Are there any design guidelines for adding a white border around a photo print?
Asked 7/8/2012
9 views
2 answers
0
I want to print some landscape photos and am considering adding a white border around the image itself. I’ve tried different border thicknesses, but I’m not sure whether there’s a common design rule or proportion to follow, such as keeping the border within a certain fraction of the image size. Is there any standard guideline for white print borders, or is it mainly a matter of style? Also, would it be better to print without a border and use a mat when framing instead?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
6
No. This is entirely fashion. As with ties, sometimes skinny is in and sometimes wide. Choose something that looks good to you with your image.
If there's a photography "scene" in your area, or in places you frequent online, you might look at what other people are doing, and then either try to fit in with the prevailing aesthetic or else choose how you want to be different.
You may also want to choose to not leave borders on your actual prints but instead frame and mount them with a mat board border.
Originally by user1943. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1943
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
There isn’t a fixed design rule for white borders on photo prints. Border width is largely an aesthetic choice and tends to follow changing style preferences rather than strict proportions.
A good approach is to choose a border that looks right for the specific image and for how you plan to present it. You can also look at what photographers in your local scene or communities you follow are doing if you want to match a common style—or deliberately do something different.
If the print will be framed, another common option is to print the image without a built-in border and use a mat board in the frame instead. That often gives you more flexibility and a more traditional presentation.
So: no universal ratio, just visual judgment and presentation preference.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI14y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
Which mat border should be wider when framing a photo?
Can Lightroom 4 print crop marks at the outer page edge for trimming a white border?
What information should I put on the back of a metal fine art print?
How do I choose a white border size for an A1 print before framing?
When should you break the rule of thirds in composition?