How to Size Your Picture Frame
While sizing a picture frame might seem as simple as cutting the inside lengths of each side to match the dimensions of the print, there’s a little more to it than that. Picture frames have a groove along the back inside edge called a rabbet. This is what holds the glass, the print, and the mat board in place. The rabbet itself only needs to be 1/4-inch wide, so subtracting 1/2 inch from the length and width of the print will leave enough room for the rabbet. So, for framing an 8x10 photo with no mat board, the inside board lengths (short length between each miter) would be 7-1/2 inches by 9-1/2 inches. If you wish to preserve the visibility of the edges of your print, make the frame larger and include a mat board behind the photo.
How to Make Frame Glass and Filler Board
For the front piece of glass, have your local hardware store cut a piece of acrylic to match the dimensions of your photo. To ensure the piece fits inside the rabbet, ask them to make the acrylic piece slightly smaller than the dimensions. For the back filler board, simply cut a piece of cardboard, using the acrylic piece as a guide.
How to Make a Picture Frame
Follow the steps below to make a picture frame for an 8x10 print. Repeat this process, decreasing the short side measurement to 7-1/2 inches from the two remaining pieces.
