NOTES ON FRAMING
The space around
the artwork.
A frame changes how we meet a picture. Start with the colours, the breathing room, and the place it will live.
South Wind, Clear Sky, from Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji · A slim ash frame and a float mount on kozo paper keep the whole sheet and its margins in view.
Follow a colour
A dark frame can echo the lines of a print. Natural wood can pick up the warmth in a landscape. Try a connection before reaching for a contrast.
Give it breathing room
A mat creates a pause between the artwork and the frame. Compare a narrow border with a generous one, and notice what happens to the image.
Think about the whole wall
The right combination depends on the room as much as the picture. Look at the wall colour, surrounding objects and changing light.
TRY IT WITH YOUR PHOTO
See it in a frame.
Choose a photo, try a frame and a mat, then download your preview. Your photo stays on your device.
Try the framing tool (English)WALLSIDE
From screen to wall
We’re exploring physical frames for the future. For now, these are digital studies to help you discover what you like.
Explore the collectionDigital framing previews. Physical frames are not available to order yet.
Framing guides
01 · THE FRAME
How to choose a frame for an artwork
Compare light oak and dark walnut around the same painting. Start with the picture, then decide how much presence its frame should have.
See the comparison →
02 · THE MAT
How much mat should you leave around a picture?
Compare a narrow and a generous mat. See how the space around an artwork changes its apparent size and rhythm.
See the comparison →
03 · THE WALL
How to pair an artwork and frame with a wall colour
Compare a warm pale wall and a deep graphite wall without changing the artwork, frame or mat.
See the comparison →