How photo frames are made in India
A photo frame looks simple but is five parts from different sources: the moulding, the glazing, the mount, the backboard and the stand or hanger. The factory usually makes only the moulding and assembles the rest.
- Wooden frames are cut from solid mouldings, mitred and joined with V-nails or glue. Saharanpur (GI-registered wood craft) and Jaipur, both Towns of Export Excellence for handicrafts, make carved and painted frames.
- Metal frames are cast or cut in brass, aluminium or iron, often in Moradabad (a handicraft TEE since 2023), then plated or lacquered.
- Inlay frames have bone, resin or mother-of-pearl laid over a wood or MDF core.
- Glazing is thin float glass or acrylic sheet, cut in the factory or bought pre-cut. The backboard is usually MDF or hardboard with a hinged easel stand.
Because the photo sizes are fixed (for example 4 × 6 in, 5 × 7 in, 10 × 15 cm or A4), a few millimetres wrong on the opening or the rebate turns a good-looking frame into one that does not take the photo.
What we check on photo frames
| Check | How it is checked | What fails |
|---|---|---|
| Photo fit | Rebate and visible opening measured; a print of the stated size inserted and the back closed | Photo does not fit, is cropped beyond the agreed margin, or slides |
| Mitre corners | Each corner checked for gaps, steps and filler; frame twisted lightly | Open mitre, step between rails, corner moves |
| Glazing | Viewed against a light background; edges felt; protective film on acrylic checked | Scratches, bubbles, chipped or sharp glass edges, film missing or stuck |
| Easel stand | Frame stood in portrait and landscape where both are claimed; light tap from the front | Falls forward or back, stand hinge tears, wrong angle |
| Backing | Clips or turn buttons opened and closed several times | Clips loose or too stiff, board splits at the clip |
| Hanger | Sawtooth or D-ring fixed and loaded by hand | Fixed into thin board only, pulls out |
| Inlay and finish | Raking light on the face; inlay pieces pressed | Lifting inlay, gaps, glue marks, colour off sample |
| Board and wood record | Each part recorded as solid wood, MDF or hardboard, with species where known and photos | Materials that do not match the declaration |
Common photo and picture frame defects and how they are classed
| Defect | Class |
|---|---|
| Broken glass in the carton; sharp unground glass edge exposed | Critical |
| Photo of the stated size does not fit | Major |
| Open mitre or cracked corner | Major |
| Frame falls from its easel stand | Major |
| Scratched or bubbled glazing in the viewing area | Major |
| Lifting inlay piece | Major |
| Glue mark or small finish fault on the moulding | Minor |
Corner cracks are a defect we have recorded on wooden frames. In Sample 04, a furniture inspection in Jodhpur, a wooden mirror frame had a crack in a corner, classed as major.
Rules that apply to frames
- EU: EUDR. Wooden frames for paintings, photographs and mirrors (HS 4414) are on the Annex I product list. MDF and hardboard backs are wood products too. See EUDR.
- US: TSCA Title VI. MDF and hardboard must meet the formaldehyde emission standards. Finished goods with no more than 144 square inches of regulated composite wood are exempt from the finished-good label, but the board must still comply. A large frame with an MDF back and moulding can exceed that area. See TSCA Title VI.
- US: Lacey Act. Species and country of harvest for the moulding and board. See Lacey Act.
- Coatings and metal. Lead in paint or in brass frames can need a Prop 65 warning.
- EU and UK safety. The GPSR covers frames sold to consumers; glass edges and stands are part of safe design.
Packing and transit risks
Glass is the usual loss. Frames should be packed face to face with a sheet between them, glass held by the back so it cannot move in the rebate, and corners protected. Gift-boxed frames need a box that fits: too loose and the frame slides, too tight and the easel stand bends. For large sizes, packing the glass separately or using acrylic are options to agree with the factory. Silver-plated and lacquered brass frames should be wrapped in acid-free tissue, not printed paper.
What to put in your purchase order
- Photo size and the visible opening, with the tolerance.
- Glazing: glass or acrylic, thickness, and whether edges are ground.
- Backboard material and how much MDF the frame contains, for TSCA records.
- Easel orientation (portrait, landscape or both) and hanger type.
- Wood species for the moulding and the board, for Lacey Act and EUDR records.
- Gift box size, insert and labelling.