Is It Easy to Matt a Piece of Art

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Matting is a great fashion to protect to your artwork while also showing it off. You tin can choose mats in a diverseness of colors, sizes, and materials to create the perfect mat board frame for your pieces. Learning how to mat artwork on your own will accept some time and practice. It'll be worth it, though, as it'll salvage you from cringing over the loftier costs of taking your art to exist matted at frame shops.

1. 1

   Cull a clean infinite for matting. Wipe the space downward with a damp cloth and then completely dry information technology. As you're going to exist using your mat lath to brandish your artwork, yous don't desire information technology to get covered in dirt and crud! You'll as well be using your art to make proper measurements, so information technology's extra of import to have a clean work space.^[one]

   • Don't employ cleaning solutions or lather to clean your workspace, every bit these could damage your materials.

2. ii

   Measure your artwork and mat border for the total board size. This is going to require some math, so interruption out your calculator. Offset, you lot need to decide how wide you'd similar the mat border to be. Next, measure the width and length of your artwork. This will requite y'all the size you need to cutting out the window (the cutting-out that will display the artwork). Add the window and edge measurements for the total mat board size.^[2]

   • If you're not showing whatever edge or edges on the side of the artwork, you lot may want to subtract ¼ inch (0.64 cm) from each side (½ inch or one.27 cm total for both length and width). This will requite you a slap-up edge underneath your mat board.
   • Your mat board should match upwardly in size with your backing. Once y'all've got the mat board measured, utilize these measurements to size out the bankroll as well.

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3. 3

   Mark the outer edges of the mat and backing boards. Almost boards come in standard sizes that will need to be trimmed to fit your artwork. Now that yous've got your measurements, utilize a tape measure or ruler and make 2 calorie-free pencil marks in each corner to record them.^[3]

4. 4

   Use the back of your frame for measurements. If you're going to frame your disordered art, both your backing and the mat boards need to be measured to fit into the frame. Employ the back of the frame to brand sure you've got these measurements right. If your backing and mat boards are too big, you may need to trim down the border size.^[4]

   • Having a frame before you lot kickoff matting limits your flexibility on sizing the mat lath border, so you may desire to wait to pick a frame until later on everything'due south already disordered.

5. v

   Use a ruler and pencil to trace your measurements. Remove your artwork from the backing and mat boards and set it to the side. Employ a ruler to make straight lines connecting each of the small marks you just made. Y'all should take two rectangles or squares on your mat board and ane on your backing.^[5]

6. 6

   Utilise a straight-border razor to cut the backing and mat boards. Press the razor down firmly at the top corners of the boards. Pull the razor slowly and steadily towards y'all, stopping at the lesser corner. Go on the same force per unit area throughout your cutting, and be very careful not to dip out or in from the penciled line.^[6]

   • Keeping the line directly is the toughest function of this whole procedure. It's also frustrating, because you'll take to offset over if your lines aren't straight. Use something with a straight edge, such every bit an former frame or a heavy book, to assist yous cutting.

7. 7

   Cut twice and so the mat pops out of the window. You shouldn't need to use any force to remove the cut out, equally this could rip the mat board window. Make the cuts at least twice to allow the cut out to only fall out of the window. Make sure y'all're cutting on the exact same lines each fourth dimension.^[vii]

   • You may demand to make several cuts to remove the cutting out. Do equally many as you need to, but accept your time. Each repeated cutting needs to be on the aforementioned line equally all the others.

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1. 1

   Measure to center your artwork on the backing. Identify your artwork on the backing and measure the infinite on each side. You should accept the same amount of bare infinite higher up and below the artwork, as well equally on the left and right sides of the piece. Brand small pencil marks in the corners on the bankroll to tape the right spot.^[8]

2. 2

   Check your centering by laying down your window. Information technology'south a expert idea to make certain your centering looks right with the window on top of the artwork. This will give you an idea of what your terminal, matted piece is going to wait like. Have a minute to savour information technology before y'all go back to work.^[9]

3. 3

   Use a weight to proceed your artwork in place. Now that everything's centered, it'south time to start attaching all the pieces to one another. Use something heavy, like a sock filled with coins or a heavy drinking glass, to keep your artwork where you want information technology. Don't worry likewise much if it shifts, though, since you've made marks to go on track of the centering.

4. 4

   Tape the back of your art to the backing. Use linen or archival tape to create what's called a hinge to attach your window to the backing. Put two pieces of tape in vertical lines on each side of the back of the slice, so the sticky side doesn't touch the backing. Lay two more pieces of tape horizontally beyond the vertical pieces (sticky-side downwardly) to adhere the artwork to the backing.

   • Linen and archival tape has the adhesive ability of regular tape, simply it won't damage your artwork or mat board. Information technology'll cost more normal tape, just regular household tape contains acids and other chemicals that may eventually leak onto your artwork.

5. 5

   Use photo corners or mounting strips to attach your artwork. If y'all're using corners, take off the bottom adhesive and place iv of them on the backing at each corner of the piece. For see-through mounting strips, use ii on each side of the piece, or viii total, and adhere them to the backing. Y'all tin can then sideslip the artwork direct under the corners or strips.

   • Photo corners and strips are best for conservation, equally they avert the damage that even linen tape could cause to your piece.

6. 6

   Attach the window mat by creating a taped hinge. Lay down the window and the backing flush confronting each other, with the window face downward. Utilise ane long strip of linen tape to connect the window to the bankroll. Place the tape so one one-half is on the dorsum of the window and 1 half is on the bankroll. Fold them together like you're closing a book.

   • It's best to connect the window and backing at the top of the frame.
   • You lot're now ready to put this matted print into a frame if you lot'd similar a more than finished look. Y'all can also attach an agglutinative picture hanger to the back of your backing board to hang the matted frame upwards on the wall by itself.

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1. 1

   Purchase equipment if you lot plan to dry mountain. Dry out mounting (rather than using tape) is a more involved process. If you want a permanent and extremely stable mount and you don't mind opening your wallet, go for it! Y'all'll need a tacking iron, dry mounting and release tissues, and a professional heating press.^[10]

   • Investing in dry mounting equipment may be a great idea if you know you want to consistently mount lots of artwork or photographs.
   • This really will be an investment. Dry mount presses cost a few thousand dollars, and tacking irons may price betwixt $50-$100. The tissues volition be less pricey.
   • Exist aware that dry mounting isn't recommended for older artwork or pieces yous'd like to preserve. It'south a permanent, irreversible process, so it's not the best selection for conservation.

2. 2

   Measure your artwork and window to size the backing board. It's time for math! Pick the size you'd like for the border of your window. Mensurate your artwork. Add these two numbers together to summate how big the backing needs to be. Make 2 pencil marks in the corners to record your measurements.^[eleven]

3. 3

   Place artwork confront downwards to lay dry mounting tissue behind information technology. Make sure you've got a clean space for this pace. In one case you've put downward your artwork, lay a sheet of dry mounting tissue over information technology. It should cover the artwork completely. You'll trim off the excess later.^[12]

4. four

   Attach the middle of the print to the tissue with a heated tacking iron. Most tacking irons can be plugged in to rut them up, just similar normal irons. One time y'all've permit your iron get toasty, place it in the center of the face-down artwork and dry mounting tissue. Iron the tissue for a few seconds in a small circle to attach it to the back of the slice.

5. 5

   Trim off the excess dry mounting tissue. Utilise scissors or a paper trimmer to advisedly cut off the extra dry mounting tissue. Go slowly. Yous need bully, straight lines, and you lot don't desire to cut your artwork by accident.^[13]

   • If you have access to a large newspaper trimmer, this volition make cutting the tissue much easier and neater.

6. half dozen

   Measure to center your artwork on its backing. Place the artwork confront up on its backing. Utilise a tape measure to check its placement. You should have the same amount of extra space on the left and right sides, besides as on the top and bottom of the piece. Make pencil marks on the backing to marker the spot.^[14]

7. vii

   Use the tacking fe to adhere two corners to the bankroll. Gently elevator upwardly two corners of the slice, ane at a fourth dimension. Take your heated tacking iron and attach the dry mounting tissue, which should be laying flat on the backing, to the backing. Pull the tacking iron from the center outwards. Adhere two opposite corners.^[15]

8. 8

   Press your print in a heated press for nearly ane-ii minutes. Lift upwardly the printing cover and skid your piece inside ii pieces of leftover mat lath and release newspaper. Close the press. It should be heated to about 180℉ (82.22℃). Apply a stopwatch to keep rail of the time.^[16]

   • For photographs, resin-based paper should merely be heated for about 60-90 seconds, while fiber-based papers should be heated for 2-4 minutes. Fiber-based paper is the material that's more normally used to print high-quality pictures.^[17]

9. 9

   Weigh down the mounted impress while it cools. Y'all don't desire the board to warp or bubble during the cooling process. Once you remove information technology from the press, continue it flat by laying it face down underneath something heavy. The artwork needs to be fully cooled before you lot remove it from under the weight. Test it by lifting one corner and gently touching your finger to the backing.^[18]

   • Use a large coffee-table volume or several socks with coins in them if y'all don't have a flattening weight specially fabricated for the dry mounting process.
   • Make certain your workspace is nonetheless clean earlier you lay your artwork face downwards to cool.

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1. one

   Choose archival backing and mat boards for original artwork. Archival materials are designed to preserve artwork past using acid-gratuitous paper that won't impairment your pieces. This is the stuff that museums utilize on their collections, then you know information technology's high quality. These materials volition cost you a little more. All the same, if you're matting expensive prints or original artwork, this is the style to get.^[19]

2. 2

   Choose standard backing and mats boards for less valuable fine art. If you're matting a print that's less expensive, you may not be as concerned with damage. Exist aware that while information technology may have years for standard backing and mat boards to bear upon your prints, it will happen eventually. If you're matting something that you intendance well-nigh (even if it's not pricey!), pick the archival-quality materials.^[20]

3. three

   Employ a wide mat border for smaller pieces. To highlight smaller artwork or photographs, set them in wide-bordered mats. This will make the piece expect more dramatic. It'll as well draw observers' attention to the center of the slice.^[21]

   • Measuring the border volition depend on the size of the piece. Your border should measure as wide equally at least 25% of the shortest edge. So if your piece is 8 in. by 12 in. (twenty.32 cm by 30.48 cm), you'll demand a minimum of 2 inches (5.08 cm) for the border. Go up an inch or two (2.54-5.08 cm) to make this a wider border.^[22]

4. 4

   Use a narrow mat border for big, impressive pieces. Larger artwork by and large speaks for itself. Information technology doesn't demand whatsoever added flair. It's particularly important to keep elaborate or detailed large pieces in windows with thin borders.^[23]

   • Proceed your border at the minimum measurement (25% of the shortest border) for a narrow width.

5. 5

   Choose white matting to limit distractions from the fine art. Don't remember of white as boring, every bit white volition let your pieces to smooth all on their own. White matting also provides a make clean look. White is perfect for original artwork, as it'll allow observers to focus only on the art itself.^[24]

6. half dozen

   Choose neutrals for a soft but subtle mat. If y'all'd similar to add a niggling more than character to your matting without distracting from the artwork, endeavour other neutrals. Grays, beiges, and off-whites can all be cracking choices. This can allow you to add diversity to your mat boards without overshadowing your pieces.^[25]

7. 7

   Choose colors that don't compete with the artwork. If you practice make up one's mind to get with other colors, choose carefully. You need colors that complement the artwork, rather than competing with it. Try choosing a color that'south already present in the piece to draw it out a scrap.^[26]

   • If you have a piece that'south mostly orange, for case, don't become with a blue mat board.
   • Avoid mats that are darker or brighter than the artwork. If you actually want to add colour, put bright or bold colors on the bottom, thinner layer of a double mat.^[27]

8. 8

   Put photographs in iii-inch (7.62 cm) white mats for a crisp await. Photographs expect especially adept in matted frames, and they can requite you something beautiful to display on your walls.^[28] Try a relatively large border in white to give your photographs a professional person appearance.^[29]

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Add New Question

• Question

  What does it mean to mat artwork?

  

  Crystal Comport is a Professional Lensman and the Owner of Summer Bear Photography. Crystal specializes in weddings and portraits for women. She holds a BS in Interior Design and Consumer Science from San Francisco State University. Coming from a design background, Crystal brings a sense of style and artistry to her work that brings out her client's inner confidence, showcases their dazzler both within and out, and puts them at ease. She also specializes in using the right lighting and branding for women entrepreneurs.

  

  Professional Photographer

  Expert Reply

  Mats are the borders that wrap around an image sitting in a frame. They add an extra visual chemical element and can really make a work popular!

• Question

  When should yous mat a picture?

  

  Crystal Bear is a Professional Photographer and the Owner of Summer Deport Photography. Crystal specializes in weddings and portraits for women. She holds a BS in Interior Blueprint and Consumer Science from San Francisco Land Academy. Coming from a blueprint background, Crystal brings a sense of style and artistry to her work that brings out her customer's inner confidence, showcases their beauty both inside and out, and puts them at ease. She also specializes in using the correct lighting and branding for women entrepreneurs.

  

  Professional Photographer

  Expert Respond

  It'south actually up to you. Matting a photo or a piece of work of art changes the way it looks. Information technology changes the way your home looks. The matter is, what looks good to yous may not look good to me and vice versa. All of this is to say that it's totally upwardly to you lot. If yous call up a mat would look skillful, go for it!

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Things You'll Demand

• Artwork
• Cleaning cloths
• Mat and bankroll boards, either archival or standard
• Straight-edge razor
• Ruler or tape measure out
• Pencil
• Linen or archival tape
• Photo corners
• Encounter-through mounting strips
• Adhesive movie hanger or frame
• Dry mounting printing
• Tacking iron
• Dry mounting tissue
• Release tissue
• Weight (sock filled with coins, heavy volume or glass)

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