Art is used in a variety of print, including media publications, children’s illustration books, recipe books, the majority of magazines, comic books and various other book publications. Whether it is just the front cover, a few full-page images in magazines, or entire illustration books that could be printed to display a featured storyboard.
There is no shortage of finding prints worthy of framing, but to get them onto display, you do need to know the sizes of frames, and the materials you can use to beautify your display while including some much-needed protection inside the frame as well.
The Various Sizes of Frames Suited to Multiple Print Publications
Frame Sizes for Comic Books
Comic book bags measure 12.4” x 7.2”. By those dimensions, a standard comic print should be able to fit into any photo frame that is larger than 12” x 7”. Given the standard dimensions of photo frames, the most likely size suited to comic book images would be a 12” x 8” frame.
Larger frames can be used by increasing the size of the photo mount board. With a frame size of 12” x 8”, there would be minimal display space for the photo mount. A portrait print would only leave a half-inch margin on either side. By increasing the frame size to a 16” x 20”, there would be more space right around the print, which could be used for a double mount with two colours, or an oversized mount with wider spacing. Another option a wider frame provides is the ability to frame prints off-centre, such as displaying artwork using the rule of thirds for better presentation.
Frame Sizes for Magazine Covers
Magazine covers can make for gorgeous and statement-making displays, and you can print your own too. The #MorePlusPlease campaign is just one social media campaign that highlights what can be done with digital photography. In this case, magazine covers are Photoshopped to insert images of plus-sized women onto the covers of mainstream fashion magazines.
Other ideas for framing magazine covers are in the gift industry. Various newspapers and magazine cover print gifts can be personalized online, delivered to your door and then you can frame them prior to giving to someone as a gift.
The standard print size for full-page prints of magazine covers is 8 3/8” x 10 7/8”. Round the figures up and you would be looking for an imperial sized picture frame of at least 11” x 9”. The closest standard sized picture frame is 11” by 14” and similar to any frame, you can go larger and fill the void space with a coloured photo mount board.
Frame Sizes for Children’s Illustration Books
By their nature, children’s books are illustrative, but the images within those books can also make great framed prints for nurseries, wall displays in playgroups, or even lining the corridor of a school.
The most common size used for children’s illustration books is similar to magazine sizes running at least 8” x 10”. The exception is for board books such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which measures approximately 7” x 5”. Most soft print paperback illustrative books generally have full print pages that would fit within a picture frame larger than 8” x 10”.