If you need required frame length, outer frame height and inner frame height and you already have picture height, 1st picture height, 2nd picture height, 3rd picture height, 4th picture height, 5th picture height, picture width, 1st picture width, 2nd picture width, 3rd picture width, 4th picture width, 5th picture width, fudge factor, mat height, mat width, border width, rabbet width, number of pictures and one way, this calculator does the substitution for you. It suits a quick check, a homework answer you want to confirm, or any figure you need to sanity test.
What Is the Picture Frame Calculator?
The picture frame calculator turns picture height, 1st picture height, 2nd picture height, 3rd picture height, 4th picture height, 5th picture height, picture width, 1st picture width, 2nd picture width, 3rd picture width, 4th picture width, 5th picture width, fudge factor, mat height, mat width, border width, rabbet width, number of pictures and one way into required frame length, outer frame height and inner frame height.
It is a quick way to get from the numbers you have to the number you need, without setting up a spreadsheet or reaching for a formula.
How the Picture Frame Works
Each result follows from the ones before it, and the calculator shows every step, so a surprising answer can be traced back to the input that caused it.
Round your inputs to the precision you actually know, and keep more precision than that in the intermediate steps.
Getting a Result You Can Trust
Run the calculation twice with slightly different inputs. A sensible calculator moves its output in proportion; a wild change points to a unit or a decimal point problem in what you entered.
Write the inputs down next to the answer. It takes a moment and it is the difference between a number you can explain and one you cannot.
A Worked Example
Working through an example, with picture height set to 10, 1st picture height set to 5, 2nd picture height set to 2, the calculator returns required frame length of 852, and outer frame height of 200, and outer frame width of 186. Substitute your own figures and the same steps produce the same kind of answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to work out required frame length?
Enter picture height, 1st picture height, 2nd picture height, 3rd picture height, 4th picture height, 5th picture height, picture width, 1st picture width, 2nd picture width, 3rd picture width, 4th picture width, 5th picture width, fudge factor, mat height, mat width, border width, rabbet width, number of pictures and one way. The calculator then works through the relationship and reports required frame length, outer frame height and inner frame height.
What does the picture frame actually calculate?
It takes picture height, 1st picture height, 2nd picture height, 3rd picture height, 4th picture height, 5th picture height, picture width, 1st picture width, 2nd picture width, 3rd picture width, 4th picture width, 5th picture width, fudge factor, mat height, mat width, border width, rabbet width, number of pictures and one way and converts them into required frame length, outer frame height and inner frame height using the standard relationship for this problem. Each step is applied in turn, so every output is traceable back to the numbers you typed in.
How should I enter picture height?
Use the value you actually have, in the unit shown next to the field. Enter every value in the same unit system. The calculator assumes the figures you supply are consistent, so it cannot correct a mistake that happens before the calculation starts.
Do I have to fill in every field?
Only the fields a particular result depends on. If you leave one blank, the results that need it simply show a note instead of a number, and everything else still works.
Can I use this for a quick estimate as well as a precise answer?
Yes. The calculator is built for quick checks, so round your inputs to a sensible number of significant figures and the result will be just as useful. If you need more precision, keep the same method and add digits to the inputs rather than adjusting the method itself.