Matting a photograph
You could be thinking one of two things:
- Who can’t mat a photo?
- I can’t mat anything, I’ll just mess it up!
Here are a few tips to help make that special photo an enduring wall piece.
- Wipe photo with a soft cloth to remove dust and fingerprints. Use nylon gloves to keep same off the print.
- All photographs should be matted when being framed. A photo will stick to glass or plastic if moisture is present. Photos need “air space” inside the frame. This space is created by matting your photo. Choose a mat board color that goes well with the color palette of your image or pick a neutral color like ivory or white if you can’t decide.
- Measure the picture for your mat board. If you are purchasing a window mat, or making one, be sure the window is ¼” – ½” narrower than your image. i.e. if your image is 5 x 7” be sure the window is 4-1/2 x 6-1/2” or 4-3/4 x 6-3/4” depending on how much of the picture is visually acceptable to cut off. Doing this ensures that the mat properly covers the edges of your photo.
- Next, attach your photo to the mat using T hinges. You should use only acid-free tape for this so that the tape doesn’t leach undesirable elements onto your photo or yellow or dry out over time.
- Once finished, place mat inside a frame of your choice. Glass with a UV protective coating is always best to prevent fading.
All items you need to mat your photos are available at https://www.bagsunlimited.com/category/475/matting-supplies
