ReferenceFrame: Frame Designer

ReferenceFrame does the math for custom picture framing. Enter your artwork size and frame stock dimensions, and it sorts out mat cuts, rabbet clearances, material stack depths, and a complete cut list.

WHAT IT DOES

- Calculates frame, mat, and cut dimensions from your artwork size
- Checks that everything actually fits in the rabbet (and tells you when it won't)
- Generates a technical cross-section diagram with labeled dimensions
- Plans corner spline slots: placement and safe depth for your molding
- Lays out hanging hardware: hanger positions, wire length, and where the hook lands
- Estimates finished weight and wire tension from real wood, glass, and board densities
- Exports a PDF summary you can take to the workshop
- Saves configurations and keeps a history of your designs

DETAILS

- Inches (including fractions) or millimeters
- Traditional rabbet or sight-size (full-bleed) frame styles
- "Cut to fit" sizes that honor assembly clearance
- Standard and custom artwork sizes
- Adjustable defaults for frame stock, mat width, material thicknesses, and more
- Works entirely offline — nothing leaves your device

Built for anyone who's ever needed to know exactly how wide to cut a mat, and would rather not find out the hard way that they were off by an eighth.