How To Do My Own Frame Matting

If you want to build your own wood frames it will require woodshop knowledge and a number of relatively costly woodshop tools i e.

How to do my own frame matting.

Cut the mat size using your exacto knife. It s recommended that you find an actual covered frame for original artwork once it s been matted. Picture frames can be the most pricey and restrictive part of capturing your favorite photo or picture. Pull the razor slowly and steadily towards you stopping at the bottom corner.

This do it yourself video explains all the steps of cutting a professional looking mat for your artwork. Access to a woodshop and is a much bigger task than cutting your own mats. The mat cutter has a white line right in the center as a guide. First measure the size your mat will be which is typically the size of the glass in the frame and the size frame you buy 8 10 11 14 etc.

Center your newly cut mat over your art image. Line this marking up with the line for the bottom of your opening. We begin by showing you a simple formula for measu. Use a straight edge razor to cut the backing and mat boards.

If the tape is too tacky you might tear the mat or picture when removing it. Use small pieces of tape to secure the picture into place. Line up the ruler along the outer edge of your line marking the opening. Take a small piece of artist s tape and press it on your jeans or shirt first adding lint to the tape will remove most of the stickiness and prevent it from ripping your mat or paper when removed then put the tape on the mat and image to hold them in place.

1 cut out some sheets of wrapping paper to the size of each of your frames or use the sheets from within the frames if you have them. Stick the tape to a piece of fabric before applying it to the mat. Making your own picture frame is a great way to personalize your home décor and to create a device that is truly appropriate to the image inside of it. Transfer the matting and picture to the frame and replace the back of the frame.

I built around 20 of my own frames for a show once with significant assistance from woodshop staff and i have ever since then. Keep the same pressure throughout your cut and be very careful not to dip out or in from the penciled line. 2 if you already have the artwork you re going to use write down a quick description on each cut out sheet of paper so that you make sure you don t have too much of one thing too close together.