Upload your pictures here: Things you need....
-Patience
-Matte Board (Can get 32x40 sheets for $7.99 at AC Moore..Pay less if you use the 40% off one item coupons they have weekly).
-Matte cutter (Can also get at AC Moore. Don't get anything too complicated. Simple cutter with ruler)
-Razor blade
-Sharp pencil with a GOOD erasure. (You will have to erase and redo lines when figuring out your matte)
-Frame (I used to have custom frames made when I had a framer do my mattes. But, it got too expensive. So try to find standard frames (also at AC Moore) that you can use. It will save you big $$$.
-Patience
One big thing. Measure and check everything twice...Before cutting. I have wasted more matte boards because I didn't check my measurements. Nothing is worse than doing a large matte and then finding out the whole you cut for your pic or sig is 1/4 inch too big. Also, if you are cutting a lot of mattes. Change the blade. It will make a huge difference.
Here we go....
The original Pretender matte
First take your frame and what you want to frame and lay it out. This will allow you to make sure the frame is the right size.
Here are my custom 3x5 cards that I matte around the sigs. I have been sending some of these to the actors and have gotten them some back already. It looks nicer than having to matte the sigs. All of these custom cards were made with Paint Shop Pro and then printed on 4x6 photo paper. I use Costco. It only costs 13cents a pic and saves my ink and paper. Plus it 's a better print job.
Next I do the layout exactly as it needs to be. I suck at math...But, this is the absolute most important part. Again measure and check constantly. Also, remember to measure a bit smaller than what you are matting. If you want to matte a 3x5 card. Make an opening 2 3/4 x 4 3/4. As you get better you can make the opening closer to the actual card size. Oh...and measure and check again.
After doing the layout. Use your matte cutter to cut. Don't cut each opening at one time. Do one side of each opening...then turn the matte and do the next side and so on. Make sure your blade goes through. Once you do it and if its not right. Its very hard to redo the same original cut you did.
After doing the cuts. Attach each of the items using a very small amount of tape on your item as possible. Also, some items may overlap. The last unfilled opening has a picture that I am matting out. And will place the unmatted part over the others.
Insert it into the frame and your done. Here is the finished product.
A side note. If you are matting a lot of items. I purchased an acid free backing to replace the cardboard that comes with most frames. I was able to get a case of around 25 sheets (32x40) for around $60 on the internet. Trust me its worth it. I had a couple of mattes that I did when I first started 14yrs ago. And the combination of masking tape (what the framer used) and the regular backing board or cardboard yellowed some of my cards.
Good luck!