Choosing a frame for a photograph
Black ash or natural oak, why we use a wide white mount, and when to leave a print unframed.
Most of the frames we sell are black ash, but we do not think it is always the right choice. Here is how we decide when people ask.
Start with the darkest part of the picture
If the print has a deep black in it, like the window surround in Round Window or the shadows in First Light, Ridge, black ash continues that black outwards and the picture looks larger than it is. If the darkest part is a warm brown or a grey, black can look heavy, and natural oak sits better.
The mount does the real work
Our mount is 6 cm of white cotton board on every side. It gives the picture room, it keeps the glazing off the print surface, and it means the frame never competes with the image. A narrower mount would make the frames cheaper and the prints look cramped.
When to leave it unframed
If you already have frames, or you want a framer to match other work on your wall, buy the print unframed. It arrives flat with its full white border, which a framer needs.