sharing a vision
with infinite viewpoints
sun in the bright grass
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).
Required work measurements
The main calculator is for horizontal row layouts. Use solo to install works one by one in any position. Use horiz to calculate horizontal spacings and for vertical groups use vert. To complete a calculator generally three or four measurements (using decimal numbers) may be needed for each artwork:
vertical:
1) outer vertical height
2) drop to fasteners (if fastener outside frame use negative number)
horizontal:
1) outer horizontal width
2) inside adjustment to fasteners (if using more than one)
Choose the measuring units you will use. The default is millimeters, which are convenient to measure. 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.
if inches, use decimal, eg. see details
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
Basic approaches to installing a work
Often works are placed by personal preference, with a "yes, it feels right just there". There are two simple ways to determine fastener positions:
Better approach: plan key measurements
Planning key measurements means there is no need to hold works up against a wall.
You can pre-plan the "reference height ie. top, mid-line or lower edge. For example, decide a "reference height" beforehand 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 1.45-1.5 meters high. Also, the mid-line of the whole wall is sometimes suggested as the best mid-line for a work. Higher or lower is just fine depending on circumstances.
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 (.080m), but wider to expansive layouts - it is up to you.
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 using a pencil mark or small amount of long release time painter's tape.
You can also gather work details in advance (eg. using one of the PDF templates provided below) and the whole group layout can be planned on paper, including each work's height, width and fastener location(s). The calculators also allow an additional adjustment for a previous work's first and second fasteners so you can measure from fastener to fastener. Calculated fastener locations can then be marked on the wall.
Choose the best calculator for your needs, and just complete inputs you need, eg. for horizontal or for vertical measurements; or both, and then choose the results you want for your layout.
Have fun!
Specific purpose calculators for horizontal spacing, installing an individual work; and for a vertical group of works:
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.
the world's infinite and ubiquitous uniqueness changing from moment to moment requires a determined mental effort to break the bonds of 'ordinary' perception
tape of inputs
This field is requiredResults area, expressions can 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
1. 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 =
