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: watercolours, deckled or hand-torn paper, and fine-art prints signed near the edge. Choose a window mount 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 mount 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 moulding — ours is 32 mm 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 glazing. 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 A4 print with a 20 mm gap, for example, sits in a frame opening of 250 × 337 mm.
Float mount vs window mount
| Float mount | Window mount | |
| Print edges | On show, part of the look | Covered by the mount |
| Look | Modern, dimensional, gallery-like | Classic, clean border |
| Best for | Watercolours, deckled or torn paper, signed fine-art prints | Photos, posters, prints with uneven or damaged edges |
| Frame depth | Needs a deep moulding | Works in any frame |
| Frame size | Print plus the gap on each side | Print plus the mount border |
When to choose a float mount
- The paper edge matters. Watercolour paper, handmade paper and deckled edges look unfinished under a mount. 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 mount 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 colour.
When a mount is the better choice
- The edge is uneven or damaged. A mount 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 colour. A mount adds a border colour; a float mount shows the backing. For a mounted print, see the complete guide to mount board and how to choose a mount colour.
Choosing the shadow gap
We offer three gaps. 10 mm is a tight reveal that suits smaller prints. 20 mm is the balanced default for most work. 30 mm 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 watercolour. 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 moulding. A gallery frame adds a hidden spacer that lifts the glazing off the artwork, and the print sits flat behind it, usually with a mount. A float mount raises the print itself, so its edges show and there is no mount 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.
