By Angie Felix

Matting on the Right Kind of Paper

Scrapbooking is about the photos. Those precious images that recall or illustrate a particular event, moment or feeling are really the main focus of our layouts. That’s why how we showcase those photos is important—we want them to be the focus of the page, not to get lost in the background or overshadowed by some other page element. And that’s why how we mat our photos is so important. Here are a few tips to make sure you’re on the right track:

You should always, always follow “The Golden Rule” of patterned papers. “The Golden Rule” states that you should always mat your photos on a plain paper before placing them on a patterned background. A plain mat adds a visual separation between the photo and the background and helps the photo to pop off the page. The solid papers also give the eye relief from the patterned papers.

In this first layout, notice how the photo is matted on a striped background paper. It’s almost difficult to keep your eye on the photo because of the busy stripes surrounding it. Rather, your eyes travel quickly to the background, which here is solid—a perfect place to rest your eyes.

In the second layout, we’ve simply reversed the papers. The photograph sits on a solid mat, which is then added to the striped background. The solid paper draws the eye in to the photo and separates it from the busy background.

Another tip? Mat your photos on a paper that contrasts from the background, or add extra definition to your mat by inking the edges.

Check out how this purple background paper and purple mat are so close in color. The mat gets lost in the background paper, losing the photo as well. By changing the color of the mat to a lighter tone, you brighten up the page and help the photo stand out. This light purple mat is perfect to contrast with this dark purple background.

Want a second option? Instead of changing the background or mat paper entirely, grab an inkpad and run it along the edges of the photo mat. This black edged mat draws the eye, bringing the focus to the photo. You can also double-mat, adding a thin mat of a contrasting color to help separate the mat from the background.

However you choose to mat your photos, be sure that the mat does its job—separating the photo from the background and helping it pop off the page.