Picture Frame Moulding & Materials

Picture frame moulding is the material used to construct the outer frame surrounding artwork. Its profile, width, material, finish, and construction all contribute to the appearance of the finished piece.

Frame moulding also has a structural role. It must be appropriate for the size, weight, depth, and components of the framing package while supporting the overall design of the artwork.

What Is Picture Frame Moulding?

Picture frame moulding is manufactured in lengths that are cut and joined to create a frame sized specifically for the artwork.

Mouldings are available in many profiles, from narrow contemporary designs to substantial traditional frames with carved, shaped, or decorative surfaces.

Selecting the moulding is one part of the custom picture framing process. The frame must work with the artwork as well as the matting, glazing, mounting, backing, and other components inside it.

Common Picture Frame Materials

Picture frame mouldings can be made from several materials. Wood and metal are among the most common choices in custom framing, with each offering different structural and visual characteristics.

Wood Picture Frames

Wood is one of the most versatile materials used for picture frame moulding. It can be shaped into a wide range of profiles and finished in many different ways.

Depending on the design, wood frames can have natural, stained, painted, lacquered, distressed, gilded, or other decorative finishes. Profiles can range from simple and contemporary to deep, ornate, or traditional.

The species of wood, construction of the moulding, profile dimensions, and finish all influence the frame's appearance and structural characteristics.

Metal Picture Frames

Metal mouldings are commonly used when a clean, streamlined frame profile is desired.

Aluminum is widely used for metal picture frames because it can provide strength with a relatively narrow profile. Metal frames are available in numerous finishes, including black, silver, bronze, gold, and other colors and surface treatments.

Their simple lines can work particularly well with photography, prints, posters, contemporary artwork, and other pieces where a restrained frame is appropriate.

Understanding Picture Frame Profiles

The profile describes the shape and dimensions of the moulding when viewed in cross-section. Two frames made from similar materials can look very different because of differences in their profiles.

Profiles may be flat, rounded, scooped, stepped, sloped, deeply contoured, or ornamented. Some designs direct the eye inward toward the artwork, while others create a stronger architectural border around the piece.

Profile depth is also important because the frame must have enough interior space to accommodate the artwork and other framing components.

Picture Frame Width and Visual Weight

Frame width affects the visual relationship between the artwork and its surroundings. A narrow frame can create a restrained border, while a wider or more substantial moulding can give the piece greater visual presence.

Choosing frame width is not simply a matter of matching the physical size of the artwork. Composition, mat width, color, frame profile, wall placement, and the visual strength of the artwork all influence the appropriate proportion.

A larger piece does not automatically require the widest available frame, and a small piece can sometimes benefit from a more substantial moulding when the proportions work together.

Picture Frame Finishes

The finish is the visible surface treatment applied to or incorporated into the moulding. It can significantly change the character of a frame even when the underlying profile is similar.

Common frame finishes include:

• Natural wood
• Stained wood
• Painted finishes
• Black and white finishes
• Gold and silver finishes
• Metallic finishes
• Distressed or aged finishes
• Textured and decorative finishes

The finish should relate to the artwork and overall framing design rather than simply matching furniture or other objects in the room.

Traditional vs. Contemporary Frame Moulding

Traditional mouldings often use shaped profiles, ornamentation, gilded finishes, carved details, or other decorative elements. Contemporary mouldings generally rely on simpler profiles, restrained finishes, and cleaner lines.

These categories are not strict rules. Contemporary artwork can sometimes work effectively with a traditional frame, while older artwork can take on a different character when paired with a simpler moulding.

The appropriate choice depends on the individual artwork and the intended presentation rather than its age or style alone.

Frame Depth and the Rabbet

The rabbet is the recessed area along the inside back edge of a picture frame that holds the framing package.

Its depth determines how much space is available for components such as glazing, mats, artwork, mounting boards, spacers, and backing materials.

Deeper artwork and dimensional framing may require moulding with greater rabbet depth. This becomes particularly important with shadow boxes, textiles, objects, stretched canvases, and other pieces that occupy more space inside the frame.

Structural Considerations for Larger Frames

As the dimensions and weight of a framed piece increase, the structural characteristics of the moulding become increasingly important.

The frame needs sufficient strength and depth for the artwork, glazing, backing, and other components it supports. Large pieces may require a more substantial moulding or a framing construction specifically designed for their dimensions and weight.

Frame construction should therefore be selected for both appearance and function, particularly when framing oversized artwork or unusually heavy materials.

Choosing the Right Picture Frame Moulding

Choosing a frame involves balancing design with the practical requirements of the piece.

Important considerations include:

• Artwork size and proportions
• Weight and depth of the framing package
• Artwork colors and composition
• Matting and glazing choices
• Frame width and profile
• Finish and texture
• The intended overall presentation

Friedman’s custom picture framing services bring these elements together so the moulding works with both the artwork and the complete framing package.

Picture Frame Moulding as Part of the Complete Design

The frame is one of the most visible components of custom framing, but it should not be selected in isolation.

Moulding material, profile, width, depth, and finish need to work with the artwork as well as the matting, mounting, glazing, backing, and other materials within the frame.

At Friedman’s Framing in Savannah, picture frame moulding is selected as part of the complete custom framing design, with consideration given to both the appearance of the artwork and the structural requirements of the finished piece.