Rabbet Depth
Besides aesthetic considerations it is necessary to determine the depth of your artwork package to ensure that it is deep enough to accommodate all of the components in the artwork package. In the illustration on the right the rabbet depth of the frame is 1 5/16".
The rabbet depth is the amount of space in the frame to accommodate the artwork package. All Metropolitan frames have the rabbet depth dimension illustrated in the product section. Use the frame depth calculator to determine the exact depth of the frame you will need and then view our product page to see which frames will accommodate your artwork package.
SPACERS
A spacer is used to separate artwork on paper or photographs from glass or acrylic when a mat isn't being used. Spacers are also used on artwork that is dimensional or doesn’t lie flat Spacers can be made of wood, plastic, or mat board. Metropolitan has designed a line of exhibition frames that will accommodate our custom wood spacers that can be purchased in depths ranging from 1/4″ – 2". See framing advice for a video on how to attach wood spacers.
STRAINERS
Strainers are an inner frame that is placed behind the artwork package and secured with screws. They add extra strength to the artwork package and hold the artwork package in the frame. They also serve as a means of attaching the hanging devices. This is critical on very thin frame profiles. See framing advice for how to attach strainers.
FLOAT SIZE ON FLOATER FRAMES
The float size is the the gap between the sides of the canvas or cradle and the inside edge of the frame.
Floater frames have become a popular modern way to frame paintings on canvas or panels. The float space is determined by how much you may want to see the sides of the painting.
Reasons for small float space: staples showing on side of canvas, sides of canvas left blank, sides of canvas sloppily painted.
Reasons for large float space: canvas out of square or the image wraps around onto sides. To determine if the canvas is out of square measure diagonally from the top left to the bottom right and diagonally from the top right to the bottom left. If it is perfectly square those two measurement will be the same. Depending how different they are you will need to increase the size of the float.
STRAINERS
Strainers are an inner frame that is placed behind the artwork package and secured with screws. They add extra strength to the artwork package and hold the artwork package in the frame. They also serve as a means of attaching the hanging devices. This is critical on very thin frame profiles. See framing advice for how to attach strainers.