How We Frame Our Prints: Mount Cutting, Professional Tools & Our Frame Testing Process
Framing is more than a finishing touch — it’s part of the artwork itself. A beautifully framed print feels intentional, elevated and ready to take its place in your home. At Bella Leaf Studio, we’ve spent months refining our framing process to make sure every piece looks clean, modern and gallery‑ready.
This is a behind‑the‑scenes look at how we frame our prints, how we cut our mounts in‑studio, and what our frame testing process looked like before we offered framed artwork to customers.
Mounted Prints — Clean, Modern, Gallery‑Ready
A mount (sometimes called a mat) is the crisp border that sits between the print and the frame. It creates breathing room around the artwork, adds structure, and gives the piece a premium, gallery‑style finish.
We use mounts because they:
- enhance contrast
- protect the artwork from touching the acrylic
- create a clean, contemporary look
- make the print feel more substantial
Every mount is cut specifically for the artwork it holds — nothing is generic or mass‑produced.
Cutting Mounts In‑Studio Using a Professional Tool
This is where the magic happens.
After months of research (and a few experiments with handheld cutters), we invested in a professional mount‑cutting system. It gives us:
- perfect 45° bevels
- clean, sharp corners
- consistent window sizes
- precise alignment every time
Cutting mounts by hand is slow and unforgiving — one slip ruins the board.
With a professional cutter, every mount is crisp, accurate and beautifully finished.
Our Mount Cutting Process
- We measure the artwork and decide the ideal window size.
- The mount board is aligned on the cutter with millimetre precision.
- The bevel blade is set to the correct depth.
- Each side is cut cleanly, creating a perfect angled edge.
- The mount is checked for alignment, corner sharpness and finish.
It’s a slow, careful process — but the results are worth it.
Our Frame Testing Process
Before offering framed prints, we ordered multiple test frames from different suppliers. We looked at everything:
Frame Quality
- corner joins
- moulding thickness
- colour consistency
- weight and feel
Acrylic Clarity
We checked for:
- distortion
- scratches
- colour cast
- reflection quality
Courier Handling
We monitored:
- transit time
- box condition
- scuffs or dents
- whether the frame shifted
Only after finding a supplier that met our standards did we move forward.
Frames in test
How We Assemble Framed Prints
Once the mount is cut and the print is ready:
- The print is placed behind the mount and secured.
- The frame is cleaned and prepared.
- The mounted print is inserted and locked in place.
- The acrylic is polished.
- The back is sealed and finished.
- Hanging hardware is added.
Every framed print is assembled by hand in the studio.
Why Our Framed Prints Feel Different
Because they’re:
- mounted and cut in‑studio
- assembled by hand
- printed using archival pigment inks
- framed in carefully tested mouldings
- packaged with care
Your framed print - crafted specifically for you.
