Mats!

How do you pick which mat board to use; what color, style and size?

Our expert team will help walk you through the decision-making process.

TYPES OF MATS

• Paper mats are made from (you guessed it) paper or wood pulp. Because of the high acidity associated with paper mats, we don’t offer them as an option. The tend to yellow with age and the acid in the mat can migrate to your art.

• Acid-free (alpha cellulose) mats are chemically buffered to be acid free. They can sometimes be used on original artwork taking in account the value of the piece. Core of the mat is white.

• Rag mats are made of cotton fiber rather than wood pulp. They’re 100% acid free and can be used confidently on any piece of original art. They come in a variety of thicknesses and can provide an extra deep bevel if required.

• Fabric mats come in an array of colors and types such as silk, linen, and cotton. Our fabric mats are hand-wrapped around rag mats. This makes them safe to be used on original art.

SIZE OF MAT Several things will determine the size of the mat:

What size is your art? And what is the size of the artwork paper? Original artwork, and the paper it is printed on, should never be trimmed. Generally, the bigger the art, the bigger the mat. Narrow mats tend to crowd the art. The frame choice will also come in to consideration during the design process. Many times, a piece of artwork will need to fit into a specific place and the outside dimension of the frame may determine the size of the mat.

MAT COLOR Mats should compliment the artwork and should never distract from the art or overwhelm it.

Stand back, look at your piece, and decide what is the predominant (and usually neutral) color of the piece. That is your top mat color. It should expand the mid-tones.

A second mat (or fillet), which fits under the top mat, can be used as an accent color to pick up or highlight a more colorful or stronger color in the art.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A WINDOW MAT AND A FLOAT MAT A window mat has an opening in the center and it sits on top of the art. Usually a minimum of ¼” – ½” of the artwork will be covered by the mat.

With a float mat, a solid sheet of matboard is cut (no window) and the artwork sits on top. With this design, none of the image or paper edge is covered with the mat.