What is the purpose of a mat in a picture frame?

In the picture framing industry, a mat (or mount in British English) is a thin, flat piece of paper-based material included within a picture frame, which serves as additional decoration and to perform several other, more practical functions, such as separating the art from the glass.

Do I need a mat when framing?

Well, for large custom framed concert posters or movie posters, we usually recommend the straightforward look of a full-bleed custom frame job. And for important documents and press clippings, we recommend a mat. A custom-cut mat and our White Gallery Frame are all it takes to make your finest press clippings to shine.

What is archival mounting board?

Mount board gives custom framed photos stability and is an essential part of picture framing. Mount boards, often also referred to as foamcore, come in a variety of thicknesses, your choice of black or white, and support different mounting techniques (such as self-adhesive mount boards versus heat activated board).

Can you frame archival paper?

The Library of Congress recommends framing a reproduction of your paper-based material and storing the original in proper archival conditions. Whether you frame an original or a reproduction, you should use archival supplies and display it out of direct sunlight and fluorescent lighting.

When should you mat a picture?

Mats help keep your artwork safe by separating the glass from the art or whatever it is being framed. Having a mat in between your artwork and framing glass is important because any condensation that might develop on the inside of the glass can be transferred to your art causing water damage, mold or mildew.

Do photos look better with a mat?

“Most pieces look better with a mat, with a couple of exceptions,” says Tessa Wolf of Framebridge. “Large-format photography looks incredible unmatted—the image has a greater impact without anything qualifying what you’re seeing.

How do I choose a matting frame?

Here are some things to consider while choosing the right kind of mat for your picture:

1. Step 1: Determine The Size Of Your Picture.
2. Step 2: Select A Mat Board For The Picture.
3. Step 3: Pick The Right Thickness For Your Picture Frame.
4. Step 4: Measure The Size Of Your Picture Plus The Matting.
5. Step 5: Choose The Right Effect.

Is PVC board archival?

The PVC board is very rigid, durable and solid, yet it is very light. Sintra is acid free and has minimal out gassing for Archival use. We know a lot of photographers mount to a substrate referred to as Styrene and we see our board as an upgrade to that.

What makes a frame archival?

What Is Archival Framing? The painting is ready to hang, protected from dust and moisture by the dust cover on the back of the frame. The foam board is acid-free, and the mounting and mat boards are either all cotton or very well buffered against acid.

What is archival framing?

Archival framing and “conservation framing” are interchangeable terms referring to practices that help preserve, and avoid damaging, your art and mementos. Non-archival quality framing materials contain acid that can discolor your photos and art.

Is mat board archival?

Crescent RagMat Noir Black Core Museum Matboard is of archival quality, and is recommended for the matting of fine art originals, valuable documents.