How to design a made-to-measure picture frame and mount in the picture frame designer . The designer has seven tabs, 1 Sizes to 7 Review , and the preview on the left updates with every choice. This guide follows them in five parts, each with its own short video.
Example: a 400 × 300mm picture with a double mount and a 20mm black frame. Recorded 18 October 2026.
Part 1: Sizes
Upload a picture to preview, then enter the size of your artwork in millimetres, inches or as a popular size.
Video, part 1 of 5: sizes.
How to measure a photo How to measure an art print How to measure a limited edition
Prefer our earlier video? Watch “How To Order Picture Frames & Mounts” on YouTube.
Upload a picture to preview (optional)
Under the preview, click Optional: Upload Image for Preview , or drag a file onto it. JPG, PNG or PDF files are accepted.
A message explains it's a preview only: “WE DO NOT PRINT THE IMAGE.” Click I understand – upload image . If you'd like it printed as well, the same message offers Yes! Print & frame my photo .
Your picture now shows in the preview, and stays there as you design. Use Change image or Remove under it if you need to.
Confirm the preview-only message.
The picture in the preview.
This demo used a sample landscape graphic.
Enter your artwork size
Measure the picture you want to show, and enter its size under Artwork Size . The preview and the price update straight away.
mm : type the width and height, e.g. 500 × 400 .inches : choose the width and height from the lists, to the nearest ⅛ inch, e.g. 16 × 12 .popular : choose a standard size from the Metric , Imperial or A Sizes list. Choosing 400 × 300mm sets the size for you, and back in mm it reads 400 × 300.
Millimetres.
Inches.
Popular sizes.
When you're ready, click Next: Mounts , or the 2 Mounts tab.
Part 2: Mounts
Choose no mount, a single or a double mount; set the border widths; choose a shape, corners and a title box if you'd like them; pick the colours; and see what the mount sizes mean.
Video, part 2 of 5: mounts.
No mount, single mount or double mount
No mount is selected to start with: the frame goes straight round your picture.Single mount : a card border between your picture and the frame.Double mount : a second, thin layer under the first, showing as a narrow line of colour around your picture. It's 5mm wide to start with, set under Bottom mount .
No mount.
Single mount.
Double mount.
Border widths
With Equal Borders ticked, one Border width sets all four sides: 40mm to start with. Untick it to set Top , Left , Right and Bottom separately. A slightly deeper bottom border, e.g. 55mm, is a classic look.
Separate border widths, with a deeper bottom border.
The mount size box and Exact Size
The box under the widths shows the sizes of your mount. For a 400 × 300mm picture with 40mm borders and a double mount:
Opening 394 × 294mm , overlapping your artwork by 3mm on each side. The opening is cut a little smaller than your picture so the mount holds its edges.Outside size 490 × 390mm : the whole mount, and the size the frame is made to.
Tick Exact Size to cut the opening to exactly your size instead: “Opening cut to exactly 400 × 300mm” . Use it when you want every bit of your picture to show, for example a signature close to the edge; the picture is then fixed behind the mount rather than held by its edges.
The mount size box.
Exact Size ticked.
More options: shape, corners and title box
Tick More options for three more choices:
Aperture Shape : rectangle, oval, arch, bevel top, bell top and more. The preview shows the shape you choose.Corners : straight, or decorative cut, stepped and stepped-cut corners.Add title box : a small second opening below your picture, for a name, title or caption. You can set its width and height.
The shapes.
Oval.
Stepped corners.
Title box.
In the video we go back to a plain rectangle with straight corners and no title box.
Mount colours
Choose a colour for each layer. With a double mount there are two tabs, Top mount and Bottom mount : click one, then click a colour. There are standard white-core boards in over 30 colours, plus suede, black-core, metallic, conservation (solid core) and neon boards. Here the top mount is Off White and the bottom mount Slate Grey .
The colour of each layer.
What the mount sizes refer to
Click Mount sizes above the preview for a measured drawing of your mount: the border widths, the opening (in blue, 394 × 294mm) and the outside size (490 × 390mm), which is also the size of the frame.
The Mount sizes drawing.
Part 3: Frames
Find a frame by colour and filters, compare frames, see a frame's details and order a sample, see how frames for larger pictures are chosen, choose your frame, and look at it in the corner, profile and 3D views.
Video, part 3 of 5: frames.
Colours and filters
The list opens with Our 50 best sellers . Click a colour (All, Black, White, Dark, Gold, Silver, Natural, Light, Bronze or Colours) to see every frame in it: Black shows 131 frames at this size.
Click Filters to sort the list (lowest or highest price, narrowest or widest), and to filter by Frame width , Rebate depth , Material and Price . Black with a 21–30mm frame width leaves 34 frames. Clear filters takes them off again.
Black: 131 frames.
Filters: 34 frames.
Compare frames
Tick Compare under 2 to 4 frames, then click Compare in the bar at the bottom of the screen. The frames are shown side by side with their face width, rebate depth, total depth, material, finish and profile, and a Choose frame button. Back to all frames returns to the list.
Three frames ticked.
The comparison.
Frame details and samples
Click the ⓘ icon on any frame for its details: a description, its width, rebate depth, total depth, colour, material and finish, and pictures of its corner and profile. From there you can Choose this frame , or Order a sample (£2.16) to see the colour and finish before you order.
Frame details, with Order a sample.
Frames for larger pictures
The list only shows frames that are suitable for your size. Thin frames aren't strong enough for large pictures, so they're taken out of the list as the size goes up. In the video we go back to 1 Sizes , make the picture 1000 × 800mm, and return to 3 Frames : Black now shows 60 frames instead of 131, as the thinner profiles have gone. Back at 400 × 300mm, they return.
At 1000 × 800mm: 60 frames.
Choose your frame
Click a frame's picture or name to choose it: here, 20mm Black Paint . The preview shows your design in the frame, and the frame is shown at the top of the list as Your frame , with Details and Remove links. New views appear above the preview too: Corner, Profile, On a wall, 3D and AR, 360° spin, Frame sizes and Mount sizes.
Your frame, shown in the preview.
Corner, profile and 3D
Use the new views above the preview to look at your frame more closely:
Corner : a close-up of the moulding, showing its colour and finish.Profile : the frame's cross-section, with its measurements. The 20mm Black Paint frame is 20mm wide and 13mm deep, with a 7mm rebate at the back for the glazing, mounts and backing.3D and AR : a model of your whole design, with the frame, both mounts and your picture. Click and drag to turn it. In the video it turns all the way round: front, side and back. From the back you see the MDF backing board, held in with flexible points. On a phone or tablet, the same button shows the frame on your own wall in AR.
Corner.
Profile.
3D, from the front.
Turned to the side.
From the back.
Part 4: Glazing, backing and extras
Choose your glazing, an optional coloured backing, and any extras.
Video, part 4 of 5: glazing, backing and extras.
Glazing
2mm Clear Acrylic Glazing is included, and selected to start with. The other choices show the difference in price:
2mm UV100 Gallery Plexiglas Anti Reflective acrylic, which cuts reflections (+£6.59 at this size).3mm UV100 Gallery Plexiglas Clear acrylic.3mm ArtGlass Lifetime Museum Acrylic , with a cleaning kit.No Glazing , which takes a little off the price.
The ⓘ beside each one explains it. In the video, choosing anti-reflective takes the price from £40.68 to £47.63; we then go back to the standard clear acrylic.
The included glazing.
Anti-reflective selected.
Backing
A backing is optional: a coloured board behind your artwork, with no opening cut in it, in the same colours as the mounts. No backing is selected to start with. It's useful for small or irregular pieces, or where the background will show. In the video we choose Black , then go back to No backing .
A black backing chosen.
Optional Extras lists boards, tapes, hangers and fixings, with recommended ones marked. Click Add to include one with your order: here a Barrier Board (£3.86), to protect the back of your artwork.
Barrier board added.
Part 5: Review
Check the full specification of your design, save or email it, and add it to your basket.
Video, part 5 of 5: review.
Check the specification
The 7 Review tab lists everything you've chosen. Check it carefully before you order. In this example it read:
Frame style 526020167 · 20mm Black Paint Frame size 490 × 390mm To take image size 400 × 300mm Top mount 8065 · Off White, borders 40mm all round Bottom mount 8159 · Slate Grey, 5mm Glazing 2mm Clear Acrylic Glazing Included MDF backing and hanging fixtures Accessory Barrier Board
The price was £44.75 for a 400 × 300mm picture. The ⓘ beside each line explains it.
The Review tab.
Below the designer are three more panels: Frame specification (the frame's measurements, with a link to order a sample) and Mount specification , Your design (your choices again), and Delivery and savings , including volume discounts on identical items (3+, 10+ or 20+) and the loyalty points you'll earn.
If your glazing, mount and backing together are thicker than the frame's rebate, the Review tab shows a gentle note. Here: “Your glazing, mount, and backing are 2.5mm thicker than the frame's rebate depth, so the back will sit slightly proud (about 2.5mm). This is completely safe and very common. If you want the contents contained inside, select a frame with a deeper rebate.”
The panels below the designer, and the rebate note.
Save design or email design
Save design adds it to your Design Gallery . You can type a title and click Update Title , open the gallery, or click Continue .Email design opens a form. Enter the recipient's email address, edit the personal message, type the verification word, then click Submit .
The email form was opened in this demo but nothing was sent.
Save design.
Email design.
Add to basket
Happy with everything? Click Add to basket . The confirmation repeats the key details: “Your £44.75 Custom Picture Frame with Mount has been added to your basket. Frame/Mount prepared for artwork size: 400 X 300mm (the mount opening will overlap this size by 3mm on each side).” From there, choose Continue , Basket or Checkout .
Added to basket.
Screenshots taken from the live site on 18 October 2026. The orange outlines and labels were added for this guide and aren't part of the site. The demo stopped at the basket, and no order or email was sent. Prices may change.
