DIY: Matting & Framing

Part 2: Measuring for Glazing, Mat and Backing Board

Setup blocks (or a homemade substitute) come in handy for prints with a reveal.

In teaching matting and framing, I've come to the conclusion that nothing scares a photographer away from framing more than does measuring and cutting the mats. I get that. I spent many a day and lots of money when I started framing my own prints, wrestling with getting the mat equation right and churning out a lot of scrap mat board. In this DIY I'll share tips, show you a video of how I get the job done, and leave you with both a how-to checklist as well as an easy to follow, fool-proof form that you can print and use for your own measurements.