How to connect a custom framer to your fine art print order
Instead of buying a print, then hunting for a frame shop, then re-measuring and hoping the two match, you can line up your framer before the print ships. This guide walks through connecting a custom framer to your Barksdale Fine Art order so the print arrives and the framing starts without a second round of measuring.
- For custom framing fine art prints, confirm the print size with your framer before you order, not after.
- Barksdale Fine Art prints ship unframed, so the framer is a separate step you schedule yourself.
- Give the framer the exact print dimensions and your wall space, then choose mat and glazing together.
- Bring the print to the framer flat and untouched; fingerprints on archival paper do not wipe off.
Why this matters
A print and a frame are two purchases from two businesses. If the sizes do not line up, you pay twice: once for a mat cut to the wrong opening, once to redo it.
Custom framing fine art prints works best when the framer is part of the decision from the start. Paper size, mat width and wall space all depend on each other. Settle them in one conversation and the order goes through once.
Before you start
- You need: the product page of the print you want, a tape measure, and a framer you have already contacted.
- Have ready: the wall space in inches, plus a photo of the room if the framer works from one.
- The gotcha: the size you select on the product page is the paper size, not the visible image area. A mat covers the paper edge, so ask your framer how much border they need before you pick a size.
Set up your print selection
Start on the print you want. Browse the Barksdale Fine Art catalog and open the product page for the piece.
- Open the product page and read the size options in the variant selector.
- Note the exact dimensions of each size you are considering.
- Send those dimensions to your framer and ask which size suits the mat and frame style you want.
- Choose the size and place the order.
Expected result: you have a confirmed paper size written down, and your framer has agreed it works for the frame you have in mind.
Choose the framing details with your framer
This is where the framer earns their fee. Cover four decisions in one conversation:
- Mat: width and color. A wider mat makes a small print feel considered; a narrow one suits a large statement piece.
- Glazing: glass or acrylic. Ask about UV-filtering options for walls that get direct sun.
- Frame material and finish: match the room, not the print.
- Mounting: archival mounting keeps the paper flat and reversible.
Expected result: a written quote from the framer listing mat, glazing, frame and mounting, tied to the paper size you ordered.
Match the frame to the subject
Subject changes the framing choice. Here is how common Barksdale Fine Art categories tend to pair with frames:
| Print type | Best for | Framing direction |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape and mountain | Living rooms, cabins | Wood or dark frame, generous mat |
| Black and white architecture | Offices, modern homes | Slim black or metal frame, white mat |
| Coastal | Bedrooms, entryways | Light wood or white frame |
| Western and rustic | Ranch-style homes | Warm wood, minimal mat |
These are starting points, not rules. Your framer sees your wall and your room; follow their eye if it differs.
For subject-specific ideas, see best mountain landscape wall art prints and best black and white fine art photography prints.
Hand the print to the framer
- When the print arrives, open the package on a clean, flat surface.
- Handle the paper by the edges only.
- Keep it flat during transport; do not roll it back into a tube.
- Deliver it to the framer with your written quote and the room photo.
- Ask for a pickup or install date in writing.
Expected result: the framer confirms receipt and gives you a completion date that matches the quote.
Variant: framing a print you already own
The same workflow works when the print is already on your wall unframed. Measure the paper itself, not the old mat opening, and send that measurement to the framer. Skip the size step and start at the framing details.
If you are pulling together a whole room, the guide on how to connect a room visualizer app to your art order helps you confirm scale before you commit to frame dimensions.
Troubleshooting
- The framer says the print is too close to the edge. The mat is covering more paper than expected. Ask for a narrower mat or a float mount.
- The quoted frame size does not fit the wall. Re-measure the wall space and ask the framer to quote the outside frame dimension, not just the print size.
- Glare on the finished piece. Switch to non-reflective glazing and re-hang away from direct window light.
- The print arrived creased or damaged. Photograph it and contact Barksdale Fine Art before taking it to the framer; do not frame a damaged piece.
- Colors look different behind glass. Glazing and lighting both shift how color reads. Check the print under the lighting it will hang in before signing off.
Customize your workflow
Once one print is framed, repeat the process for a set. Matching mat width and frame finish across several prints makes a gallery wall look planned rather than collected. If you are working toward a larger statement piece, read fine art wall art prints ranked by size for large walls before you settle on dimensions.
FAQ
Do Barksdale Fine Art prints come framed?
Check the product page for the options on the print you want. Where framing is not listed, plan on taking the print to a custom framer yourself.
When should I contact a framer: before or after ordering?
Before. Confirming the paper size with your framer first avoids a mismatch between print, mat and frame.
What is the best way to find a custom framer?
Ask for a written quote from two or three local framers, and compare mat, glazing and mounting line by line, not just the total.
Should I use glass or acrylic for custom framing fine art prints?
Either works. Acrylic is lighter and shatter-resistant, glass is harder against scratches. Ask your framer about UV-filtering for sunny walls.
Can I frame a print myself instead?
Yes, for standard sizes. For archival mounting or non-standard dimensions, a custom framer gives a cleaner result.
How do I handle a fine art print before framing?
Hold it by the edges, keep it flat and avoid touching the image surface. Fingerprints on archival paper are hard to remove.
One last thing
Bring the framer a photo of the wall, not just the measurements. A framer who sees the paint color, the light and the neighboring furniture will often suggest a mat or frame finish you would not have asked for, and in 2026 that one photo saves more rework than any other step in this workflow.
