film will develop on the surface of the glass. It is purely a matter of personal choice. If you are using a mat be sure to include the dimensions (width, length and thickness) of the mat when measuring. Use short screws. Sign up for our weekly newsletter and receive tips, inspiration, and discounts on our custom frames! Even if the frame is not the right color, if it is wood then you can repaint it later to a color of your choice. Some common poster frame sizes are listed below: 24 x 36 Poster Frame; 18 x 24 Poster Frame; 16 x 20 Poster Frame… Bus Stop Poster Plexiglass can also be UV-resistant, which is important if you are hanging the poster in an area that receives a lot of sunlight. HOW TO MEASURE: Place the “Zero” end of your ruler at one end of your print (the “Zero” end is usually on the left side of the ruler) Make sure the end of your ruler is flush (in line) with your print Adjust your … ", "The explaination is clear and complete. Alternatively you might find a piece as part of another picture frame at a thrift store or hobby store on sale. I bought 3 new posters that are meant to be artwork, but never thought about framing, "All parts are very helpful! We make beautiful custom frames for any poster size. If your art is thicker than ¼”, definitely look for shadow box frames. (Think about stretching a standard 4″ by 6″ photo to fit a billboard – it will look great from a couple hundred feet away but will look very blurry up close. Thanks.". It is a standardized size perfect to house a combination of striking film titles, credits, movie information, and a compelling visual. Here are Frame It Easy we use inches as our standard unit of measurement. For a frame with the same measurements, but a landscape orientation, you would go with 10″ X 8″– … Always consider your orientation and make sure your measurements are in the Width x Height format. ", https://www.diyphotography.net/confidently-choose-right-mat-frame-photographs/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS-GcYFl2Wo, https://www.artistsnetwork.com/art-techniques/how-to-choose-the-best-frame-to-present-and-protect-your-artwork/, http://www.displays2go.com/How-To-Frame-Posters-HP.html, http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/framing-artwork-glass-vs-plexi-155466, https://www.familyhandyman.com/woodworking/perfect-miters-every-time/, https://thriftdiving.com/how-to-make-diy-picture-frames-without-power-tools/, https://www.framedestination.com/picture-frame-mounting, http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/decorating/decorating-tips-techniques/framing-made-easy/framing-a-rolled-up-print, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. A frame's dimensions refer to the size of its … There can be multiple general tones of the poster so you can choose whatever looks best to you and fits the rest of your room. How does one know how thick of a frame to order? Some plastic frames have been finished to give the appearance of wood or metal. Here at Frame It Easy we will always print your digitally uploaded photos at the highest possible dots per inch for the size that you select.However, because it is not possible to add detail to a photo after it is taken, the larger you choose to print your photo the blurrier it will look up close. Then, remove the backboard or undo the hinges at the back of the frame and insert your poster. )You may also notice that our website won’t let you print a photo larger than a certain size – this is to avoid printing something of very low quality. If you cannot enable JavaScript, we recommend using a different browser or device. Measuring your art correctly is perhaps the most important step in the framing process — if the art size is off, the rest of the measurements for the frame, matting, cover, backing, etc. If you do not know where it will be placed or it is a gift then that is not a problem. As a result, we unfortunately cannot guarantee delivery before the holidays. On the English side, the longest ones mark each inch. To learn more you can dive a little deeper into the 1/4″ overlap that is necessary for picture framing. Typically posters come in a standard size, though there is no set rule as to what constitutes a poster vs. another piece of art. Poster frames of all kinds and different materials are available for purchase in stores or online. To frame a poster, start by measuring the length, width, and thickness of your poster to determine the size of the frame you’ll need to purchase. Thank you for your instructions. The measurement stated there should match the size of the frame if you measure as explained above. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 213,914 times. Clear and well done. The frame and mount expand around the size of your picture. For instance, frame with the measurements of 8″ X 10″– the first number being “Width” and the second being “Height”– is portrait. Hold the piece as if it is a pizza when placing into the frame. So, if the end of your artwork lines up with the line is eighth from the full inch mark, you would need to supplement your measurement with “1/2.”. You will want each outer edge to be as long as that side of the poster plus the width of the other side of the frame times two. (This includes matting, so if your frame has a single mat the artwork shouldn’t exceed 3/16″ thick and if it is double matted the artwork shouldn’t exceed 1/8″ thick. For more advice, including how to save money and create a custom size by making your own frame, keep reading. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. You will need the length and width to determine the size of the frame you must purchase. As a general frame of reference, 24″ X 36″ is usually a larger movie size poster, … *For artwork thinner than 1/4”, a standard picture frame will likely suffice, and those are generally the easiest to find. Once again keep in mind that this measurement will dictate the cut of the frame, backing, and acrylic, so it’s important to make it as precise as possible. If you measure only the exterior of the edges of the frame then you will have a hard time fitting the poster into the space. Do not use ammonia-based products to clean the plexiglass. The mount will then make the frame larger, depending on the size … This article has been viewed 213,914 times. Poster, Frame, Visible Area, the external size of a Poster Frame *Even if your artwork or the artist claims it to be a certain size, you should always measure it yourself to confirm – just to make sure you receive a frame that fits perfectly. For art you already have, you should start by placing your art in the correct orientation of how you’d like to view it, then measure the width and height of your art, as well as its thickness. Large posters come in three basic sizes: 27 by 41 inches, 27 by 40 inches and 27 by 39 inches. Do not tape or otherwise adhere a rare or valuable poster to backing of any sort. Size of poster: Some posters are an odd size and will not fit a generic size frame without a mat or having the poster cut to fit the frame (if possible). If it does, then there was probably a problem with the way you originally measured your artwork. If your art has a border surrounding it that you might not want shown in your final frame, you have some options to cover it by adding matting. There may be gaps in the wood and it may not hold together completely on its own but that is ok. References The mount window opening is cut according to the size of the artwork you want to see in the frame. Higher-quality plexiglass can also be made so that it is glare-free and is much lighter weight than glass can be, making it ideal for large frames such as for posters. T… Place the molding on the left side of the miter saw table, decorative side up, rabbeted side toward … wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. In this case, 83% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Although there is a chance of damage, this will get it flat. You're either out hunting for a decent quality frame in just the right size, or paying 10x the cost of the art itself and waiting weeks with a custom frame shop. For more advice, including how to save money and create a custom size by making your own frame, keep reading. Use a pin to poke a hole in any large bubbles from behind (through the foam, not the poster). Make sure the wood screws you use are not too long so that the poke out the front side of your frame. Design your custom frame in minutes and it arrives in days. As always though it is your personal choice. them. For a frame with the same measurements, but a landscape orientation, you would go with 10″ X 8″– the greater number being assigned to the “Width” measurement. Also called a one-sheet, this recognizable poster is used inside cinemas to promote new films. For example, if you enter your artwork size as 100mm x 100mm, the inside of the mount will measure 92mm x 92mm. dive a little deeper into the 1/4″ overlap that is necessary for picture framing. It … For any art that is measured in increments other than inches, you’ll want to make sure you convert it using this handy calculator before entering your measurements into our frame designer. Here at Frame It Easy we can frame art from 5″x5″ up to 42″x62″. Once you are ready with this, measure the poster width, length and thickness, taking into account the size of the mat. Music posters were advertised as well, but the most popular among collectors are from the early rock and roll era to modern day. These plastic frames are often cheaper and lightweight, which can be useful when framing posters. Finally, clip or staple the poster into place to keep it from shifting while hanging. Measuring A Picture Frame: All of our frames are measured by the inside dimensions. Level Frames can help with online custom framing for your posters… Always make sure you know which unit of measurement you’re dealing with to make sure results are accurate. Some frames are attached to a stand or framed freely on a wall. It is also your choice whether you use two mats or only one. Once your posters are framed you'll want to take some time to find the best way to. As a rule of thumb, your finished frame will be one to two inches wider and longer than your poster itself if it has no mat, and 6-8 inches larger … Plexiglass is more prone to scratches, even though there are scratch-resistant types. Handy Tip: You can easily orient your frame to landscape with the 3 L’s: To make a Landscape, the Larger dimension is entered on the Left. Read more about holiday shipping times here. It would be unfortunate if you were unable to frame your art as a result of incorrect measurements, so hopefully the info above has equipped you to become a measuring master. Once you let the air out, smooth it down completely. In some cases art or photos are measured using millimeters (mm) or centimeters (cm), both part of the metric system (an internationally recognized system of measurement). If yours does not, consider using tape or another adhesive to stick the poster to its poster backing. "This was extremely helpful! Since frames are measured based on the size of your art (the frame opening), the size of your finished framed poster will vary depending on the frame you choose. Perhaps you could take the fan to a picture framer and try out a few frame depths and mounts to see which you feel is best. The marks on a ruler all have different lengths, because they denote different fractional increments. You do not want any fingerprints or other oils on the side touching the poster. You should consider this before you purchase a poster… You will need enough to cover the length of all four sides of your poster, plus extra if you are using a mat (the width of your mat times four) and some more (8-12 inches or 20-30 cm, depending on width of wall trimming) for the corners. We are currently experiencing parcel delivery delays as many online stores are. Read more about holiday shipping times here. Make allowance in the lengths for the mat width as well as the poster size. First, measure the size of the glass or photo you want to surround with a frame. If you decide to frame the poster without mat, you just need the poster measurements. Decide which way you want your 1x2's to … A band clamp is a long piece of nylon with a clamp on one side to wrap around pieces and hold them together. You may wish to use a band clamp to hold the corners together but it is not necessary. To find a frame for less money, consider buying an art print that comes framed and matches or exceeds your poster's dimensions by 1 or 2 inches (2.5 or 5 cm). Measure … The corners will be attached more securely later. *For thickness, you should consider the following: If it’s over 1/4” thick, look for a framer that can create shadow box frames, which are great for wrapped canvas, 3D collectibles, and jerseys. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f8\/Frame-a-Poster-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Frame-a-Poster-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f8\/Frame-a-Poster-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid1326237-v4-728px-Frame-a-Poster-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"