Matting how tos...?

Question

Hi! I need some help with double matting photos. I'm not really sure how to do it! So, here is what I am working with for those who would like to know.

All my prints are 4 by 6's. I want them all to be double matted. I want the frame to be no bigger than 8x10. The inner matter should be thin. the outter matt should be larger.

Any websites, tips, info anything would be greatly appricated!

thanks

Answer 1

I've worked in a framing shop for nearly 13 years.

To keep the eye inside the image, the most effective inner mat (liner) for that size is 1/8" to 3/16". Anything smaller looks like a pencil line and is just as distracting as 1/4" or more. Keep in mind there's a reason that competitions allow only white-on-white mats (both liner & mat are white).

You'll have to overlap the image, so the inner-most window should be 3 1/2" X 5 1/2". That will make your overall mat width
2 + 1/4" all around. Your liner size is included in the equation
2.25 + 2.25 + 3.5 = 8
2.25 + 2.25 + 5.5 = 10

Answer 2

one other tip in double matting photos check the depth of the cut where the mat will be placed in frame if that's what you are doing. Question are you going to lay glass, then mat? Measure the depth of the cut and also the thickness of glass. picture and matts.
I have double matted many pictures without problems. The with of your two matts depends on what looks good to you.
Hope this helps you.

Answer 3

I have never doubled matted photos... But I would guess you would just want to work with the numbers... Sit with your ruler and figure out how you want it to look.

More than likely, you want the first matt board to be about 5x7.. and the other about 5.5 by 7.5... You don't want too much of a gap with the matting.

You want to have that great negative space on the matt board to increase the character of your photos.

Good luck!