Mat for visual artwork and method of making same

Abstract

The invention is created by taking photographs and introducing them into a computer by either scanning hardcopies or directly from a digital format. The photos are then arranged in a way to allow the colors or patterns to flow around an opening in the center in which a removable photo or item can be placed. Once an appropriate pattern is achieved, the image is printed onto a glossy photo quality paper and then adhered to matte board. The center is then removed using a beveled cutter in order to display the depth of the matte board. The final photo matte is a blended image of photos that depicts a story told with photos rather than words.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A mat for framing visual artwork, comprising: 
 a border; and    an artwork-viewing window interior to the border so that the window is surrounded by the border,    the border displaying at least two distinct photographs.    
     
     
         2 . The mat of  claim 1 , wherein the border displays at least four distinct photographs.  
     
     
         3 . The mat of  claim 1 , wherein the border is formed, at least in part, of paper.  
     
     
         4 . The mat of  claim 1 , wherein the photographs abut one another.  
     
     
         5 . The mat of  claim 1 , wherein the photographs overlap one other at their adjacent edges.  
     
     
         6 . The mat of  claim 1 , wherein the edges of the photographs are softened so that they gradually fade away to the outermost edges of the photographs.  
     
     
         7 . The mat of  claim 1 , wherein the photographs are predominantly black and white with some colored items therein.  
     
     
         8 . The mat of  claim 1 , wherein the subjects of the photographs are related under a selected theme.  
     
     
         9 . A mat for framing visual artwork, comprising: 
 a border; and    an artwork-viewing window interior to the border so that the window is surrounded by the border,    the border displaying a computer-manipulated photograph.    
     
     
         10 . A mat for framing visual artwork, comprising: 
 a border; and    an artwork-viewing window interior to the border so that the window is surrounded by the border,    the border displaying at least two copies of a computer-manipulated photograph, wherein the copies abut one another and are blended together at their abutting edges.    
     
     
         11 . A method of making a mat for framing visual artwork, comprising: 
 scanning at least two photographs to form scanned images corresponding to the photographs;    storing the scanned images in computer memory;    manipulating the scanned images to form a mat using a photograph-manipulation software program; and    printing the mat formed of scanned images.