The right frame can add great detail and really help to show off your perfect, original movie poster. After all, passion and love for movie artworks can only be made better by displaying your original film posters to share in the right frame.
But how do you know what size frame you should be using? Well, this article will take you through the process of choosing the right frame for your original film posters.
What Size Frame Should I Use For A Movie Poster
Thankfully, film posters are produced for standardised measurements. However, these measurements differ depending on the era in which the movie poster was produced and where it was produced. This is clearly the first consideration you need to check when framing your movie posters.
Before the mid-1980s, the standard size of a one-sheet movie poster was 27X41 inches or 69X104 cm. These movie posters should be displayed vertically in portrait orientation.
Since the mid-1980s, the dimensions that one-sheet film posters usually come in has changed ever-so-slightly to 27X40 inches or 68.6X101.6 cm. Again, these are displayed in portrait orientation.
A unique movie poster size, with uncommon dimensions to modern standards, the British quad film poster measured 30X40 inches or 76X101.6 cm. Film posters in this distinctive size should be displayed in landscape orientation.
However, once your collection grows to a decent size, you will inevitably notice when framing movie posters that some will not share these standardised measurements. Movie posters will often vary in size but will generally be within 1/4 to 1/2 an inch of the sizes previously mentioned.
Should I Frame A Movie Poster To Sell?
Just like any other art, movie posters look their best when properly framed. However, there are some considerations you need to take into account before you splash out on a top-quality movie poster frame.
Should you be planning on quickly selling a movie poster after purchasing it, then it is obviously not worth your money buying a professional frame for it.
Conversely, if you are planning on displaying the original film poster before selling it on, perhaps if you run a gallery or want to take a photograph of the movie poster on display, then a simple, quick frame will do the job.
If you did decide on having your film poster framed by a custom frame professional, then it would be unlikely you would recoup the money you've spent when selling it. For example, if you bought a £400 movie poster and spent £200 having it framed, while you're investment now totals £600, the original film poster itself is still only worth £400. Therefore you should not frame your movie posters because you think they will add any value - they won't.
Additionally, many collectors will refuse to purchase a movie poster unless they can assess its condition. If the film poster you wish to sell is framed, it will be far more difficult for a collector to determine the movie poster's condition accurately, so you are far less likely to be able to sell it.
Furthermore, there are very few couriers with the ability to ship framed British style quad posters, let alone US one, three or six-sheet movie posters. Ultimately, you should only ever have a movie poster professionally framed if you plan to hold onto the piece. Frame your original film posters for your own enjoyment when you plan to display them in your own home.
How Should I Choose a Frame?
The first thing to consider when selecting a style of movie poster frame to choose for your movie posters generally depends upon where you plan to share and display them and your particular vision. You can choose many different frame styles, with varying material options and the choice of including a mount board or mat.
Black frames are the most popular, with white mountboards or mats to accentuate your favourite movie posters. Mountboards and mats are also useful for hiding any damage to your movie posters' border, given that they overlap the picture image by a few millimetres once mounted.
In many professional custom framing shops, you will be able to see a selection of corner samples to choose from. You can match these samples with your film poster to see which ones you prefer the best.
You should also bear in mind that your framed movie poster will be displayed in your home, so you will need to consider the decor you already have to make sure it all fits.
It is always best to consider different options when choosing a frame for your original film poster. A good quality frame that perfectly matches your movie poster will dramatically improve its look when displayed in your home.
The framer you choose to buy from could be able to offer some advice, but remember - it is your personal passion, and you should never compromise on your vision for what you love.
Is Glass Or Plexiglass Best For My Movie Poster?
The choice between glass or plexiglass is even more important than choosing your frame, given that this material will cover your entire film poster. This choice will also often be the most expensive, as different materials could offer different protection levels for your movie poster.
It is always best to spend a little extra cash on highly UV protective materials, especially if you plan on displaying the movie poster in a room that gets a lot of sunlight. Given that the original movie poster paper is not acid-free, they are prone to colour changes and light damage. If your movie poster suffers from fading due to UV light exposure, even the best restorer in the world won't be able to remove it.
Plexiglass is often the best choice when considering UV protection, but there are also many benefits to choosing the glass. There are many glass options to choose from, from plain glass that offer little protection to museum-quality materials used to protect priceless art pieces.
One of the drawbacks with glass is the weight, not to mention the threat it poses to your film poster should the glass shatter.
On the other hand, plexiglass is very lightweight and is the perfect option for framing movie posters with larger British quad or multi-sheet sizes. Plexiglass is also shatter-proof but will be considerably more expensive when accounting for UV protection.
It also depends on where you plan to display your movie poster and how long it will be there.
If you plan on hanging your film poster on the wall to leave it there, it is probably best to go with glass, given its UV protection, light reflection and transmission qualities. Conversely, if your original film poster will be in a place where it will receive a lot of traffic or continue to be moved around once the framing is done, then plexiglass is probably best due to its shatter-roof nature.
It would be best if you also considered the cost of the two materials. A one-sheet sized pane of highly UV protective glass will set you back around £20, while a similar-sized piece of plexiglass will cost you up to £300.
While the latter option sounds insanely expensive, it is worth it if your film posters advertising your favourite movies are going to need the protection plexiglass can offer.
What Are Movie Poster Light Boxes?
Lightboxes are items used in cinemas to display double-sided posters when advertising the movies they are currently showing.
These film posters have a lighter, faded-looking mirror image of the movie poster picture on the reverse side, allowing the light from the lightbox to shine through the paper, adding depth and really bringing the original film poster to life.
Original Vintage Movie Posters for Sale
We created this website to provide a vintage movie poster guide. If you have an interest in classic movie posters from the 1950s, 1960s or 1980s, we hope you will learn more about the most popular posters of the period.
Take a sneak peak at some of the posters we have in stock here. However, if you have a film in mind and don't see it here, please get in touch as we'd be happy to locate it for you.
Are you interested in movie poster collecting? Follow the links below to discover more about collectable movie posters.