Picture Frame Passe-Partout: Enhancing Your Existing Artwork
· 5 min read
Adding a passe-partout to an existing artwork requires careful calculation. Learn how it affects outer dimensions and how to choose the right color and width.
The role of the passe-partout
A passe-partout provides breathing room around the artwork, drawing the eye inward and preventing the image from feeling cramped by the frame. It also keeps the artwork from touching the glass directly.
Calculating dimensions
When ordering a frame with a passe-partout for an existing artwork, enter the artwork's exact size. The tool will calculate the outer dimensions of the passe-partout, which then becomes the inner dimension of the frame.
Choosing the color
Select a passe-partout color that complements both the artwork and the frame. Natural white is a safe, classic choice. Warm ivory suits vintage or warm-toned pieces, while charcoal black creates dramatic contrast.
Determining border width
Wider passe-partout borders generally give a more premium, gallery-like feel. Ensure the borders are proportional to the artwork size; a tiny artwork can handle a disproportionately wide border for a striking effect.
Practical check before confirming
When framing an existing artwork, the most common mistake is entering the dimensions of an old frame or an approximate measurement. The tool needs the width and height of the artwork itself, and for a more rigid piece or a canvas on a stretcher frame, the thickness as well. Write down the measurements right as you take them and measure opposite sides if necessary. Then select the artwork type, as suitable frames and additional options for paper artworks depend on this. Do a frame tone test with the artwork, not just according to the wall color. If you add a passe-partout, definitely check the outer dimensions of the whole at the end.
If the artwork is small, don't guess the width of the passe-partout by eye. Enter the dimensions and look at the outer dimensions, because every added centimeter affects both the framed whole and its place on the wall.
Quick Checklist
- Did you choose the correct artwork type?
- Did you measure the artwork from edge to edge, not by the old frame?
- For an artwork requiring thickness, did you also enter depth?
- Does the tool show compatibility in the chosen frame size?
- With a passe-partout, did you check the outer dimensions?
If the measurement is borderline, measure again on a clean, flat surface. An exact entry is better than an estimated rounding, because the fit of the frame depends on the actual dimensions of the artwork.
Example of making a decision: for an existing graphic print, measure the entire paper sheet, choose graphic print in the tool, and enter the obtained width and height. Then look at the available frames. If you add a passe-partout, don't change the dimension of the artwork itself – borders are added to the outer dimensions separately.
Write down the measurements along with the artwork type. This avoids mixing up the old frame's measurement or the picture's visible area later.
Before confirming, compare the preview with the original photo once more.
Configure a passe-partout in the frame ordering tool.
Read more
The frame ordering guide explains the basic workflow. The framed photo passe-partout guide offers layout tips.