Custom Mats



Matboards are a paper or cotton-based material that goes around the art to provide protection and support, while also enhancing the appearance of the artwork. With hundreds of mat options and thousands of possible combinations, custom mats are an excellent way to create a one-of-a-kind design. But don't worry about getting overwhelmed! Our professional designer will work with you to select the perfect color, style and size to complement the artwork without overpowering it. While not every project requires a mat, incorporating one or more mats into the frame design serves three general functions:

Decorative - enhances the artwork by adding visual interest and drawing the eye toward the art.


Functional - protects the artwork by keeping the glazing (glass/plexi) off of the art. When glazing is in direct contact with artwork, changes in temperature and humidity can cause moisture to accumulate between them, causing the glazing to fuse with the art. Note, if no matboard is selected, a spacer should be used in its place to allow airflow.


Spatial - provides visual "breathing space" between the artwork and the frame, while tying the two together through color, texture, design and spacing.

Types of Matboard



There are three primary levels of matboard quality used in custom picture framing today - decorative, conservation and museum. In the past, mats were made of paper which would yellow and fade in a relatively short time (just like old newspapers). Acid and lignins (from wood pulp) in the paper degrade and cause acid burn on the artwork. Modern matboards are fade and bleed resistant; the main difference now is in how the acids are neutralized or avoided. 

Museum - made of 100% cotton, naturally acid and lignin free so it starts and stays pH neutral. Eco friendly/annually renewable. Highest conservation grade.


Conservation - made of wood pulp, purified to remove acid and lignins, buffered with calcium carbonate to remain pH neutral. Minimum conservation grade.


Decorative - made of wood pulp, board is buffered and acid is temporarily neutralized to keep pH neutral for a time. Contains recycled materials. Not conservation grade.



Custom Mat Options



The options for custom mats are as varied as the people who view them. There is no "one size fits all" guideline when it comes to matting. As with art in general, matting style comes down to personal taste. Some people prefer no mats, or very simple mat designs while others enjoy larger, more elaborate ones. Keep in mind, a mat will add to the overall dimensions of the art being framed and thus the cost will increase accordingly. Above all, custom mats should enhance the art without overpowering it.


If you have something particular in mind, be sure to discuss your thoughts with our designer so we can come up with a fabulous design you will love! Here are some of the choices our designer will help you with during your appointment.


Color - oftentimes a design session will begin with choosing a top mat that is fairly neutral in color and connects nicely with the art. If an accent color is desired, then we'll choose an under-mat that pulls out a particular color from the piece (not necessarily the dominant color).



Size - mats borders will vary based on the art, but we generally start off with two and a half inches all around. Sometimes using even borders can cause the art to look off center, due to the optical center being slightly above the geographic center. If this happens, the designer will recommend a bottom weighted mat. Bottom weighted mats have a slightly wider bottom border (generally up to 1/2") than the top and sides to counteract this illusion.



Gallery mats (also called museum mats) offer another size option for mat borders. They typically have a dramatically wide bottom border, and are named for the style usually found in galleries or museums.

standard mat with even borders vs gallery mat with wide bottom border

Texture - when a plain mat is too simple, textured mats can be a great alternative. From more traditional textiles such as silk, linen and suede, to funky basket weaves, metallics and even AstroTurf mats, incorporating texture into your matting can be a fun way to liven up your art.



Thickness - a mat board is made up of layers known as plies. A standard mat is 4-ply, which is roughly 1/16" thick. Some mats also come in 6 and 8-ply thickness. These thicker mats add more depth and give a much bolder look to the bevel (the slanted edge that faces the artwork).



Number of openings - multiple openings in a mat are a great way to frame a selection of family photos, newspaper or magazine articles, collectors items, or just about any group of items that you want to frame together. The number of openings is limited only by the size of the mat and the number of items to be framed.



Fabric wrapped mats - to take custom mats to the next level, you can choose from a wide variety of fabrics or papers to be hand-wrapped onto a matboard for a truly unique look.

Custom Mat Design Elements


In addition to the options above, there are a number of design elements you can mix and match to create the perfect custom mat. This guide will review some of the most popular options. Click on the images to enlarge.

Single Mat



A single mat is a simple way to add both decorative and functional elements to the design. It is a good choice when keeping things simple or when there is a lot going on visually with the artwork being framed. With hundreds of colors, fabrics, and textures of matboard available, a simple single mat doesn’t need to be boring!

Double Mat



Double mats layer two matboards together, revealing a portion of the mat below (the reveal). The mats can be the same color for a monochromatic look, or different colors that complement the art and each other. Often, the top mat is a neutral color and the bottom mat pulls out one of the colors from the art as an accent, to add interest and draw the viewer's attention inward.



Double mats are also a great way to connect groups of pictures together as a cohesive whole. By using the same frame and top mat, but changing the bottom mat to accent a particular color from each piece, the group is connected while each piece still shines on its own.

Triple Mat



Triple mats build on the double mat design, stimulating visual interest by adding depth and/or incorporating a secondary accent color. Whether using multiple colors or a monochromatic palette, another way to add interest with triple mats is by varying the width of the reveal of the undermats.

Raised Mat



Raised mats use buildup behind the matboard to lift the mat off the backing board. This creates space for deeper artwork and is a wonderful way to add visual interest, as the interplay between light and shadow created from the varying depths draws the viewer's focus inward. It is a preferred option for artworks with materials that can shed, such as pastels or glitter, as it allows the debris to fall from view and remain out of sight.

Reverse Bevel Mat



A bevel is the sloping edge of the mat that usually slopes toward the art. A reverse bevel is back cut so the core of the mat is hidden from view, allowing only the surface mat color to be seen. It is a good choice when there really isn’t any white in the art and a stark white bevel around it would be too distracting.

A reverse bevel is another good choice for artwork that sheds. By having the bevel hidden, any debris that falls down is caught behind the mat and remains out of sight.

Fillet



Fillets are a lovely way to accent a piece of art. A fillet is essentially a tiny frame that sits within the window opening of the mat, within the lip of the frame, or both. Using a fillet that matches the frame, or putting the same fillet in both the frame and mat, creates a very cohesive framing design.

Debossed Mat



Debossing is the process of indenting / imprinting a decorative line or pattern into the matboard to give a subtle accent that is much more noticeable when viewed closeup. Lighting and mat color can affect visibility.

V-Groove



A v-groove is a thin cut line, usually one-half to one inch from the beveled inside edge of the mat, in the form of a "v" that reveals the core (inner portion) of the matboard. Cores can be white (most common), black, neutral, or even brightly colored. Matboards with core colors that are similar to the face paper will have a more subtle effect than mats where there is a starker contrast between the face paper and the core.

Open V-Groove



An open v-groove has a space between the slanted bevels that reveals the mat underneath. While they can be done monochromatically, using an accent color in an open v-groove is a fun way to bring out some of the background colors of the art.

Decorative Line



A hand drawn line, in a neutral or accent color, is a simple way to liven up a plain mat and add some visual interest, without the addition of layered mats.

French Mat



French mats use hand-drawn lines of varying widths and thicknesses, watercolor panels, and other embellishments to draw the eye toward the art. Traditionally, french mats were used on artwork such as botanicals, antique prints and maps, and portraits. Often they used muted or pastel colors in their panels and lines, or incorporated handmade or marbleized papers and gold foil.



In contrast, a more modern take on french matting may use bolder colors and can be used on anything from a diploma or certificate to a concert poster. French mats are beautifully handcrafted custom mats!

Double Painted V-Groove



Bevels can be painted to create a unique look that complements the art. Double painted v-grooves (two painted bevels, in different colors, facing one another) create a color changing effect when viewed from different angles.

Check out the color changing effects of the double painted v-groove!