Guide

A simple DIY for passe-partouts

12.5.2020

Translation: machine translated

Passepartouts put works of art in the right light in any frame. They can be plain white or coloured. If you make them yourself, there are no limits to your creativity.

Whether it's photos or newspaper cuttings - if I like a picture, I hang it up. That's why I rarely have an empty wall at home and always have an empty picture frame in stock. However, these are rarely the right size for the picture. This is where homemade passe-partouts come into play, which allow me to frame each work individually.

What you need:

Passepartout cutter, cutter, Skalpell oder Schere
Cutting mat as an underlay and aid for measuring
scale, geo-triangle
Paper, cardboard, packaging, fabric scraps, newspapers, etc. (any)
Pens, brushes and paint for drawing or painting (any)
Stencil (any)
Gloves (any)

Choosing the right tool

Instead of scissors, I use a scalpel for a clean cut. There are also special passe-partout cutters where the blade is aligned at a 30-degree and/or 45-degree angle for a bevelled cut. This gives the passe-partout an increased depth, which is particularly gentle on a delicate work of art due to the distance from the glass. However, as I frame photos and graphic prints that are not sensitive, thick paper or cardboard is sufficient for me. If I want to remove a passe-partout from the picture afterwards, I attach cardboard or polystyrene panels to the back around the inside cut-out.

For a precise cut, you need a steel ruler for cutting, a non-slip base and another thick piece of cardboard between the paper and the cutting mat. For large-format pictures, I also use a set square to maintain right angles. Wearing gloves to protect against stains is not only a good idea for white mounts, but also for coloured mounts. Grease stains from hand creams and other things are visible on most surfaces, depending on the viewing angle. That's why I simply put on woollen gloves. Alternatively, household gloves are also suitable.

Choosing the image section

First of all, I measure the inside dimensions of the selected picture frame and transfer them to the selected paper with a pencil. I start from the right-angled corners of the paper and also use a set square to make sure. I then use the ruler to connect the dots to form lines. Sometimes I decide against the dimensions that the picture gives me. For example, I narrow down a square picture and make it rectangular so that it fits the frame better. Or I can use this method to cut something out of a photo that I didn't want in front of the camera.

To determine the optimum position, I place the image on the cut-out paper. I move it back and forth until I am satisfied. You can also test how an image looks when it is placed above or below the centre of the frame. In addition to the material and look of the passe-partout, the position of the image section can become a stylistic device and achieve a completely different effect. I then transfer the image dimensions to the back of the paper with a pencil. I add at least 2 mm per side of the inner cut-out so that the passe-partout and the background overlap. To check whether the inner cut-out is positioned over the picture without any gaps, you can place it on the marked inner cut-out again before cutting it out.

Determine the material and look

White paper or cardboard frames are the classic and unobtrusive variant among passe-partouts that draw the eye to the essentials: the picture. If you decide to hang a series of pictures, these classics create a unity. These passe-partouts are barely noticeable on white walls in particular and bring visual calm.

In contrast, coloured passe-partouts are more eye-catching. Black versions have the advantage that they make the inside stand out twice as much. They are just as simple as white ones and at the same time a little bolder, as they create contrasts with white walls. To make a picture stand out, I often choose a passe-partout in the same colour as one of the elements on it. For example, if there is a green tree in the photo, I use a green paper and coordinate the image and passe-partout.

If you don't have the right cardboard at hand, you can paint it yourself with the desired colour. I use acyrl colours for this and use the brushstroke on some frames to create a pattern. For others, I apply the colour all over without leaving a trace. The advantage of this variant is that you can match the colour of the passe-partout exactly to your picture. Alternatively, you can create your own pattern and turn the frame into a work of art.

In addition to coloured, painted passe-partours, those with a structure are also rich in contrast. For this variant, choose cardboard that is already ribbed or old paper. I often use packaging material and crumple it up to create even more folds. This gives the image a spatial depth effect and emphasises it even more.

Do you feel insecure with brushes? Then decorate your passe-partout with felt-tip pens or coloured pencils. Decorate it by hand or use a stencil that you make yourself or buy. You can use this to create different patterns from dots. If you make them yourself, the shapes can be even more unusual. Or take out your ruler and draw a striped pattern to emphasise the frame shape.

If you prefer existing patterns, wrapping paper or newspaper cuttings are suitable for adding variety with lettering elements. Whatever you like is allowed. It's best to hold the picture over the background to determine your favourites. Some time ago, I picked up some lovely old patterns from the Brocki and didn't know what to use them for for a long time. Now I've given them a second life as a passe-partout.

Have you got any other tips on how to get the best out of your images with mounts? Let me know your ideas in the comment column.

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Pia Seidel

Senior Editor

Pia.Seidel@digitecgalaxus.ch

Like a cheerleader, I love celebrating good design and bringing you closer to everything furniture- and interior design- related. I regularly curate simple yet sophisticated interior ideas, report on trends and interview creative minds about their work.

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A simple DIY for passe-partouts

Choosing the right tool

Choosing the image section

Determine the material and look

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