If you have something special you would like to frame such as a photo, a painting, a drawing or any other type of artwork, there is no reason you need to take the item into a specialty store and pay high costs in order to frame it. There are plenty of framing options that you can pull off in your own home with a few tips and suggestions.
The way you frame a photo, painting, or piece of artwork can help you express your personality and highlight the piece of art. It can also protect the item for many years. You do not have to be a professional to achieve both goals successfully.
First, you will need to pick a photo, drawing, or piece of art that you want to frame. The item should be something you find appealing and valuable in some way. The piece should be something you want to protect and look at on your walls on a daily basis.
After the piece of art or photograph has been chosen, you will want to look at various mats and frames. You do not necessarily have to purchase a mat. Pieces can be framed without mats included. Sometimes mats, however, help highlight the piece and make it stand out even more. If you decide you do want a mat, look at some of the area arts and crafts stores for the best deals. Many of these stores will have similar mats, but the prices could vary depending on special sales. If you choose the right mat, it should enhance the item you wish to frame and improve the overall look of the picture. A mat will also provide a gap between the glass and the picture itself, helping to protect the item even further.
When looking at mats, you will want to choose a size that will show the picture in the window of the mat. You will then have to choose a frame that fits the mat and not the picture itself. For example, if your photo is a 5×7, you will need an 8×10 mat with a 5×7 hole. You will then need to purchase an 8×10 frame to fit the picture with the new mat.
Choosing a mat is a subjective process. You can pick just one mat, or you can double up on mats and supply the picture with two different colors to highlight different portions. You will want a color or colors that will complement the picture of piece of art. The mat can bring out a color in a picture and enhance the overall appeal of the item. You will want to place the picture behind various mats in order to decide which mat looks best in your eyes. One person might choose a black mat for a picture while another would choose a white. It all depends on how you want your picture to appear.
In order to protect your piece of art, you will want to pick mats that are acid-free. The best mats have materials that are 100% rag. If you value your item, you will want to make sure you get the highest quality mat made from the right materials. Otherwise, over the years, the item could deteriorate.
Once you have chosen a mat, if you decide you want a mat at all, you will want to look through the various frames. The frame should also go along with the color scheme of the picture. You will also want to consider the room in which you are hanging the item. If the frame stands out too much, the picture will not look right in the room. It is important to coordinate the frame with both the picture and the overall look of the room.
If you have a black and white picture, you may want to consider a thing, black frame. For a sunset picture, you could buy a red frame or something simpler like a white or cream-colored frame. Make sure that the mat you have chosen works well with the frame to highlight the piece of art. In order to make the piece look good in the room, take into consideration the colors and overall style of the room.
Once you have all of the items you need in place, you will want to work on mounting the photo into the frame. Mount the picture on a backboard that is acid free. You can tape the item onto the board with simple scotch tape. Make sure you do not use masking tape. Tape the picture onto the board using a T shape so that the picture is fully secure. You will want to place the tape on the top in order to prevent any ripples from developing. There is no need to tape the bottom or sides.
Next, line the picture up in the center of the mat and press the tape firmly into the backside. You can re-do this step as many times as you need to in order to get the picture straight and centered. Once the picture is lined up well with the mat, it should be easy to place it behind the glass and into the frame.
Most frames come with fasteners on the back so you can hang the frame on the wall. If you have bought a frame without fasteners, you can either set the frame somewhere, or you can buy fasteners to attach to the frame. You will simply hammer the fastener to the back of the frame before placing the picture inside.
If you have a specific need for your frame and have special abilities with wood, you can build and create your own frame. This is another way to put an even bigger personal stamp on the overall item and truly make it your own. Building your own frames can be more time consuming, but it can also be less expensive. The options are endless when it comes to creating your own frame. You can paint the wood or material in any color you choose and make the frame into any shape.