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Design Guide
1
Plate Information
When designing a plate, the primary thought to remember is “less is more”. Keep the information to a minimum on the most important facts.
For example, on a painting, the name of the painting, the artist, and the years the artist was alive. If it's a portrait, the subject, his or her title, or last (highest) position, and the artist’s name.
Each item can be increased or decreased in its level of importance by the size of the lettering. Make the most important information the largest lettering and the least, the smallest.
If you try to put in too much, you'll be forced to make a larger tablet, which may look out of proportion for the frame, and if you keep the plate the correct size for the frame — the printing will be so small, no one will bother to read it!
Correct Example
The size of the plaque is proportionate to the frame — for a smaller frame, a smaller plate with 1-2 lines of text fits best. Plaques can also be mounted on the matting instead of directly on the frame instead, if it is preferred.
Incorrect Example
The size of the plaque is disproportionate to the size of the frame. Because this plaque includes 4 lines of text, a larger plaque is required to accommodate the text so that it is readable. However, this means that the plaque is too large for this frame. A great example of why less is more!
2
Plate Size and Model
The plate size should be in proportion to the frame that it's going on.
Don't jam the biggest plate possible on the frame. Allow it to have a little space to breathe.
There are 8 sizes of plaques available. If you are not sure which size to choose, download and print out our size form, which has images of all the standard size plates in actual size, so you can cut them out and lay them on the frame to help you make a decision.
3
Letter Style
The font or lettering style can be dictated by your personal likes or dislikes, the art style, the period the art was created, or the subject of the painting. Numerous styles can work, and many are very close. Our designers can help you narrow down the choices and create a couple of drafts for you to review, so don't feel that there is only one correct choice. There are many that can work and look good.
The menu of lettering styles shows our most popular styles, and our designers can assist in helping you select the best one.
Each line on a plate will vary in its font style. The preference is for you to select the primary font style, which will be used for the largest line, and then you or our designer will select a secondary font that complements the primary. This makes the plate easier to read and visually more appealing.
Modern
Is a heavy alphabet that goes wonderfully with the abstract, surrealistic style of painting that the name implies.
Roman
A classic choice that easily accompanies most artwork, but is especially good at historical and older artwork.
Shadowed
A strong, yet fanciful font that makes a great impact on high-contrast art pieces.
***Not recommended for plaques 1/2" tall or less, some characters in this font family are unavailable
Italic
Gives a slight touch of grace and elegance, normally good with maritime artwork.
Script
A more personal and whimsical font choice is excellent for portraits and more sentimental pieces.
Chancery
This font is a favorite for landscapes and family artwork for its fun font tails and curves.
Bold
This solid font is easy to use for modern artwork and art based on transportation thanks to its easy legibility.
Western
A very playful font meant to be paired with old country art, western culture, and vast landscapes.
4
Decorations
Decorations can add a bit of visual flourish to a plate, and not having them can add a very clean, direct appearance. This is truly personal to you. When ordering, our designers will supply you with a draft of your design, with variations of decorations and designs for you to choose from, or mix and match, so you can achieve a perfect design that exceeds expectations!
Borders
Borders can be a nice way to add an extra flourish to your plaques for any type of artwork. They help fill in the space and make your plaque feel complete, should space allow.
Date Flourishes
These little line breakers serve as a nice way to enhance your text, typically in between birth and death dates.