Matting sizes: I've been looking online for pre-cut mats for 5x7 and 8x10 photos. They all have openings of 4.5x6.5 and 7.5x9.5. This will cover a quarter inch of every side of each...

Captryan Loc: Massachusetts

I've been looking online for pre-cut mats for 5x7 and 8x10 photos. They all have openings of 4.5x6.5 and 7.5x9.5. This will cover a quarter inch of every side of each photo. A 5x7 Photo is 35 sq in. The mat will cover 1/4"x7x2 + 1/4x4.5x2 or 5.75 sq in. That's almost 1/6 th of the Photo (if my math is right). Does anyone know of an online source for pre-cut mats with openings a little bigger? Thanks in advance

big-guy Loc: Peterborough Ontario Canada

If you have a 5x7 print and try to fit in in a 5x7 hole... Good luck. You need some overlap to attach the two.

JimKing Loc: Salisbury, Maryland USA

I'm with Peter. If it were 1/8" smaller all the way around it might be OK but 1/4" is pretty usual.

turp77 Loc: Connecticut, Plainfield

Why don't you cut your own? It isn't that hard and you can get it the way you like it. Basic tools aren't that expensive and easy to learn via youtube

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Captryan wrote:

I've been looking online for pre-cut mats for 5x7 and 8x10 photos. They all have openings of 4.5x6.5 and 7.5x9.5. This will cover a quarter inch of every side of each photo. A 5x7 Photo is 35 sq in. The mat will cover 1/4"x7x2 + 1/4x4.5x2 or 5.75 sq in. That's almost 1/6 th of the Photo (if my math is right). Does anyone know of an online source for pre-cut mats with openings a little bigger? Thanks in advance

Those are the old fashion sizes, these days 4x6, 6x9, 8x12, 10x15 are more in-vogue. These utilize the ratio of the entire frame or sensor. You may need custom mat cutting. Yes, I've noticed the commercial sizes are a bit weird too with overlapping too much of the print image.

breck Loc: Derbyshire UK

I get them from a local picture framer 1/8" is fine I do not have any difficulty with that, and he stocks a huge number of colours .

fergmark Loc: norwalk connecticut

why don't you resize your prints to give the overlap you want

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

lamiaceae wrote:

Those are the old fashion sizes, these days 4x6, 6x9, 8x12, 10x15 are more in-vogue. These utilize the ratio of the entire frame or sensor. You may need custom mat cutting. Yes, I've noticed the commercial sizes are a bit weird too with overlapping too much of the print image.

The "old fashioned" ratios were good enough to last a couple of hundred years, they are still good. Why question a person's choices?

bweber Loc: Newton, MA

I use frame destination for custom frames. They are very easy to work with and will cut mats to any size opening you want with any size overlap you need. You do not have to purchase an entire frame from them. Simply purchase what you need. Check them out at https://www.framedestination.com.

Bullfrog Bill Loc: CT

Try these guys: https://www.framedestination.com/

You can have them cut to any size or buy off the shelf.

tshift Loc: Overland Park, KS.

Captryan wrote:

I've been looking online for pre-cut mats for 5x7 and 8x10 photos. They all have openings of 4.5x6.5 and 7.5x9.5. This will cover a quarter inch of every side of each photo. A 5x7 Photo is 35 sq in. The mat will cover 1/4"x7x2 + 1/4x4.5x2 or 5.75 sq in. That's almost 1/6 th of the Photo (if my math is right). Does anyone know of an online source for pre-cut mats with openings a little bigger? Thanks in advance

I use matboardplus.com for all my mats,backer boards, and bags. Lots of different types and colors. You can order your mats cut to whatever size you want the opening to be. Having the opening a half inch less than photo size gives a 1/4 inch all the way around photo, works well. These are good people to deal with. Enjoy.

Tom

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

If you want to use a standard mat size and NOT cover any of your image, try printing with a border. If you print a 5x7 with a border, normally the mat covers ONLY the border and your entire image shows through the opening. If you want to do 11x14, you'll need to resize your image to that size before printing. On both sizes, some cropping will occur. If you print from LR, you can adjust the width of the border. If you print directly from Windows, I believe the standard border is 1/4 inch. I haven't measured it recently.

Buying a standard (precut) mat in other than standard opening sizes isn't an option. That's why they're called "standard" mats. The only way to get your opening a different size is to cut it yourself.

toughmandave Loc: The Villages, Florida

AzPicLady wrote:

If you want to use a standard mat size and NOT cov... (show quote)

I buy mine from either Micheals or JoAnn Fabrics, I can't remember which store. The opening is 7 1/2 x 9 1/2, perfect for an 8x10 photo. I don't remember seeing any 5x7's but they may have some. I just picked up 10 of them and they are only a couple dollars each. You can also get a Dexter mat cutter (all chrome) on Ebay for about $10.00. Dexter still sells blades on Ebay too. It is easy to cut your own.

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

...I do my own with a medium duty Logan mat cutter, and make my own wood frames in my shop. Matting is pretty basic, once you get it down it's no sweat...framing is another matter...heh...

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Captryan wrote:

I've been looking online for pre-cut mats for 5x7 and 8x10 photos. They all have openings of 4.5x6.5 and 7.5x9.5. This will cover a quarter inch of every side of each photo. A 5x7 Photo is 35 sq in. The mat will cover 1/4"x7x2 + 1/4x4.5x2 or 5.75 sq in. That's almost 1/6 th of the Photo (if my math is right). Does anyone know of an online source for pre-cut mats with openings a little bigger? Thanks in advance

If you don't like what's available, maybe its time to cut them yourself, then you can cut them any size you want, as well as round, oval, or any shape you want! Its easy and cheap, done that for many years!