QA

How To Make Picture Frame Inserts

What is the insert in a picture frame called?

In the picture framing industry, a mat (or matte, or mount in British English) is a thin, flat piece of paper-based material included within a picture frame, which serves as additional decoration and to perform several other, more practical functions, such as separating the art from the glass.

How do you make a frame mat?

What can I use instead of mat board?

Depending on the thickness of the frame, foamcore board can be substituted for mat board. Foamcore typically has a colored top ply, an inner white foam ply, and a white back, but some foamcore is colored all the way through. These boards come in large sheets and can be adapted to large projects.

How do you secure backing on a picture frame?

Many styles of wide tape will work, but a fabric or paper tape is ideal. It is relatively inexpensive, but often sold in packages of multiple rolls. Apply the tape so it covers approximately half an inch of the frame, and as much or more of the backing. Press firmly to ensure a good seal.

What can I use for backing picture frames?

Depending on what you’re framing; you can use cardboard, standard foam board, acid free foam board, mat board, hard board, chip board, easel backs, or what the heck, you can even use wood.

How do you mount an object in a frame?

Here are mounting options to secure items in a shadow box frame. Glue. You can glue the back of the item directly onto the mounting board or the backing of the shadowbox frame. Poster putty. For light items, poster putty can work. Shelves. Invisible thread and decorative cloth. Pegboard and twist ties.

What is mat board made of?

Museum mat boards are made of 100% cotton. Cotton, unlike wood, contains no lignin at all. Combined with archival framing methods, your artwork will be preserved for hundreds of years. This is the option museums and collectors choose when framing photographs and artwork and is the most expensive option.

Can I use poster board as a mat board?

You would use the picture that was in the frame as your template for the mat. Trace around it on the poster board and cut it out with the X-acto knife. For the width, you are fine with your measuring 2 inches from the corners. But for the length, you need to break up the 10 inches as, 1.75, 6, and 2.25 inches.

Can you frame foam board?

Using a conventional picture frame and glass, you can simply trim the foam board to size and insert it into the frame as usual, but eliminating the usual layers of cardboard backing provided to snug the picture firmly against the glass. You can also add a mat to the front of the picture to frame it.

Can you take mat out of picture frame?

Carefully lift the mat from all sides to open it and reveal the artwork below. Try not to touch the artwork itself. Once you’ve removed the artwork from the frame, take lots of photos. If this is the case, do not try to detach the work from the mat yourself because you risk damaging the artwork.

What is frame matting?

In the picture framing industry, a mat (or mount in British English) is a thin, flat piece of paper-based material included within a picture frame, which serves as additional decoration and to perform several other, more practical functions, such as separating the art from the glass.

Can any frame be a float frame?

Materials to make a floating frame from a regular picture frame. An additional piece of glass or acrylic plexiglass that’s the same size as the glass in the picture frame you’ll be using. You can use either glass or acrylic for this project, it doesn’t make a difference in the way you build it.

How do you put backing paper on a frame?

Apply a continuous line of double sided tape with ATG gun to the back of the frame about 1/8-inch from the outer edge. Apply the cut backing paper by squaring it to the far end of the frame and press firmly to attach the tape. Pull the loose sheet tightly and attach at center of opposite end by pressing firmly to tape.

What is the brown paper on the back of picture frames?

A dust cover, also called backing paper, is a thin sheet of paper attached to the back of picture frames. Professional picture frames will often refer to using this framing material as a “dust seal,” as the adhered paper prevents dust from entering the picture frame.

Can you buy backs for picture frames?

Our picture frame easel backs will transform your frame into a tabletop treasure to adorn your table, shelf, desk or mantelpiece with your most cherished images. A snap to install, our easel backs are available in four of the most popular tabletop sizes.

What is a backing mat?

Backing boards come in any size. Backing is used to provide support and protection for your artwork, either in a picture frame or as a standalone product in a show kit. Many of the frames purchased in local shops come with cardboard backing which will damage the artwork over time.

How thick should backing board be?

For flooring, the backer board should be installed over a 5/8-inch thick OSB or plywood base. For countertops, use 3/4-inch plywood beneath the backer board. And for walls and ceilings, apply 1/2-inch or 5/8-inch backer board screwed directly to the wall studs or joists.

How do you attach heavy items to a shadow box?

Awkward or heavy objects can be wrapped in thin stainless wire poked through minuscule holes in the backing and twisted behind the sturdy backing to hold the item securely in place. Wrap wire where it is least visible or can be covered by part of the item on display.