How to Make Photo Mats

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By library-cari
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You can make your photo mat simple or decorated!

You can create a mat for your photos, to add extra color before placing them into a frame.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Mat board
pencil
ruler, preferably metal
Exacto knife or utility knife
Mat cutter
Frame
Photo or picture

Step 1

Select the mat and frame to complement your photo. Mat board is available at most craft and hobby shops. Choose colors that flatter your photo rather than competing with it. A background color from the photo is often a good choice. This process is much easier if you bring the photo along on your shopping trip, rather than relying on your memory!
Step 2

Using an Exacto knife or sharp utility knife, cut the outside edge of your mat to the measurements of the inside edge of the frame, where the glass sits. You want your mat to sit here, too. Your frame may have been packaged with a piece of cardboard or paper that you can trace around for this measurement.
Step 3

Now you need to measure for the inside cut. Take the width of your photo, subtracting a half inch to allow your mat to overlap your photo edges a quarter inch on each side. Subtract this width from the width of your mat, and divide the answer by two. (For example, if you are using a 10 inch wide mat on a 3 1/2 inch wide photo, 10-3=7, 7/2=3 1/2; your mat will be 3 1/2 inches wide on each side.) Draw a line with pencil on the back of the mat, running top to bottom, at this measurement.
Step 4

The back of your mat should now look something like this.

Now repeat that calculation for the top and bottom margin. Take the heighth of the photo, again subtracting a half inch to allow the mat to overlap the photo. Subtract this heighth from the heighth of your mat, and divide the answer by two. Draw a line from side to side at this measurement, on the back of the mat, on the top and bottom.
Step 5

Now you are ready to cut. To get the angled edge used by professional framers, you will need to buy a mat cutter. A handheld mat cutter can be purchased at a craft or hobby shop for around $25. Line your metal ruler up on one of your lines and hold it there firmly. Cut the line with your mat cutter, pushing it against the ruler to keep the line straight. Go about a quarter inch past the corner.
Step 6

Repeat the cut for each side. Push the center out, after each side has been cut.
Step 7

Tape the photo in the mat, and put the mat into the frame and reassemble it. If you want to, you can embellish the mat with rubber stamps.