I have chosen a beautiful greenish tinted with gold frame to accent and enhance the photograph.
The top mat is white.
The two mats assembled, the work centered and is hinged with acid free mounting tape.
Then I cut it with a glass cutter.
A layer ATG is run around the back outside edge of the frame for the dust barrier to be applied.
The coated wire is strung and secured.
The first step is to measure the work to see what size the inside mat dimensions and outside frame dimensions will be before I start to cut the mats, glass and frame.
The second mat is cut.
The mat is not only placed over the picture to make the work look good, but it is there to keep a barrier between the glass and work.
The glass is cleaned to make sure it is clean of lint and fingerprints.
The dust barrier, thick paper, is positioned over the frame edges and ATG tape.
Then I center my framing sticker.
This photograph is going to have two mats. This is called a double mat. The bottom mat is green.
Because I have the cutter set to the correct measurements, I take the opportunity to cut the foam board/backing.
Now that the work, the mats and foam core are together, we move on to the glass.
The glass is placed over the mat and then the frame fitted over all three layers; glass, mat and foam core.
The paper is stuck to the ATG one side at a time sealing the back from dust, bugs and debris.
And we are done! The work is ready to be hung.
Now, I start to cut mat. Here I am marking where I will cut the matboard. I am cutting the back side, that is why you can't see the green side.
Then I apply sticky tape called ATG to adhere the mats together.
I assemble my glass cutting materials; safety glasses, ruler, marking pen and glass cutter.
The back is pinned so all the pieces stay in place and not shuffle around inside.
The extra overlap paper is cut off with a special cutter and blade.
"Peony Bud"
photograph
13" x 15
by: C.A. MacLean
After the mat is cut. The opening reveals the picture.
The two mats assembled.
First we measure the glass. The glass is cut to the dimensions of the frame.
I measure where the hangers/eyes will be and then screwed into the frame.