Custom Mat Board Opening
First you need to determine the size of the image you are matting.
The image size may be smaller than the paper. For example, you can print an 8x10
image on 8 1/2 x 11 paper. In this case the image size is 8x10. For an 8x10 image
size there are three common mat opening sizes:
1/8 inch overlap. For this option you subtract
a 1/4 inch from the size of your image. If your image is horizontal, you would
select a width of 9 3/4 inches and a height of 7 3/4. This will allow the mat
to overlap the image by 1/8 of an inch on all for sides. This option will prevent
the edges of the image from showing, help hold it down if the paper size is also
8x10, and will mask very little of the image. If you image is portrait you would
select 7 3/4 width and 9 3/4 height.
Example 8x10 horizontal image
1/8 inch overlap and 2 inch borders
Inner Width: 9 3/4
Inner Height: 7 3/4
Top Border: 2 1/8
Side Borders: 2 1/8
Bot Border: 2 1/8
Frame Width: 14
Frame Height: 12
1/4 inch overlap. For this option you subtract
1/2 inch from the size of your image. If your image is horizontal, you would
select a width of 9 1/2 inches and a height of 7 1/2. This will allow the mat to
overlap the image by a 1/4 of an inch on all for sides. This option will prevent
the edges of the image from showing, help hold it down if the paper size is also
8x10, and make it easier to center the image inside the mat opening. This option
will cover up more of the image than the above option. If you image is portrait
you would select 7 1/2 width and 9 1/2 height.
Example 8x10 vertical image
1/8 inch overlap and 2 inch borders
Inner Width: 7 1/2
Inner Height: 9 1/2
Top Border: 2 1/4
Side Borders: 2 1/4
Bot Border: 2 1/4
Frame Width: 12
Frame Height: 14
Float mount. This option is used to show the entire image
within the picture frame. Typically you select an opening that is 1/2 to 1 inch
larger than the image. For instance, if you have an 8x10 image you might select
an opening that is 9x11. This will leave 1/2 inch gap between the image and the
edge of the mat opening. If the paper the image is printed on is larger than the
image then the paper will be visible and the mat will still hold the image down.
If the image is the same size as the paper, then the edge of the paper will be
visible and the image mounting board will be visible.
Custom Mat Borders
If you want your image centered, then the top, sides, and bottom
borders should all be equal. Typically the frame edge will overlap the edge of
the mat. For this reason it is common to add 1/8 of an inch to the borders.
Example 8x12 image centered
Inner Width: 11 3/4
Inner Height: 7 3/4
Top Border: 4 1/8
Side Borders: 4 1/8
Bot Border: 4 1/8
Frame Width: 20
Frame Height: 16
If you want to bottom weight your image then you just select
a bottom border a little larger than the top and side picture frame borders.
Example: 11x14 horizontal image
1 inch bottom weight
Inner Width: 13 3/4
Inner Height: 10 3/4
Top Border: 3 1/8
Side Borders: 3 1/8
Bot Border: 4 1/8
Frame Width: 20
Frame Height: 18
Example: 11x14 vertical image
1 inch bottom weight
Inner Width: 10 3/4
Inner Height: 13 3/4
Top Border: 3 1/8
Side Borders: 3 1/8
Bot Border: 4 1/8
Frame Width: 17
Frame Height: 21
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