A good brief for a frame or board order names the product, the inside size, the frame colour, the surface or glazing, the artwork, the packaging and the quantity. Say whether your size is the picture, the opening or the outside frame. Ask for a sample first, the lowest-cost way to catch a wrong colour or size.
Guide
How to brief a frame or board manufacturer: a one-page checklist
A good brief for a frame or board order names seven things: the product, the inside size, the frame colour, the surface or glazing, the artwork, the packaging and the quantity. With these seven, a manufacturer can quote in one reply instead of asking you five questions over a week.
Three frames in black, oak and white, shown as a sample layout
Have a brief? Send it.
Tell us the product, a rough quantity and whether it carries your brand. We reply within 1 business day, with questions or a quote.
Short answer
The short answer
1. The product
Name the exact product, not the family. "Photo frame" and "framed pin board" are different builds; so are "magnetic writing board" and "glass board". If you are unsure, describe where it will hang and what it must do, and the maker will suggest one.
2. The size, and which size you mean
Say whether the number is the picture size, the opening or the outside frame size. A frame with a broad profile is noticeably larger outside than inside. Give inches or millimetres, and give width first. If a standard size fits, use it; the photo frame range has 31 and the board range has 16.
3. Frame colour and profile
Standard frame colours are Black, White, Dark Brown, Natural Brown, Golden and Antique Gold. For another colour, send a swatch or a code. Photo frames come in four profiles, Fine, Slim, Classic and Broad, so say which look you want.
4. Surface, glazing or fabric
Boards have a surface: fabric or cork for pin boards, gloss for writing boards, glass over vinyl for glass boards. Paintings have a canvas finish: glossy, matte or satin cotton, matte polyester, or handmade paper. Photo frames have a clear front sheet whose material is confirmed at sampling.
5. Artwork, packaging and quantity
Supply artwork as a high-resolution file and say who owns it. Describe packaging: plain carton, your branded box, or a retail pack. Give a rough quantity per size. The exact minimum varies by category, and a rough figure is enough for a first quote.
| Line in the brief | What to say | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Product | The exact product, not the family | Photo frame, framed pin board, magnetic writing board and glass board are different builds |
| 2. Size | Picture size, opening or outside frame size; inches or millimetres, width first | The photo frame range has 31 standard sizes and the board range has 16 |
| 3. Frame colour and profile | Black, White, Dark Brown, Natural Brown, Golden or Antique Gold; or send a swatch | Photo frames come in four profiles: Fine, Slim, Classic and Broad |
| 4. Surface, glazing or fabric | Fabric or cork for pin boards, gloss for writing boards, glass over vinyl for glass boards | Photo frames have a clear front sheet whose material is confirmed at sampling |
| 5. Artwork | A high-resolution file, and who owns it | Say it in the brief |
| 6. Packaging | Plain carton, your branded box or a retail pack | Say it in the brief |
| 7. Quantity | A rough quantity per size | The exact minimum varies by category; a rough figure is enough for a first quote |
6. Ask for a sample
Always sample first. It is the lowest-cost way to catch a wrong colour or an unexpected size. A first order and sampling take longer than a repeat order, so leave that time in your plan.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Do I need technical drawings?
No. A sketch with sizes, a photograph of something similar and a line on where it will hang is enough for a first quote. Drawings help for premium styles and large sets.
Can I brief by form only?
Yes. The private label enquiry form takes the product, a rough quantity and your brand, and we reply in writing with questions or a quote.
What if my size is not standard?
Most products are made to brief. Give width and height clearly, and say if the size must be exact, because a frame profile changes the outside size.
Will you tell me what to avoid?
Yes. If a choice would cause trouble, such as a very large single canvas, we say so in the reply and suggest an alternative like panels.
More for buyersTerms, samples and guides
Enquiry
Tell us what you need made
Send the product, a rough quantity and your brand. We reply in writing with questions or a quote.