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Easily position fasteners so you can focus on the installation layout
There are many ways to install pictures depending on fastening methods available, personal preferences, tools and equipment. Hangcalc can help in various scenarios and for different personal methods or processes. Everything can be done with a pencil, tape measure and spirit level (ideally one with a measurement scale on it).
Install your artwork accurately using these calculators.
Other on page calulators are:
The default unit is millimeters, which are convenient to measure and has zero decial places. Inches or meters use decimal numbers to three decimal places. A table of equivalents in sixteenths is provided for reference, and the math calculator does conversions to and from decimal inches. This setting applies to all calculators on a page.
1/16 = 0.063
1/8 = 0.125
3/16 = 0.188
1/4 = 0.25
5/16 = 0.313
3/8 = 0.375
7/16 = 0.438
1/2 = 0.5
9/16 = 0.563
5/8 = 0.625
11/16 = 0.688
3/4 = 0.75
13/16 = 0.813
7/8 = 0.875
15/16 = 0.938
Often works are placed by personal preference, with a "yes, it feels right just there". There are two simple ways to determine fastener positions shown below.
First measure the works to be hung and note down required frame data using paper, pdf template or built-in data table.
Required measurements are:
a) outer horizontal width,
b) outer vertical height; and
c) any adjustments for fastener locations: ie, the vertical drop from the top frame edge to fastener(s) - either to taught hanging wire or d-ring tops; and, if two fasteners are used, a horizontal inside adjustment for d-rings or fastener locations.
Hold an artwork in the location you desire and follow method 1) or 2).
You can continue to use method 1 or 2 again and again for each work, ie. locating one corner or one centerline at a time.
Hold a work against the wall where you want it to be and using a soft pencil mark the wall where a corner is (top or lower edge). Set the work safely to one side. Measure how high that corner mark is.
Complete "solo" calculator using the corner height as the "reference height" then read out vertical result, ie. select top edge or "lower edge at reference" (depending on which corner). Measure vertically up or down through the corner to "height of fastener(s)" and make a mark.
With "to previous edge" being zero (default) read horizontal results and measure horizontally from that fastener height mark to the center. Place fastener or locate hook if using hanging system.
If using two fasteners, read results for 1st and 2nd fasteners and measure horizontally from fastener height mark. Place fasteners or locate hooks if using hanging system.
Decide where you want the work's centerline to be, eg. half way between two points or to one side - maybe using golden ratio ("length/phi") a phi button is in pop-up calculator - and using a soft pencil mark the wall where the centerline will be.
Hold the work against the wall roughly on the centerline and mark the height of the top or lower edge. Set the work safely to one side. Measure how high that mark is.
Complete "solo" calculator fields using the marked height as the "reference height" then read out fastener height result, ie. for "top edge at reference" or lower edge (depending on which edge). Measure vertically up or down through the centerline mark to fastener height and mark that point. Place fastener or locate hook if using hanging system.
If using two fasteners, measure horizontally from that point to the "distance from centerline to fasteners". Place fasteners or locate hooks if using hanging system.
If you have more works or want a group arrangement, it is often better to plan your layout in advance. That way you can experiment with different arrangements first. You will need to note down not just just frame dimensions but also make decisions and plan measurements for positions (corners, centers etc), with planned heights and spacings. But, it is easy using these calculators - have fun!
Heights
You can pre-plan the "reference height" ie. top, mid-line or lower edge if you want/need a particular height. This might be to avoid objects or meet specifications for a work or group. As a guide a work's center point (mid-line alignment height) is generally suggested to be around the "average" eye-line, that is: 57-60 inches or 1450-1500 mm high. This mid-line is sometimes suggested as 50% of the wall height. Higher or lower is just fine depending on circumstances and preference.
Spacings
Pre-plan horizontal spacing like "to previous edge" measurement. For example, decide a "first/end space" and/or "inter-work" horizontal spacings beforehand if you want/need specific spacing. This might be for aesthetic reasons or to meet specifications for a group. Horizontal and/or vertical spacing between works in a group are suggested as 3 inches or 80 mm, but wider to expansive layouts - it is up to you.
Groups
For groups it is often useful to lay them out in front of the wall on the floor; and then arrange and rearrange until the group feels right. For example, so that no one piece dominates and there is an appealing distribution of content, colors and tones etc. and good distances between works. After that, do a sketch on paper with key parameters, like target heights, centerlines, inter-work and end spaces. These key points and can be marked on the wall using pencil marks or small amount of long release time painter's tape. Remove pencil marks with a soft plastic eraser.
Specific purpose calculators for horizontal spacing (horiz), installing an individual work (solo); and for a vertical group of works (vert)
a pop-up lightbox form asks for all the inputs you need and provides all the results required to install a single work
enter work details data into the inputs section, ie. outer width, outer height, drop to fastener, and inside adjustment if using more that one fastener
vertical
decide on the work's vertical position. This can be done by placing the work on the wall and marking a key position (with pencil or painter'stape), ie. top edge, lower edge centerline etc.
alternatively, a decision can be made that the work should be at a particular height. For example, mid-line at 1450mm, or top edge or lower edge at a specified height. Input this vertical reference height
results are shown for three vertical height options ie. chosen reference height at top edge, mid-line or lower edge
horizontal
then optionally decide a relative horizontal position. If no horizontal position input is used the horizontal result measurements will show the results for the work's own outer width
option a) 'to previous edge' is to measure fastener positions from a previous work or wall edge
option b) 'to previous fastener' an additional previous work inside adjustment can be added. This is useful if you want to place fasteners before installing the works. Using option b) place a level (with a measure scale) with one end rested at zero under the previous work's fastener, then the horizontal distance to the first or center fastener can be marked quickly
a solo work's centerline can also be used to place one or two fasteners. For two fasteners the distance from the centerline to fasteners is provided in the results table
centers aligned
edges aligned
The main calculator combines 'horiz' and 'solo' calculators and has three steps: 1) plan and define overall installation on one or more walls or sections of walls, 2) determine horizontal spacing, then 3) locate fastener positions for individual works and install them.
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tape of inputs
This field is requiredResults area, math expressions can also be entered here
This field is requiredfractional and decimal inches
Type your fractional input here
This field is required
Type your decimal input here
This field is required
Type your work1 name / note here
This field is requiredType your work1 outer width here
This field is requiredType your work1 outer height here
This field is requiredType your work1 drop to fastener here
This field is requiredType work 1 inside adjustment here
This field is requiredType your work2 name / note here
This field is requiredType your work2 outer width here
This field is requiredType your work2 outer height here
This field is requiredType your work2 drop to fastener here
This field is requiredType work 2 inside adjustment here
This field is requiredType your work3 name / note here
This field is requiredType your work3 outer width here
This field is requiredType your work3 outer height here
This field is requiredType your work3 drop to fastener here
This field is requiredType work 3 inside adjustment here
This field is requiredType your work4 name / note here
This field is requiredType your work4 outer width here
This field is requiredType your work4 outer height here
This field is requiredType your work4 drop to fastener here
This field is requiredType work 4 inside adjustment here
This field is requiredType your work5 name / note here
This field is requiredType your work 5 outer width here
This field is requiredType your work 5 outer height here
This field is requiredType your work5 drop to fastener here
This field is requiredType work 5 inside adjustment here
This field is requiredType your work6 name / note here
This field is requiredType your work6 outer width here
This field is requiredType your work6 outer height here
This field is requiredType your work6 drop to fastener here
This field is requiredType work 6 inside adjustment here
This field is requiredType your work7 name / note here
This field is requiredType your work7 outer width here
This field is requiredType your work7 outer height here
This field is requiredType your work7 drop to fastener here
This field is requiredType work 7 inside adjustment here
This field is requiredType your work8 name / note here
This field is requiredType your work8 outer width here
This field is requiredType your work8 outer height here
This field is requiredType your work8 drop to fastener here
This field is requiredType work 8 inside adjustment here
This field is requiredType your work9 name / note here
This field is requiredType your work9 outer width here
This field is requiredType your work9 outer height here
This field is requiredType your work9 drop to fastener here
This field is requiredType work 9 inside adjustment here
This field is requiredType your work10 name / note here
This field is requiredType your work10 outer width here
This field is requiredType your work10 outer height here
This field is requiredType your work10 drop to fastener here
This field is requiredType work 10 inside adjustment here
This field is required1. Overall wall setup notes
2. Horizontal spacing
Set section width =
Number of works =
Width 1 =
Width 5 =
Width 9 =
Width 2 =
Width 6 =
Width other =
Width 3 =
Width 7 =
Width 4 =
Width 8 =
Total width of works =
Total space available between works =
Even space between all works (inc ends) =
Options for end / inter-work space:
Set inter-work space = then first/end space =
Set first/end space = then inter-work space =
Set group inter-work = then group width =
3. Current individual work calculations
Alignment height =
Work width =
Work height =
Drop to fastener =
Inside adjust =
To previous edge =
Added previous inside adjust =
Vertical height of fastener(s) by alignment type
Mid-line aligned =
Top edges aligned =
Lower edges aligned =
Horizontal measurements
Previous work/edge to center =
If 2 fasteners, previous work/edge to 1st fastener =
Distance from 1st to 2nd fastener =
And, distance from centerline to fasteners =
To previous fastener
Previous work's fastener to center =
Previous work's fastener to 1st fastener =
work details
work width =
work height =
drop to fastener =
inside adjust =
vertical
reference height =
horizontal
option to previous edge =
added previous inside adjust =
fastener height =
top edge height =
lower edge height =
fastener height =
mid-line height =
lower edge height =
fastener height =
top edge height =
mid-line height =
to previous edge
previous work/edge to center =
if 2 fasteners, previous work/edge to 1st fastener =
distance from 1st to 2nd fastener =
and, distance from centerline to fasteners =
to previous fastener
previous work's fastener to center =
previous work's fastener to 1st fastener =
Outer width
Outer height
Drop to fastener(s)
Inside adjustment
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
