Frames with mat or marie-louise add beautiful depth to your posters, paintings or photos. Although they can be expensive ready-made, it is entirely possible to create this type of framing yourself. Follow our tutorial to find out how!
When we talk about framing, the number one rule is to remember that it must above all enhance the element it surrounds. The frame should highlight a drawing or photo, and not the other way around. It is therefore crucial to choose the type of framing according to the work you wish to highlight.
What is a master key?
Among the different ways of framing, the main purpose of the mat is to protect the engraving, the print, the photo, etc. Its thickness prevents the work from coming into contact with the glass. To do this, you must affix to the image to be framed a cardboard cutout with a window revealing the drawing. This technique is not only protective, but it is also very aesthetic, especially when the margin is nicely cut or associated with a bevel, thus accentuating the effect of depth of the work.
What is a Marie-Louise?
Similar to the mat, the marie-louise is often used to frame painted canvases. It is an intermediate frame placed between the work and the frame. Flat, narrow and often white, it can be covered with fabric depending on the style you want to give to the framed drawing. The part surrounding the subject has a bevel, called the nose. The latter can be gilded to bring light to the work. The Marie-Louise is generally placed in a frame without glass.
Make a master key or a marie-louise
The nuance between the two techniques being very slight, we give here only one DIY method.
Here are the materials you will need: the photo or drawing to frame, a frame larger than the image, Canson paper or 2 mm thick cardboard (depending on the desired effect), a ruler, a cutter, a pencil.
- Take the dimensions of your frame with the ruler, transfer the measurements to the Canson paper or cardboard, then cut it out.
- Place your image in the center of the Canson paper or cardboard and take its dimensions. Trace the contours then trace a second lower contour of 1 cm.
- Then cut out this last outline with a cutter. You obtain a frame of Canson paper or cardboard which borders your image by 1 cm. Your master key.
- Open your frame upside down. Place your mat against the glass then position your image on its outline (the 1st drawn in pencil). To be sure that it does not slip, attach its corners to the mat with tape. Place the bottom of the frame and close it.
Note that it is possible to make a bevel on your mat yourself, but this will require a little more technique and material, in particular the purchase of a bevel cutter. You will then need to position, in addition to your pre-cut cardboard as above, a second one which will be used to create the bevel.
If you want to make an oval mat, you will need to have a compass.
- Start by drawing a horizontal line on your support (depending on the size of your image to be framed).
- Draw two circles of the same diameter. The edge of the second circle must pass through the center of the first.
- Then set the compass to the diameter of the circles and draw two opposite arcs by placing the tip of the compass on the intersections of the first two circles. You will then obtain an oval which you will simply have to cut out and place on your image.
