Materials you will need:
- Picture Frame (For the Juried Show, the frame must be BLACK)
- Pre-Cut Photo Mat to fit frame (For the Juried Show, the mat must be WHITE)
- Mat board or cardboard the same size for the backing
- Double-sided tape
- Packing Tape with Dispenser
- Roll of brown paper (optional)
- Picture Wire – 20 lb gauge
- D-Ring Hangers
- Dual-Drive Point Driver
- Point Driver Metal Inserts
- Polypropylene Mounting Corners (1.25 inches)
*Please note that while Paul mentions a number of stores in the videos shown below, these items can be purchased at any store or online.
Tools you will need:
- X-Acto Knife
- Pliers
- Wire Cutter
- Hammer
- Screw Punch
- Philips Screwdriver
- Pencil
- Glass Cleaner and Paper Towel
(Link to Video with additional details on the Materials and Tools needed to mat and frame a photo)
Step-by-Step Directions: (Links to videos showing these directions are also listed below.)
- Print your photo to one of the standard sizes for mats and frames. (5×7, 8×10, 11×14, 12×18, 16×20, etc.)
- Purchase a frame larger than your printed photo.
- Purchase a pre-cut mat to fit your frame and photo size.
- Unwrap the frame and take it apart. Remove the back and pull out any staples or insert points holding the back in the frame. Clean the glass inside and out. (Link to Video: Taking Apart a Purchased Frame)
- Take the mat and the backing cardboard or mat board and lay them down on clean surface. Use the packing tape to tape them together along one length. This creates a Hinge Mat. (Link to Video: Hinge Mat Part 1)
- Place the photo in between the mat board and backing board and center the photo in the mat opening. Lift the top cut-out mat carefully and hold the picture still. Mark all four corners of the photo onto the backing board with a pencil. (Link to Video: Hinge Mat Part 2)
- Remove photo from mat and attach photo corners to each corner of the picture. Be careful to hold the photo in mid-air so that the photo corners don’t adhere to a surface until you are ready. Once all the photo corners are on the photo, carefully line the photo up with the corners that you drew on the backing board and lay the photo flat on the board. Press the photo corners down so that they adhere to the backing board.
- Close the mat to make sure that the photo is still lined up properly. Then, reopen mat and place double-sided tape along the four sides of the backing board. Fold that cut-out mat back over and press down onto the tap to lock in the photo. (Link to Video: Finishing the Mat for a Photo)
- Place the mounted photo into the frame. Hold up the frame to ensure that it looks okay before putting the back on the frame.
- Lay the frame down and use the Point Driver to drive a metal point into the frame in the center of all four sides. Double check that the framed photo and mat looks okay before adding additional metal points into the back. (Link to Video: How to Put the Back on a Framed Photo)
- OPTIONAL: If you want to put a dust cover on the back, place a strip of double-sided tape all along the outer back edge of the frame. Cut a piece of brown paper a little larger than the frame and lay it down on the back of the frame so that the extra hangs off all four sides. Ensure that the tape adheres to the paper. Use an X-Acto Knife to cut off any extra paper around the frame edge.
- Measure a third of the distance down from the top of the frame on the back on either side. Place a mark with a pencil. Use a Screw Punch and a Hammer to create a starter hole on both marks. Place a D-Ring hanger in each starter hole and use the Philips Screwdriver to screw them into the frame. Ensure that the Ring faces the inside of the frame on both sides. (Link to Video: Preparing to Attach a Wire to the Back of a Frame)
- Cut the picture wire using the wire cutter to 6-8 inches longer than the frame length or about an extra 3-4 inches on both sides. Slide each end of the wire into the D-Ring and bend the wire around the D-Ring twice to lock it in place. You want the wire to be fairly tight along the back of the frame. Twist the extra ends of the wire around itself in a coil or corkscrew pattern. (Link to Video: Attaching the Wire to the Frame)