How To Make A Picture Matte

Here the image is cut apart each section mounted on 1 4 foam board and individual mats cut around each section.

How to make a picture matte.

Then you tape your art photo to the back of the mat making sure your piece is centered in the mat as you want it. Which of course ruined the photo. Do not let the exposed tape touch the mat until you have decided placement. You have some art all cut and matted by you.

Create something that s visually alluring by matching the color of the mat to a color in the background of the photo. Avoid picking a mat color based on the room where the picture will be hung. This blue was spray painted it worked well on the mat boards. Add elegance and protection when framing photos or artwork by adding a frame mat in a complementary color.

Once you ve lined up both mats and made sure the picture is centered take small strips of artist s tape and lightly stick the mat halves together. The only problem i have with this method is that i live in a high humidity area. Flip the matted picture over and tape across the back edges. I have used the white side of whatever was in the frame and taped photos to it before only to have the glossy back before they offered matte finish photo stick to the glass.

This helps to make the texture of the image more pronounced and makes the paper ideal for highly detailed photos such as shots of buildings. Turn the page picture side up and hold the pre cut mat over the page to decide where you want the image in the opening. I used masking tape for this. Choose one of our acid free pre cut mats or customize an uncut matboard.

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. If an image has a strong element that is receding such as the river sweeping off into the distance in sisley s road to hampton court a darker mat perhaps one that ties into the dark green of the trees along the bank in the background helps to enhance it. Choose a colored mat to complement the picture you want to frame. Often used by professionals matte photo paper is free of shine resulting in more muted colors.

Instead match it to the photo itself. Attach mat to artwork. Something with a medium tack works well and you can always switch out the art.