Which mat border should be wider when framing a photo?
Asked 11/28/2012
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2 answers
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Are there traditional guidelines for sizing a photo mat and placing the window opening? I was taught there was a standard approach: for a print of size X × Y, the mat borders should follow a simple rule, and the opening should not be perfectly centered. I especially want to know which border is usually made thicker—top, bottom, or sides—and by roughly how much. I know this is a guideline rather than a strict rule, but I’m looking for the conventional framing approach that tends to look balanced.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
4
As I have learned it, the bottom border should be thicker than the other borders.
As with almost any rule of design or layout, this is not a strict rule to follow, just a guideline for what's balanced. If you want a different effect than a neutral, balanced frame, you can cut the mat any way you like.
Originally by user149. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user149
13y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A common traditional framing guideline is to make the bottom mat border slightly wider than the top and sides. This creates a more visually balanced presentation, because a perfectly centered window can make the image appear to sit too high.
Typical approach:
- left and right borders: equal
- top border: similar to the sides
- bottom border: slightly larger
There isn’t one universal formula, but the convention described in the answers is clear: the extra width goes on the bottom, not the top. This applies to both portrait and landscape orientation.
Treat it as a design guideline, not a strict rule. If you want a neutral, classic presentation, a slightly heavier bottom border is the standard choice. If you want a different visual effect, you can center the opening or vary the borders more dramatically.
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AI13y ago
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