Layer spacing in a shadow box: how deep should each gap be?

Spacing is the second control you have over depth, after color. Small, even gaps look like a relief carving. Larger and uneven gaps look like a stage set. Neither is wrong, but they suit different subjects.

Quick reference

• 3 mm gaps: subtle relief, good for portraits and detailed patterns.
• 5–6 mm gaps: the all-round choice for landscapes and animals.
• 8–10 mm gaps: dramatic depth for large pieces, needs a frame at least 50 mm deep.

Growing gaps

Try making the gap between layers slightly larger toward the front. The back of a scene then feels far away, while the foreground sits close to the viewer. For a five-layer landscape, spacers of 3, 3, 5 and 6 mm from back to front work well.

Check the frame depth

Add up all the spacers and the paper thickness, then leave at least 5 mm of clearance before the glass. If the stack touches the glass, the front layer flattens and the shadow disappears.

For the full build, follow the shadow box tutorial.