Mistakes to Avoid When Ordering Picture Frames

As an interior decorator, professional photographer or a gallery owner, you will most likely need to have picture frames in your inventory, or at the very least, have a quick and handy way to order them as the need arises. InLine Ovals gives you with the convenience of ordering these frames online, providing you with a wide range of choices – styles, shapes and sizes.

However, some professionals are wary of sourcing their picture frames online for fear of making costly mistakes. This article aims to help you make the right choices without sacrificing the convenience of making your purchases online.

Here are some of the pitfalls to avoid when buying picture frames online:

• Wrong size of the picture frame face. It can be disappointing to open your shipment of picture frames and find out that the artwork and the frames are not the right fit. When taking the measurements, InLine Ovals provides the inside measurements, which refers to the size of the opening of the frame. When choosing the size of the frame, make sure that the dimensions of the photograph or artwork matches the given dimensions of the inside of the frame. For instance, a circular frame with inside dimensions of 4”x4” is designed for a photograph that is 4 inches both horizontally and vertically. To get the right measurement for your artwork, measure the piece along the edges, to prevent your ruler from getting a bit crooked and messing up the measurements.
• Insufficient rabbet depth. Another important aspect to consider would be the rabbet depth. This is the depth from the extended lip of the inner sides of the frame until the back of the frame itself. If you want to add a number of items such as glazing or bubble glass and several layers of matting, you must first determine whether the rabbet depth is enough to accommodate all these pieces while ensuring that the back of the frame is securely closed and not sticking out because of the thickness of the items you placed inside the frame.
• Wrong colors. You wanted a matte frame in a dark brown finish. What you got was a light brown frame with a slightly glossy finish. It may be that the colors on the screen do not quite accurately reflect the actual color and finish. Also, descriptions may not provide the complete picture of the item. Getting the right colors of the frame (and the matting board, if applicable) is quite important since you would want the frame to provide the perfect complement to the photograph or artwork. What can help is to obtain a sample set so that you have on hand actual color samples that you can physically place against your photograph or artwork and confirm whether you have the desired match. InlineOvals has a number of samples available for you at our website. These samples are able as arcs or corners, but can be orders in a variety of shapes (round, rectangular, heart, oblong, octagon, hexagon, cathedral or oval wood frames). What’s more, InLine Ovals has a returns policy, given certain conditions.
• Not considering proportions. The width of the picture frame must be in proportion to the size of the artwork being framed. A picture frame with a 1.5” width will look flimsy when used on a 30”x40” piece while a picture frame with a 4.5” width will overpower a 9”x13” piece, unless you use matting boards to balance the size. This same principle applies to any matting you will add.
• Not using archival material where appropriate. Acid-free backing and matting boards, UV-protective glazing and acid-free tapes are some materials that help preserve the piece and ensure that it lasts longer. However, archival materials will add to the overall cost of the framed piece. Thus, you need to strike a balance between cost and the need to preserve the work.