Matting Photos in Scrapbook Layouts

Matting Photos in Scrapbooks

Creating make scrapbooks is the absolute best way to preserve your photos and memories for generations. It's not difficult to make scrapbook pages. All you need is the basics, some scrapbook paper, cardstock, adhesives, and some photos. These are the most basic elements of scrapbooks. As part of the layout creation process, many of us use an old tried and true technique to ensure our page looks cohesive and balanced and that is of course matting our photos. 

If you're looking for a way to make your scrapbooks stand out? Photo matting is the perfect solution! This old-time technique uses layers of paper or cardstock as frames for your photos, giving them a finished look and helping them balance the page. Here, we discuss what photo matting is and some of its benefits, offer tips on different ways to mat your photos, and provide inspiration for unique designs. So if you’re ready to up your scrapbooking game with photo matting, our guide can help get you started!

What is Photo Matting on a Scrapbook Layout?

Photo Mats are simply pieces of scrapbook paper, cardstock, or other flat material that you mount photos onto. They are usually a little bigger than the photo itself. Generally around 1/8 inch bigger than the photo all the way around.

So think of a photo matt as frames for your photos. They can be precut mats that you buy for that purpose, or they can be mats that you create yourself. The most basic mat, is just a piece of paper in a color that enhances your scrapbook page or your photo. It can either be a variant of the colors you have chosen, or it can be a contrast color. 

Why Matt a Photo on a Scrapbook Layout?

Ensures cohesiveness: Matting photos is a technique used by scrapbookers to ensure that the layout looks cohesive and that the shapes and colors do not compete with the shapes and colors of the background paper. It also acts as a frame for your photo by making them pop on your scrapbook page and will draw attention to the main focal point, which is the photo.

Adds Balance:

Matting your photos on your scrapbook pages takes them to a new dimension by adding layers to your pages. Mats bring your photos the attention they deserve and create balance in your layouts. They give you the ability to add creativity and artistic elements to your scrapbooks. Best of all, they can be easy to do or as intricate as you want them to be.

Adds a Focal Point to the Layouts:

When you're designing your scrapbook layout, very often you'll want to have a photo really pop off the page. One great way to do that is by matting the photo. By matting the photo, it makes it more important. By doing this your eye is automatically visually drawn to the focal point. 

How to Choose the Photo Matt Colour?

An ideal photo mat will provide a visual space between the paper and the photo, regardless of whether you're using a solid color or not. When selecting the color of the mat, you should first consider the dominant color together with the minor colors in the background. The colour you choose to matt your photos should add contrast.

Anytime you are using patterned paper, always use a solid color mat. Select the most prominent color in the pattern.

If you have any doubt about what color to use for your mats, stick with a neutral color like white, cream, or even black

Best Tips and Ideas For Matting Photos In Scrapbooks

You can really use anything product to matt your photos. Listed below are a few extra ideas, so why not give them a try.

• Use a map as a mat for your travel photos. Try searching for a map in your favorite server. Just print it out on your printer;
  

• Use fabric instead of cardstock. Use a solid color card stock or fabric closest to the picture. Then place the pattern underneath;
  
  
• Use corrugated cardstock as a photo mat like in the layout below. The corrugated cardstock is offset slightly.

• Use cork as a background and use brads to make it appear the cork is tacked down;

• Wrap decorative foil around a mat. This really calls attention to your photo;

• Use your dies and die-cut some shapes to use  as a background;

• Emboss cardstock and use die-cut as a background;

• If you want to save a lot of time, matt stacks are a great option to mount photos. They come in solid colors and prints. Often scrapbook paper sets will have coordinated mat stacks;

• Don't limit yourself to just a straight-line mat. Use a border edge punch to create a decorative mat;

• Washi tape is the perfect addition to your matt straight-line strips! It can be added like patterned paper, just be cut a straight line around a neutral border;

• Add texture to a mat layer by tearing along the edges. Use it between cut edges or layer several torn edges together for a soft effect;

• Add extra interest by stitching around a photo mat. Use a sewing machine or sew by hand. Go beyond just straight stitching. Think about decorative stitches too. Make sure to allow extra space on your mat for the stitching. Use a bright color to highlight your stitches;

• Create a matt cluster of different pieces of leftover scrapbooking paper. Adhere or just staple them together so that they overlap. This idea is a way of incorporating the layering technique into your layouts. It's a simple idea and also uses up leftover paper bits and pieces;
  
  
• Layering without a cardstock photo matt is also an option. This layout contained leftover square pieces of paper. Bordered by a little washi tape. 
  
  
• Adding stickers to your photo mats is another fun way to add dimension to your layouts.

Cropping Your Photos:

Cropping is taking out any unwanted details from your photos. It enables you to focus on the main subject of the picture. Most photos are cropped so that the edge is trimmed off. However, you can crop a photo in any shape that you want. The main idea of cropping is to remove unwanted space that detracts from the main subject in the photo.

Paper Trimmer - The most important photo matting tool.

Having a paper trimmer to create mats and crop your photos saves you a lot of time. With just a good trimmer you can mat all your photos with just a few easy steps. It's best to use a photo trimmer or guillotine, that has a nice sharp blade. If the blade is blunt it will ruin your photos.

Techniques for matting on a Scrapbook Layout

Single Photo Mat on Your Scrapbook Layout Page

A single mat is just one layer between the scrapbook base page and your photo. It generally should be a solid color paper that will enhance the colors of your photo.

Easy way to cut your own mat:

• Select a color for your mat that matches your photo and the theme of your page;
  
  
• Measure the photo with your ruler ie standard size is 6x4";
  
  
• Add 1/4 of an inch to your measurements and cut the paper to fit. When you center the photo to the paper, it will make the mat edge to 1/8";
  
  
• Mount the photo to the center of the mat and adhere.

Double Matting on Your Scrapbook Layout Page

Double Matting gives a photo special or focal importance on your scrapbook page. Its adds a nice variation to the the single matting technique. Mat the photo on a slightly larger piece of cardstock and then mat that onto another larger cardstock. You select the color based on the cardstock and patterned paper that you are using.

Make sure you use a contrasting colour ie one patterned paper and one complimentary cardstock colour. Try not to use colours that clash or two patterned papers.

Offset Photo Mats

Mats can be offset to add embellishments to one side or the other. Layer papers of the same shape in sequential angles for a dramatic effect or simply use multiple mats and place the photo to offset each other. 

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