Easy Photo Mats

I'm getting ready to enter some photos in the County Fair and they require the photos to be matted but not framed. I spent a good deal of time last year using tape to attach photos and cutting posterboard backs for store bought mats. Is there a quick and easy mat out there somewhere with a back "pocket" or something like it? Something easy to use over and over with different photos each time?

If you buy photocorners you can sort of do this yourself by getting a print arranged properly in the matte, then sticking down the corners. With a little care, you can remove one print and put another in. It sure seems like there should be a ready-made solution, but I haven't found it yet.

Pete D.

Mike, www.lightimpressionsdirect.com has precut mats that have a "hinged" backing on them...sounds like what you're basically after. Here's a direct link to the product: http://www.lightimpressionsdirect.com/servlet/OnlineShopping?Dsp=20300&PCR=30000:230000:236000:236100:236110. Best of luck!

Even if there is a mat with a pre-made backing, you would want to have enough room to adjust your photo in the window of the mat so something important isn't cut out or crooked, so you would still want to tape down your picture. I used 8x10 heavy-weight cardstock in the past - it was precut and easy, but the fairs seem to want heavier posterboard that has to be cut by hand.

With a piece of posterboard cut a smidge larger than the picture and notched at the top, you can tape down three edges securely, insert your picture (taping the top of the posterboard) and reuse it next time by only removing the upper tape, making you own pocket. I prefer to center and tape my picture by hand, so this doesn't work for me.