About Zagi Frames
An independent reference for picture framing: what the sizes actually are, what the materials actually do, and what is worth paying for.
Last updated
Why this site exists
Almost everything written about picture framing online is written to sell a frame. Size charts are cropped to the sizes one shop happens to stock. "Best wood for frames" articles recommend whatever the author has a commission on. Mat measurements are given vaguely enough that you have to order a custom cut to be sure.
Zagi Frames is the opposite arrangement. We sell nothing. There are no affiliate links, no sponsored placements, and no manufacturer relationships behind anything published here. That means a guide can say plainly that a particular size is hard to find, that non-glare glass is usually a mistake for photographs, or that a custom frame is not worth the money for a poster you will replace in two years.
Who writes it
Guides are written and reviewed by Zagi Frames Editorial — people who have spent working hours cutting mats, joining mitres and hanging finished work, not just reading catalogues. Every dimensional claim on the site comes from one of three places: a published industry standard, a measurement taken from a physical frame, or arithmetic we show you so you can check it.
How measurements are handled
- Frame sizes describe the artwork, not the moulding. An 8x10 frame holds an 8x10 image. The outside of the frame will be larger by twice the face width of the moulding.
- Inches first, centimetres second, converted at exactly 1 inch = 2.54 cm and rounded only at the end.
- Mat openings are cut smaller than the artwork on purpose. Where we give a mat opening we state the overlap, which is normally a quarter of an inch on each side.
- Prices are described as ranges and relationships, not fixed figures, because they move and we would rather be useful in two years than precise for one month.
What is on the site
35 guides in four sections — frame sizes, materials, frame styles and how-to projects — plus a free aspect ratio calculator that runs entirely in your browser and sends nothing anywhere.
Corrections
If a measurement here is wrong, we want to know and we will fix it with the change noted on the page. Write to us at hello@zagi.online or through the contact page. Our full standards are set out in the editorial policy.