Why are 10"x8" frames so popular?

michaelm

Random question: Does anyone know, historically, where the 10"x8" format came from and why is it almost the default size for photo frames? If you print at home it is all but impossible to buy paper of that size and with cameras giving a 3:2 ratio (almost exactly the format of A4) I have always wondered why 10"x8" became popular in the first case. Am I missing something?

OSiriS

Many find A4 to look tall and skinny in portrait, and prefer 8x10. If you print yourself, buy a guillotine to make neat cuts.

If you want A4 frames, check out Home Store + More:

http://www.homestoreandmore.ie/search?q=A4+frame

georgefalls

8×10 prints are industry standard dating back to years of darkroom. Back then, the standard camera used for weddings and portraits used 4×5 sheets of film that enlarged nicely to 8×10 inch prints. Manufacturers got around to producing 8×10 photo accessories including albums, frames, mats, etc. When you have an entire industry working with the same aspect ratio, it slowly becomes the standard. That’s why it is so much easier to find 8×10 pre-made frames and matting than it is to find 8×12 ones.

stcstc

most slr cameras produce 3:2 so 12*8 which is not suitable for A4

as already explain 10*8 comes from the older film days.

most of my customers print 12*8 an put in 16*12 frames which gives a 2 inch mount around