Mat, Mount and Frame It Yourself (Crafts Highlights)
by David Logan

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Book Reviews of Mat, Mount and Frame It Yourself (Crafts Highlights)

Book Review: Beyond Mat Knives
Summary: 5 Stars

This book is aimed at people who want to go a step beyond cutting simple mats, although enough tips are offered on that subject so that even experienced mat cutters can learn something new. The book is designed to appeal to a wide audience from beginners to those who are considering constructing their own frames from scratch. It does it by simple, direct explanation, and you probably will find it sitting on your work table, like a recipe book, while you frame pictures. There's little art here. For example, the discussion of mat color selection makes it clear that this is a matter that is very personal, and about which the author can only provide the most general guidance.

On the other hand there's plenty of craft. For example, he discusses the variety of tools available and suggests which are worth investing in for the work that one contemplates. He suggested at least one tool that I did not know existed to deal with a problem I regularly encountered.

A typical example of the more complex tasks covered is the preparation of a double mat, that is, two mats stacked together so that the overmat has a larger window than the undermat. Trying to cut the windows separately will almost always lead to an uneven looking window. Logan tells you how to manipulate the two mats together so that the mats will nest evenly. Not brain surgery, but a useful technique.

Logan also spends some time debunking myths, like the supposed danger of using non-museum quality mats. He points out that not only have ordinary matboards improved with regard to the effects of acid content, but that it also makes no economic sense to use materials that will last longer than the framed object.

The book has a few weaknesses. The author clearly doesn't believe it is worth the expense for most people to prepare frames from scratch and gives short shrift to this area. To learn how to do this, you'll need a good manual on carpentry and joinery.

But for most of the framing jobs that the average person may want to try, this book will provide you with everything you need to know. Even experienced framers will probably pick up a tip or two that will make this book worthwhile.

Summary of Mat, Mount and Frame It Yourself (Crafts Highlights)

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