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Simple Tools for Matting

Matting involves cutting a frame for artwork that sets the mood or emphasizes a particular aspect of the work. Many amateur photographers and artists will find that matting their work makes it more marketable and presents it in a better way. Typical matting tools vary from normal household items, such as scissors and construction paper, to high end matting machines and matte-grade paper.

Reasons to Matte
- Matting can create a wall of images showing a common theme
  
  Matting artwork gives a different emphasis or viewpoint for the artist, photographer, scrapbooking enthusiast or crafter, whether amateur or professional. The amateur can do this very inexpensively using common household items or some artist tools available at most department and hobby stores. This is an inexpensive means to achieve professional looking results. Matting will also produce themes and series with simple templates for the mattes.
Basic
- Taking a memorable picture and matting it will emphasize the importance of the piece.
  
  If only a couple of pieces need to be matted, scissors and construction paper or heavy card stock can be used to cut out a piece the right size to fit into the frame. Be sure to use a straight edge. Do all work on the back side of the paper for the matte. If the desire is to create a theme, then a template, such as an oval or framework, can be created to give consistency within the series.
Artist's Tools
- Matted pictures give an artist the ability to focus the viewers' attention
  
  Most hobby stores and craft supply stores sell cutting tools, straight edges, squares and curves that can create distinct mattes for a series or for common elements to display. There are rotary cutters, razor blade cutters and specialty blade cutters that allow more precise and easier cuts. Straight edges in plastic, acrylic, metal and wood make the cuts consistent. Curve guides and shape templates allow creative variety for common themes and series.
Other Tools
- Common everyday pots, pans and other kitchen utensils can be used in a pinch.
  
  For straight edges, thick paper, cardboard pieces and cutting mat guides can all be used. Usually these will be single use and are very unreliable because the material used as an edge can and will be cut by the tool used to cut. Cutting can be accomplished with razor knives, kitchen knives and even shop scissors with varied and sometimes good results. Bowls, molds, cookie cutters and measuring cups can be used to create unique shapes for mattes.

Photography