Quick answer: float mounting raises your print on a board inside a deep frame, so the whole sheet — edges and all — stays on show with a soft shadow gap around it. Choose it when the edge of the paper is part of the piece: watercolors, deckled or hand-torn paper, and fine-art prints signed near the edge. Choose a mat when you want a clean border around the image or need to hide an uneven edge. See our float mount picture frames.
What float mounting is
In a standard frame the print sits flat behind the glazing, often with a mat covering its edges. In a float mount, nothing covers the print. It is mounted on a raised float board inside the frame, so it appears to hover in front of the backing with a shadow gap all the way around. The paper's own edge becomes part of what you see.
How a float mount frame is built
A float mount needs depth, so it is built from a deep molding — ours is 32mm (1¼") deep. Inside the frame a slim fillet holds the glazing away from the artwork, and the print is mounted on a float board set back from the glass. Because the gap runs around every side, the frame is always larger than the print: it is built to your print size plus the gap on each side. An 8 x 10 print with a 20mm gap, for example, sits in a frame opening of about 9.6 x 11.6 inches.
Float mount vs mat
| Float mount | Mat | |
| Print edges | On show, part of the look | Covered by the mat |
| Look | Modern, dimensional, gallery-like | Classic, clean border |
| Best for | Watercolors, deckled or torn paper, signed fine-art prints | Photos, posters, prints with uneven or damaged edges |
| Frame depth | Needs a deep molding | Works in any frame |
| Frame size | Print plus the gap on each side | Print plus the mat border |
When to choose a float mount
- The paper edge matters. Watercolor paper, handmade paper and deckled edges look unfinished under a mat. Floating them keeps the whole sheet.
- There is detail near the edge. A signature, an edition number or artwork that runs close to the edge would be covered by a mat opening, which is cut slightly smaller than the print.
- You want depth. The shadow around a floated print gives it presence on the wall without adding a border color.
When a mat is the better choice
- The edge is uneven or damaged. A mat hides it; a float mount puts it on display.
- You want a classic look, or to make a small print feel bigger on the wall.
- You want color. A mat adds a border color; a float mount shows the backing. For a matted print, see the complete guide to mat board and how to choose a mat color.
Choosing the shadow gap
We offer three gaps. 10mm is a tight reveal that suits smaller prints. 20mm is the balanced default for most work. 30mm gives a generous reveal that suits large prints and bold edges. The wider the gap, the larger the frame, because it is built to the print plus the gap on every side.
Deckled edges
A deckled edge is the soft, uneven edge of handmade paper — the classic way to show a watercolor. If your print is made by us, you can choose a deckled edge as a finish, and float mounting is the way to show it off. For a straight-edged print, the crisp edge reads as a clean, modern line instead.
Float mount vs gallery (spacer) frame
Both use the same deep molding. A gallery frame adds a hidden spacer that lifts the glazing off the artwork, and the print sits flat behind it, usually with a mat. A float mount raises the print itself, so its edges show and there is no mat at all.
Can you float mount my original artwork?
At the moment we float mount prints we make: upload your image, and we print it, float mount it and frame it, ready to hang. Every float mount frame is built to order in more than 80 standard sizes, and custom framing makes one to your exact measurements.
