How to make a mat for a paper painting. How to make your own passe-partout for children's work

Perhaps you or your child is interested in creativity, and you have a need to put a drawing on a passe-partout? But if there are usually no problems with the A4 format, then the A3 format is not so common, and therefore it is not so easy to arrange it. How can you find out the exact size of the mat for drawing A3?

What is a passe-partout and why is it needed?

What is a “drawing passe-partout”? This word comes from the French passe partout and usually refers to a kind of additional frame (cardboard or paper) that is inserted under the main one, and thus allows you not only to highlight the picture favorably, but also to work more freely with the size of the image. Also, autographs are often left on the passe-partout; some artists also write certain phrases or words.

Which paper to choose for passe-partout?

Choosing paper for a passe-partout is usually not difficult - watercolor, pastel, and even the most ordinary colored paper that can be found in any bookstore are suitable for design. You can also use high-density designer cardboard, embossed, fabric imitation, or with an original texture. You can, for example, find metallized cardboard or cardboard with an exquisite pearlescent sheen. However, please note that for a mat on A3 you will need paper or cardboard of large sizes (for example, A2), so you will have to visit a specialized art store and purchase them there.

To make a passe-partout, you can also use such a unique material as fabric, because designer cardboard or paper alone will not be able to convey its texture and velvety. For fabric mats, inexpensive Chinese or Korean materials are usually used, which have a fairly wide palette of colors.

How to choose the color of the passe-partout?

The color of the mat depends solely on the taste and design abilities of the artist, but there are a few basic rules that will allow you to highlight your work of art. The color of the mat should be chosen taking into account the plot and tone of the picture. If your drawing is black and white, then it is better to use a gray, light blue or snow-white mat. If the drawing is colored and bright enough, then it is better to stick to pastel colors, and at the same time correlate the color with a certain element of the image. This way the viewer's attention is distributed.

Types of passe-partout

In addition to a simple mat, which is a piece of cardboard with a rectangle or oval cut out inside, there is also a multi-window mat (when several paintings are inserted into one main frame) and a composite one (several colors of material are taken). Also an interesting option for decorating a painting would be the so-called deep mat, consisting of three or four layers of cardboard.

What tools will you need?

In addition to the main material, you need to prepare a stationery knife, a ruler, dry pencil glue, as well as a fairly wide, flat surface that you won’t mind cutting. You may need to place a plastic or wooden stand on the table for this purpose. Sometimes amateurs purchase special hand-held cutters to make mats, which make the product more neat and elegant.

How to determine the dimensions of the mat for drawing A3?

Now that all the tools for work are ready, you can proceed directly to making the passe-partout. The size of the mat for drawing A3 depends on the size of the frame. The A3 format itself has a size of 420 by 297 mm. Let's say the standard frame size is 450 by 350 mm.

To determine the size of the mat, you need to find the difference between the width of the frame and the picture. In this case, 450 - 420 = 30 mm. In the same way we calculate the difference between the height: 350 - 297 = 53 mm.

The results obtained should be divided in half, so the dimensions of the mat for Figure A3 in this example will be as follows: 15 mm on the sides and 26.5 mm on the top and bottom.

Making a picture in a passe-partout

Now that we know the dimensions of the mat, we can proceed directly to its manufacture. So, how to arrange a drawing in a passe-partout for an exhibition?

First, lay out the paper or cardboard on a clean and smooth work surface. Next, using a pencil and a ruler, we measure on the cardboard the size of the picture that will be visible, and the size of the mat (1 cm smaller on all sides). A “rectangle within a rectangle” should appear on the sheet. We set aside the side and top edges of the frame from the outer rectangle - this will be the mat itself, the part that is located between the frame and the picture. Next, draw two diagonals inside the rectangles. Take a utility knife and cut the paper diagonally. Carefully bend the resulting triangles so that all the drawn lines remain inside the folds. This is the first fold line. We bend the second line along the internal marks in the opposite direction from the previous bend; there should be exactly 1 centimeter between the folds. The result is a kind of “corners” into which the picture itself is inserted face down. We apply a glue stick to the corners and the picture and glue them tightly together. The passe-partout is ready, all that remains is to insert the picture into the frame.

Even the most beautiful and exquisite painting without the appropriate design and correctly selected frame will look poor and completely out of place. Therefore, the craftsmen and needlewomen who create masterpieces, at the end of the work, are faced with the question of how to make a mat for a painting with their own hands. Of course, you can take your creation to a framing workshop, but this option is not cheap and many will simply not afford it. That’s why the ideal solution is to figure out how to do it yourself.

What is a passe-partout and what is it for?

A passe-partout is a special cardboard frame with an oval, round or rectangular hole into which a painting, photograph or any other work is inserted. This type of frame is perfect for drawing or embroidery. The main task of the mat is to create harmony between the frame, the painting and the overall design of the room in which the work will be located. Using this design, you can focus attention on the center of the composition and harmoniously fit it into the interior.

A passe-partout will be a great way to highlight a painting on the wall, especially if the color of the wall covering and the image match. For example, if you want to hang a photo or picture of a forest in shades of green, and the wallpaper on the walls of the room is light green, a mat of some contrasting color will be the ideal solution in this case.

When creating a mat with your own hands, you can leave as much free space around the painting as you deem necessary in order to maximize the focus on the painting itself.

Important! By the way, you can place a famous quote or author’s signature in this free space.

Another important advantage of mat is its versatility - it is suitable for paintings or photographs of absolutely any size.

What is needed for production?

In order to make a mat for a painting, you need to stock up on the following materials and tools:

• Colored thick paper of the required color.
• Whatman paper or cardboard.
• A simple pencil.
• Scissors.
• Any glue.
• Ruler.
• Metal corner.

Master class on creating a passe-partout

Making a passe-partout for a photo or picture yourself will require some effort and patience from you, however, people with any level of skill can handle this work. The step-by-step creation scheme roughly looks like this:

• Take a sheet of thick cardboard and draw a rectangle on it. Its dimensions should be twice the size of the finished drawing or painting for which the mat is made. Cut out this rectangle and place it in the center of the picture so that the distance from the sides of the picture to the edges of the frame is the same. Next, outline the drawing or picture with a simple pencil and cut out the resulting rectangle. As a result, you should get a kind of frame with a window in the middle. Set this detail aside for now.
• The next step is to make a contrasting color edging. To do this, take colored paper and cut out four strips of equal width - approximately 3 cm. The first pair of strips should be equal in size to the width of the window, the second to the length. Then bend the resulting strips in half lengthwise, leaving a narrow edge no more than 2 mm wide.
• Place the strips on the inner window and check if they fit. Using a metal triangle, measure out the excess corners and then cut them off.
• Now you need to glue the strips into the frame itself. Glue should only be applied to cardboard, because colored paper is thinner and can stretch and swell, resulting in unsightly bumps.

Important! Pay special attention to the joints at the corners of the frame.

• When the glue is completely dry, you can attach a picture or drawing to the back side and frame the finished work with or without glass.

Important! It is worth noting the peculiarity of the design of the embroidered work in the passe-partout. It must be fixed on a sheet of thick cardboard using a stapler or tape, and only after that decorate the passe-partout with a frame.

Small tricks that will make the mat a masterpiece:

• When choosing the width of the mat, you need to take into account the fact that small images look more impressive in narrow frames, and bright and large ones - in wide ones.
• The passe-partout should be twice as wide as the frame.
• In order for the picture and mat to fit freely in the frame, they should be made 3 mm smaller on all sides than the dimensions of the frame itself.
• For a romantic picture, the mat can be decorated with ribbons, lace or dried flowers - this will add even more charm to the work.
• A passe-partout for children's drawings can be decorated with a variety of badges, buttons, mini-toys and other cute things.

Important! Mats made from fabric look very original. They add special warmth and comfort to the interior.

Content

It is impossible to imagine a painting without a frame, because... Without this important element, a work of art looks incomplete. In addition, nothing decorates and gives an image more originality than a skillfully selected passe partout. It will add the necessary effectiveness and completeness to the creation, thanks to which the painting will become an important accent element in any room. It will attract the attention of your guests and fit harmoniously into the overall style of interior design.

What is passe-partout

Before ordering such a product, remember that a passe-partout is a wide frame (French passe partout), made of multi-layer cardboard, which frames a photograph, collage, drawing, illustration or any other work of art. This creates a boundary between the frame and the painting. It is customary to highlight portraits in this way. The difference between a passe-partout and a regular frame is that it is, essentially, a piece of cardboard with an oval, round or quadrangular hole cut out in the middle. Moreover, this was done for a frame of smaller thickness.

Passepartouts are presented on the modern market with a rich palette of colors and shades and a wide range of sizes, which allows you to more freely select a frame for a specific image. In addition, such a product often contains the autograph of the person depicted or explanatory signatures. A correctly selected option gives the creation its full value and helps solve a number of decorative problems associated with artistic design. When designing, designers can apply both double and triple mats.

Purpose

Having decided to order a passe-partout for a photo or any image that will look aesthetically pleasing and original, first familiarize yourself with the purposes of such an item. Often it acts as a unique element of art, emphasizing a particular work of art. In addition, this type of frame performs the following functions:

• facilitating the perception of the work due to the fact that it is separated from the rest of the interior;
• focusing on individual elements of the image that enhance the impact on viewers;
• protection of a piece of art from the negative effects of the environment.

Dimensions

The passe-partout frame (most of it) has the same dimensions on all sides. This approach is considered justified from a commercial point of view, because it can be used for both portrait and landscape versions. True, this format is not always appropriate from an aesthetic point of view. This is explained by the peculiarities of human visual perception, because When considering vertical objects, the most harmonious will be the one whose lower part has more weight.

It should be said that a symmetrical frame is not always bad, for example, if the picture has a bright accent in the lower part, then additional visual enhancement will not be required. There is no need for an asymmetrical mat if it is purchased for educational and scientific illustrations. In general, a well-chosen frame and dimensions can give the status of a work to any linear and color chaos, and even naive children's drawings.

What are they made from?

When planning to purchase a passport for photographs, familiarize yourself with the materials used to make such an item. For this purpose, manufacturers use a sheet of paper or cardboard, which is covered on both sides with layers of paper. The front side is covered with a colored layer. Cardboard can be plain or colored - thickness ranges from 0.5 to 3 mm. In the first case, the color of the cut and the front side are the same, and in the second, the cut differs in the color of the top layer.

Museum-quality cardboard, which is less susceptible to fungus, has the best properties. Cardboard with conservation quality, made from natural cotton, is considered to be of higher quality - it does not allow the fungus to spread at all. There is also a material made from cellulose containing lignin - it undergoes oxidation and spoils the picture paper. More information about making a passe-partout:

• The cardboard for such a frame is sheets of whatman paper pressed into several layers, which are covered with a sheet of colored paper. Cellulose from wood fiber is often used for production.
• Cardboard consists of a surface layer, an inner layer and a reverse layer. Each of them has special requirements.
• In addition to aesthetic requirements, the surface of the product must be resistant to light. In this regard, paper for the surface layer is produced in highly specialized paper mills that meet high quality standards.
• The back of the item is no less important than the others, because... this layer also touches the work of art. To make the backing, acid-free paper treated with calcium carbonate is used.
• The inner layer is the thickest. To a greater extent, a standard inner layer made of wood and a layer of non-oxidizing cellulose are used. If the first one is made from selected and free from any impurities wood fiber, then this minimizes the appearance of blackheads. The advantage of cellulose is that it does not turn yellow over time and this structure provides reliable protection from any external influences.
• The painted inner layer of cardboard gives an additional aesthetic effect when framing. The contrasting outline helps make the artwork stand out more clearly.

Methods for arranging a passe-partout

Paintings with mats can be subconsciously perceived as art objects. Sometimes, to enhance the decorative properties, a passe-partout edging is used, made in the form of a wooden or plastic strip - located between the image and the field. It is advisable, before choosing an item, to decide on the optimal way to arrange it. There are two of them:

• Below the picture. In this case, the picture is fixed on a solid sheet of cardboard. For this, rubber glue can be used, which can be easily removed if necessary - this will not spoil the design. Another way is to use corners or double-sided stickers. This location option is not suitable if the photograph is placed under glass. It can stick tightly and be irretrievably lost. In addition, this type of item adds rigidity to the children's craft and can later be placed on the wall.
• Above the picture. This option looks like a thick frame under which the finished work of art is placed. To make it, you can take a couple of sheets of cardboard: the thin one is used for the backing, and the thicker one is used to make the frame. In the latter, you will need to cut a window to the size of the picture, leaving an allowance of 3 mm, which will be used for an inclined cut at a 45-degree angle. The picture is secured to the backing and then the top frame is attached to the edges with 2-sided adhesive tape.

Options

Passepartout may differ in texture or coating, which is used as velvet, silk, linen and decorative films. White, gray or another color solution is ideal for engravings, paintings, and regular photography. Depending on the size of the creation, you can choose a narrow or wide mat for its design. The first option focuses attention on the frame, and the second adds “air” to the picture. In addition, decide on the appropriate option for such a part:

• Multilayer. It differs in that it consists of two or three versions of cardboard with different shades. At the same time, it must be combined with the image. The inner layer can be darker or lighter than the outer one. Often, a gold-colored product is used as the bottom layer, ideally combined with a gold baguette frame. A double version of similar shades of the same color can create a deep “facet” effect, which is enhanced when using thicker cardboard. A design option using a multi-layer mat, where an oval bevel is used, and then, in the form of a rectangle, separated by a wide edging, has gained some popularity.
• With edging. This is a plank (ruler) made of plastic or wood, the appearance of which is varied: from tinted and painted to aged, from carved to smooth. The edging acts as a partition between the picture and the mat, being an additional decor. The plank must match the mat and frame, both in color and finish. Due to the special profile shape, it can be inserted into a passe-partout window. The edging prevents the painting from coming into contact with glass, if the latter is used for decoration.
• No window cutout. In this case, the work is superimposed on the sheet of the product, so that the image is completely preserved. The bordering parts of creation are not closed.

Size selection

When choosing the optimal solution, pay attention to the diagonal, height and width of the product. Fields that are too small will not perform their primary function. Their width is almost always chosen slightly larger than the width of the frame. Sometimes wide margins are considered inappropriate because... an overly large product distracts attention from the picture itself. The width of the field ranges from 1/4 to 1/3 of the narrow side of the design. If the image itself is not balanced, then it is permissible to make the side margins very wide. In addition, the wide option can be used in the following cases:

• depicts a portrait, still life;
• a large subject covering almost the entire picture;
• the landscape lacks sea (make the bottom even larger) or sky (increase the strip at the top).

Choosing a size is a serious matter. If you do not make a mistake with it, you will be able to present the image in the best possible way. Options:

• for images of all sizes – the top and side margins are equal in width to each other, the bottom margin is slightly wider;
• for medium and large ones – about 1/3 of the narrow side of the picture;
• for vertically directed ones – side margins measuring 1/3 of the width of the narrow side of the image, bottom margin – 1/3 of the height, top – 1/5;
• for small drawings with a large number of small details (for example, engravings) - a wide product up to 15 cm, and sometimes more.

Color selection

Plain products are produced in a wide range of colors - from snowy white to deep black. The mat acts as a tool to achieve color balance between the painting and the frame. When selecting, it is very important to follow the color combination:

• For black and white works, use similar options for the product and frame: black-black, white-white, black-white and vice versa.
• White color and its shades are widely used in the design of monochrome graphics and black and white photographs.
• When designing color works, pay attention to the subtlest nuances of color and light in the image and the style in which the interior of the room is designed.
• Dark products are able to enhance the intensity of the colors in the picture depending on their shade, highlighting cold or warm tones in the overall range.
• Antique etchings and engravings often require options for their design in calm pastel shades that do not distract attention from the work itself.
• When using a color frame, it is advisable to focus on muted, calm tones. Saturated colors are used in the design of posters and modern graphics, and catchy poster colors are appropriate when solving special problems (design).
• Often the color of the product is chosen to match the tone of one of the elements of the picture. In most cases, it differs from the shade of the frame, although sometimes there is a successful combination of both elements that are similar in color.
• The color of whipped cream (cream) is a neutral white with a slight yellowish tint, which has long become an integral element of the “new” color scheme. It goes harmoniously with the color of stone, suede, slate gray.
• White visually increases the creation, and black - reduces it. On a white background, the picture seems to come to the foreground, and the black frame is a kind of window through which viewers look at the picture. True, white color often unnecessarily distracts from work, and black can negatively affect the correct perception of tonalities.
• Ivory is a soft white that is more pleasing to the eye. In interior art, the combination of ivory and black helps achieve the most dramatic sounds. This shade can reflect light, creating a feeling of warmth - goes well with muted dark colors.
• If we are talking about black and white photographs, then it makes sense to choose a frame in a gray shade - from white to black.

DIY passe-partout

If you are going to make a mat yourself, then prepare a ruler, scissors, cardboard, thick colored paper, a ruler, a metal corner and glue. Stages of work:

• Draw a rectangle twice the size of your finished piece on a blank piece of cardboard. Then cut according to the markings made and place a photograph, painting, etc. in the center of the resulting rectangle. Make sure the distance to the edges is the same. Carefully outline the photo with a pencil, remove it and, stepping back from the edges 1-2 mm, cut out a smaller rectangle. The result is a rectangle with a window cut out in the center.
• Start making the contrasting edging. Cut out two pairs of strips from colored paper (thick): the dimensions of the first two should correspond to the length of the inner window, and the second to the width. Fold each strip in half and leave a narrow edge in the center - 2 mm wide. Using a metal corner, check that all the cut strips fit.
• Next, connect the strips to the cardboard frame with glue, which is applied only to the cardboard. Pay special attention to the joints at the corners.
• As soon as the glue dries, place a photo on the back of the mat and decorate the finished work with a frame - with or without glass. If you are going to frame embroidery, first attach it to thick cardboard and secure the fabric on the back side with a small stapler or double-sided tape.

A painting without a frame is like an actor without an audience. Both are incomplete. Nothing decorates an image more than a skillfully selected frame and mat. This adds effectiveness and completeness to it. A painting, like a photograph, becomes an independent object that attracts attention and delights.

What is passe-partout and what is it used for?

On the question of definition. A passe-partout is a wide frame made of multi-layer cardboard that frames a drawing, photograph, collage or other work of art. This creates a boundary between the painting and the frame. It is customary to highlight portraits in this way.

The passe-partout frame is used for several purposes. The main ones include:

• emphasis on individual details of the image, enhancing the impact on the viewer;
• facilitating the perception of the work due to its separation from the rest of the interior;
• protection of a piece of art from the negative effects of the environment.

In addition, mats often act as an element of art.

Why is symmetry harmful?

Most of the finished mats have the same dimensions on all sides. This move is justified from a commercial point of view; it can be used for both directions: book and landscape. However, this mat format is not always appropriate from an aesthetic point of view.

This fact is explained by the peculiarities of human visual perception. When considering vertical objects, the most harmonious will be the one whose lower part has more weight. This fact is known and widely used in the press. For example, the Latin letter S or the number 8 are asymmetrical. Their underparts are slightly enlarged, but overall they look very harmonious.

The same thing happens with passe-partout. If it is slightly enlarged in the lower part, then the whole picture will be perceived better.

It is worth noting that a symmetrical mat frame is not always a bad thing. For example, if the image itself has a bright accent at the bottom, then no additional enhancement is required. Another situation where there is no need for an asymmetrical mat is educational and scientific illustrations.

Selection principles

The first thing you need to pay attention to is the color of the cardboard. Firstly, it must be different from the shade of the frame. Then everything is built on the effect that you want to achieve. If you need to highlight an image, it is better to place it on a very light background, almost white or even completely snow-white. When it is necessary to reduce the design, it is limited to a dark mat. The most neutral shade is gray. He practically does not interact with the image.

When choosing a matte shade, it is recommended to choose calm and muted tones. Let it be a little similar to the shade that is used in the image itself. Then the mat for the drawing will effectively emphasize the advantages. In some cases, this method can muffle or completely hide imperfections.

In addition, ornaments and lines can be applied to the mat. Then they simply must form a single whole with the object of art.

The second point is the choice of frame. It should fit perfectly with the image. A common mistake is choosing a frame to match the furniture and the color of the walls.

There are times when you should abandon the mat - these are oil paintings and a huge image format. In the first case, there is simply no need to further decorate them, and in the second, the size of the frame can disrupt the perception of the piece of art. There are also situations when the engravings themselves already contain decorative elements located along the edges. Then they also do not need to be put away in the mat.

A few words about cardboard

Its thickness usually varies from 0.5 to 3 millimeters. Passepartout cardboard can be colored or plain. In the second case, the color of the cut does not differ from its front side. But the first option has a different shade on the cut. There is such a mat that its surface has a textured pattern.

In addition, cardboard can be different in composition. The most popular one has a neutral level of acidity. It is made from cellulose, which contains lignin. The latter undergoes oxidation and spoils the drawing paper.

Museum quality cardboard has the best properties. It is less susceptible to fungus.

On the last step there is cardboard with conservation quality. It is made of natural cotton and does not allow fungus to develop at all.

How to determine the size of a passe-partout?

Fields that are too small will not perform their function. But, on the other hand, an overly wide mat will distract attention from the object of art. As a result, the image will simply be lost.

For the side and top margins, there is a rule: the width of the mat should be between a third and a half of the side of the image that is smaller. This is in most cases. But there are special situations when the side parts can be made larger. An example would be an unbalanced or very dense image.

A wide mat can be used in the following cases:

• a large object is depicted over almost the entire drawing;
• portrait or still life;
• the landscape lacks the sky (enlarge the strip at the top) or the sea (make the bottom even larger).

An example of a passe-partout frame for a 10 x 15 photograph would be the following dimensions: on the sides 5 cm, on the top 4 cm, on the bottom 6 cm.

What are the options for passe-partout?

With edging. This is a plank made of wood or plastic. Its appearance can be quite varied. From smooth to carved, from tinted and painted to aged. The edging plays the role of a partition between the passe-partout and the drawing and is an additional decor.

Multi-layer passe-partout . When two or three cardboard options are used. They have different shades, but are sure to be combined with the image. Moreover, the inner layer can be made lighter or darker than the outer one.

Methods for arranging a passe-partout

First: passe-partout under the picture . In this case, the image is fixed on a solid sheet of cardboard. For this purpose, you can use rubber glue, which can be easily removed without damaging the design. Another approach is to use corners or double-sided sticky notes.

This method will not work if you plan to place the photo under glass. It may stick tightly and be irretrievably lost. It should be noted that such a mat for drawing will add rigidity to the children's craft, as a result of which it can be easily placed on the wall.

Second method: passe-partout over the drawing. It looks like a tight frame under which the finished product is placed. Here you need to take two sheets of cardboard. The thinner one will go on the substrate, and the thicker one will be used to make a frame. In the latter, you need to cut a window to the size of the design, leaving an allowance of 3 mm. It will make an inclined cut at an angle of 45 degrees. This bevel gives a smooth transition from the image to the mat. You need to attach the picture to the backing, and then glue the top frame to its edges with double-sided adhesive tape.

The latter option requires more material costs, but also looks more solid. In addition, with its help you can cover a photograph with glass and not worry that after a while it will be impossible to get it out.

You can decorate a painting, photograph, embroidery, etc. in various ways. One of them is a passe-partout or print. At its core, it is cardboard (but you can also use thick paper), made in a special way. Making a mat for a painting with your own hands is very simple; in this article we will tell you about the three most popular methods. There will be videos too.

Passepartout for a DIY painting

Before you begin making this decorative element, it is important to note some of the subtleties of its choice. First of all, why do you need such a design?

It is beautiful and original, plus everything helps to emphasize your work (painting or embroidery);

You can add inscriptions;

There is no need to select a frame exactly according to the size of the work.

How to choose a passe-partout?

As in any other creative work, harmony and a sense of proportion are important here. When choosing this design you need:

1. maintain the color scheme, so the mat should contrast with the picture;
2. maintain a certain aspect ratio (the width may vary, you need to find the option that suits you, often the width of the mat is twice the width of the picture frame).

Manufacturing method No. 1 (with edging)

To make a passe-partout for a photo or painting with your own hands, we will need:

cardboard, however, you can also take a sheet of Whatman paper;

thick colored paper or wallpaper (yes, this option is also possible);

• stationery knife;

  ruler and corner;

  a simple pencil;

To make a passe-partout yourself you need to have a little patience - it’s not a lot of work, but it’s neat. We have broken down the manufacturing method into simple steps:

1. We measure the finished work for which we are making a passe-partout. Then we take a sheet of whatman paper or cardboard, it should be twice the size of our photo / painting / drawing, we outline a rectangle that matches the size of the finished work (you can simply circle the picture).

It is important that the distance from the edges of the cardboard to the border of the work is the same.

2. Now cut out our outlined rectangle. The result will be a sheet of Whatman paper with a window in the middle.

Then you need to make an edging from colored paper or wallpaper. To do this, you need to cut 4 strips 4 cm wide (2 strips are equal in length to the width of our picture, and 2 to its length).

Then we bend the cut strips in half lengthwise. In the middle we leave a narrow edging 2 millimeters wide.

4. Then you need to glue the edging to the cardboard.

Important! Apply glue to cardboard or Whatman paper, as colored paper has a lower density and may deteriorate. And pay attention to the joints in the corners.

5. After the glue has dried, attach a photo or drawing on the back side, adjust it the way you like, fix it and can insert it into a frame.

If you are decorating embroidery in a passe-partout, then you must first fix it on a sheet of thick cardboard. You can use a regular office stapler for these purposes.

Manufacturing method No. 2 (popular)

To make a passe-partout using this method you will need:

picture frame;

a sheet of cardboard, whatman paper, wallpaper or watercolor paper;

scissors and stationery knife;

The article is almost on topic: How to make a bookmark for a book with your own hands - a huge number of ideas and options.

1. Each photo (picture) frame is accompanied by a piece of cardboard, the one that fixes the image on the back. And if it fits tightly, then we will take it as the basis for our passe-partout. To do this, take a piece of cardboard, place it on a sheet of Whatman paper or watercolor paper, trace and cut out a rectangle of the desired size.

3. Then, in accordance with the calculations, we draw a frame - a passe-partout cutout. Then we retreat 2 mm inward from it and draw another frame.

4. Next we need to measure the smallest width of the mat (we take measurements from the edge of the Whatman paper). And from the first frame (the one closest to the edge), draw another one, the width coinciding with the smallest width of the print (in the example in the video, a little smaller is taken, this is acceptable). Immediately draw the lines of future cuts in the corners.

5. Now we need to make the depth of the print. To do this, take a spoon or fork, and with its back side, using a ruler, press the passe-partout along a narrow edge (these are the 2 mm that we outlined between the first and last frames).

6. Then cut out the inside of a sheet of whatman paper (watercolor paper). You can use scissors, you can use a stationery knife or a scalpel, whichever is more convenient for you.

7. Then you need to make corner cuts. Attention! They should be done up to the frame, which is closer to the edge.

8. We bend the resulting “petals” inward along the ruler, along the line that is closer to the center.

9. Using glue, at one point, we fix our photo / drawing from the inside on the mat. It's better to use PVA - it doesn't leave marks. And put it in a frame under glass.

Step by step video

Everything is described and clearly shown in the video.

Manufacturing method No. 3 (simplest)

To make a passe-partout with your own hands using this method, you need to prepare:

cardboard, whatman paper, wallpaper, in other words, whatever you like best and suits the drawing;

scissors, stationery knife;

We decide on the size of the print. Usually on each side it is 5-7 cm larger than the finished photo.

The rest of the steps are in a short video. You will be surprised how simple this method is.

Fabric prints look very original and cozy.

If you take wallpaper instead of ordinary Whatman paper, then such a picture will be in harmony with the wall.