You have a wonderful photo printer that can create beautiful images - now all you need to do is decide what size your prints should be. Of course, that all depends on what you intend to do with the print. Here's a look at some of the options - as well as the trade-offs - for various paper sizes.
Picture Frames for 13x19 Paper
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Aside from roll or special panoramic sheet paper, the largest common paper size is 13x19 inches. The first and easiest option is to use the entire sheet and print a 13x19 image. If your camera is an SLR, which normally has an image aspect ratio of 3:2, this is a convenient size since it requires almost no cropping. An un-cropped 3:2 image printed on 13x19 paper will only lose one-half inch of the image. (In other words, the un-cropped image would measure 13x19.5 inches.)
Another excellent print size for 13x19 paper is 12x18. This size has several advantages, as some printers are not able to print full borderless on all papers. The borders on the paper can be used for a signature or mounting, using photo corners that are concealed by a mat.
Neither 13x19 nor 12x18 are standard frame sizes. Some specialty companies, such as Frame Destination, Inc. in Dallas, Texas, offer inexpensive ready-made frames without mats in these sizes.
These frames are typically inexpensive for two reasons: They use less expensive non-archival components and, since they do not utilize a mat, the picture frame dimension is smaller and therefore requires fewer raw materials to manufacture. An advantage to these frames is that they typically require no mounting. You simply slip the paper into the frame and you are done. In the case of the 13x19 picture frame, you don't even need to trim the paper.
The other framing option is using mat board. Although 12x18 and 13x19 mat board is not readily available, specialty companies such as Frame Destination, Inc. offer different mat options for these sizes. You can order a custom mat or, if you have a mat cutter, you can cut it yourself. An 18x24 standard frame size with a mat is ideal for this image size. The 12x18 will have an even three-inch mat border on all four sides, while the 13x19 will have a 2.5-inch border.
Compact cameras such as Canon PowerShot and the Nikon Coolpix or SLRs such as the Olympus E-400 use the 4:3 aspect ratio size, which is perfect for 12x16 prints. Although this picture frame size is not nearly as common as 11x14 or 16x20, it is still a standard frame size.
Although a 10x15 print would normally be done on smaller paper, another option is to think big. If you print it on 13x19 paper, you get a free white border. (Make sure you center the image on the paper!) Assuming the image has a horizontal orientation, once you place it in a 13x19 frame, the result will be a 1.5-inch top and bottom border and two-inch side border. With a little cropping, you could print the image at 9x15 and have a nice, even, two-inch border all the way around the image.
A Look at Other Popular Paper Sizes
For 17-inch printers such as Epson Stylus Pro 3800 and Canon iPF5000, 17x22 is a new common paper size. This is ideal for 16x20 images, which have an infinite selection of matted and unmatted frames. Unfortunately, 16x20 is neither a 3:2 nor 4:3 ratio; 16x24 is the 3:2 ratio but can only be printed on 17-inch roll paper.
Paper that is either 11x17 or 11x16.5 paper offers lots of opportunity for 3:2 and 4:3 aspect ratio images, while 11x14 is a popular standard framing size with infinite variety both with and without mats. 11x17 is close to the 3:2 image ratio, so it looks good matted to the standard 18x24 frame size and will have an even 3.5-inch border all the way around. You can also print at 6x9 and then cut the paper down to fit in an 11x14 inch picture frame. The result will be a nice, even 2.5-inch white paper border all the way around the image.
Finally, although 8x10 paper is available, paper that is 8.5x11 is far more common. Most 8.5x11 frames are designed for certificates rather than photos, although specialty frame shops offer 8.5x11 fine art frames.
A Guide to Picture Frame and Photo Print Sizes
Paper Size: 13x19
Standard Frame Sizes: 12x16
Non-standard frame Sizes: 12x18, 13x19
Standard Matted Frame Size: 18x24
Recommended Image Sizes: 10x15, 12x16, 12x18, 13x19
Paper Size: 17x22
Standard Frame Sizes: 16x20
Non-standard frame Sizes: 17x22
Standard Matted Frame Size: 20x24, 22x28
Recommended Image Sizes: 16x20, 17x22
Paper Size: 11x17, 11x16.5
Standard Frame Sizes: 11x14, 9x12
Non-standard frame Sizes: 11x17
Standard Matted Frame Size: 16x20, 20x24
Recommended Image Sizes: 6x9, 8x12, 9x12, 10x13, 10x15, 11x14, 11x17
Paper Size: 8.5x11
Standard Frame Sizes: 8x10, 8.5x11
Non-standard frame Sizes: 8.5x11 (non-certificate frames less common)
Standard Matted Frame Size: 9x12, 11x14, 16x20
Recommended Image Sizes: 6x9, 8x10, 8.5x11
What Size Should You Print Your Photos? Paper Sizes Depend On How You'll Use Your Prints
Mark Rogers
Frame Destination, Inc.
972-479-1188
Mark Rogers is the president and owner of Frame Destination, Inc., a Dallas-based company that specializes in such products as acid-free conservation-quality picture frames in wood and metal.
http://www.framedestination.com
info@framedestination.com
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