framing & matting

[sandra]

ok, so, i think i'm on the wrong page but i've already invited some to "off topic's" so....question: is there a rule of thumb on how wide a mat should be around a picture (scroll piece). or is it a preference thing? for instance if you want to use a 16 X 20 frame with a say.....11 X 14 piece, would it be ok to take up the space with a double mat maybe. I think it looks good, makes people think they are getting more for their buck. but i didn't know if that was um....unethical in the framing and matting world.

[Steviegwood]

Hi Sandra, I think that it would all be a personal preference. If you could post some pics of the pieces that you are framing I am sure that you would get some good info from the opininions that you will receive. Steve

[PuzzledMoose]

That ratio sounds about right to me Sandra. Most of the things I've framed are in 11x14 frames - and a "standard" matt opening is 10x8 for them ..

If ever anyone is looking for matts at what seem to be reasonable prices this site seems pretty good. They have a US and Canadian and will cut the openings you want at no extra charge.

The "matomatic" section is cool where you can upload a pic and try it with different matts and frames - and even change the wall colour!

http://www.matshop.ca

[sandra]

thank's for the link Ian. i'd love to post a picture, put um.....i don't know how.

[PuzzledMoose]

Sandra when you reply to a message scroll down and there's a button that says "manage attachments".

Clickig on it will bring up a box that says browse (well it says browse a few times). If you use that to find the pic on your hard drive that you want to post then click on Upload, the picture will be attached to your post.

There is a maximum file size of 780 pixels(wide or tall) though, so you may have to resize the picture you're posting before you upload.

Hope this makes sense.

[PeteB]

I think mats look good at about 1/3 to 1/2 the width of the picture.

I knew a girl who did small pen and ink drawings, usually just a couple of inches square, and she put them in 8" X 10" frames with big mats. They looked good! There doesn't seem to be any hard and fast rule.

Pete

[PuzzledMoose]

Originally Posted by PeteB

I think mats look good at about 1/3 to 1/2 the width of the picture.

I knew a girl who did small pen and ink drawings, usually just a couple of inches square, and she put them in 8" X 10" frames with big mats. They looked good! There doesn't seem to be any hard and fast rule.

Pete

I've seen that style of matting used to great effect for small watercolours and drawings as you say Pete - and I agree it can look very nice Only problem with 8x10 cuttings is that you'd end up with a pretty large frame!

I also agree that there is no hard and fast rule which is why I put a "standard" opening in quotation marks 8x10 does tend to be the opening size in an 11x14 if you buy it "off the peg" though .. in somewhere like Michael's for instance ..

[Rolf]

I now cut my own matts and play until my wife and I both like the effects.
This was a thread we had going a while back.
The difference presentation makes

[PuzzledMoose]

Originally Posted by Rolf

I now cut my own matts and play until my wife and I both like the effects.

I'd wondered about learning how to do that Rolf - is it significantly cheaper to buy the board uncut?

I'd be interested to know what you cut it with too ...

[sandra]

i still can't get my putter to post picture, if someone would lead me a email address an post it for me that would be wonderful.
thanks,
sandra