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DAY 331 | PHOTOGRAPHY 101 |
Matting
A FRAME’S CLOSEST FRIEND
Matting is the process of adding a raised border around the print. It sits above the print but below the glass and framing. Standard sizes are 5 × 7, 8 × 10, 11 × 14, and 16 × 20. Larger and odd sizes will generally need to be custom ordered from your local framing and matting store.
Take your photograph with you to the store when shopping for your mat so that you may see what your photograph looks like against the color and size mat you are considering.
At first, you may be inclined to purchase a mat only one size larger than your print—for example, an 11 × 14 mat for an 8 × 10 photograph. Experiment with even larger-sized mats, perhaps even double matting your photograph so that two borders surround it.
An example of some common mat sizes and colors available in local craft, art supply, and photography stores.
You may have to try several different mats until you find the one that suits your photograph perfectly. If you are grouping several prints together, it may make sense to have the mats the same color in order to project a sense of harmony between the different prints. At times, you may prefer to coordinate the mat with a prominent color in the photograph. Review the color wheel (see page 278) to help you make decisions on what mat colors will help provide impact to your final presentation. —CWN
A collection of mat samples similar to what a custom-framing store will show you to help you decide which mat to order. In addition to special colors, there are also a variety of textured mats available, as seen on the left.