LETS TALK ABOUT MAT BOARDS – Coastal Framing and Design
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LETS TALK ABOUT MAT BOARDS

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Mat boards are a critical element of the design in a custom frame. At Coastal Framing and Design, we give you the best options. We ensure that your art work is the hero, not the frame.

Mat boards are sometimes called “the surround,” the “cardboard stuff,” the ‘board,” the ‘coloured board’ that goes around the art work. Framer’s generally refer to it as a mat board.

MAT BOARDS offer a range of benefits for your framed art work:

An 8 ply mat give the thicker bevel to achieve a 3D look into the art work. Total class and style.
An 8 ply mat give the thicker bevel to achieve a 3D look into the art work. Total class and style.
An 8 ply mat give the thicker bevel to achieve a 3D look into the art work. Total class and style.

KEY ELEMENTS OF CUSTOM FRAMING

YOUR ART WORK IS THE HERO – NOT THE FRAME.

A frame is important for many reasons. It not only makes the artwork look better but also protects it from damage like air, moisture, light, and dust. This helps keep the artwork safe for a long time.

Making a frame is a careful process. Frames are designed to hold flat artwork securely on a wall. This involves planning around the artwork’s size, weight, and style. Frames often use mat boards to help stabilize the artwork when displayed.

Also, the frame should enhance the space it is in and create a perfect environment for the artwork.

HOW DO MAT BOARDS PLAY A ROLE IN CUSTOM FRAMING?

  1. Mats create a visual space between the artwork and its frame, helping to highlight the art by separating it from the frame.
  2. Mats prevent the glass from touching the artwork. They are typically 3mm or 8mm thick, creating a barrier that protects the art from moisture damage that can occur when glass is in direct contact with the art. Often, old photos in frames stick to the glass. Using a mat board could have avoided this.
  3. Mat boards add beauty to your walls and are available in many styles. Some of my favorites include plain colors, textures, and special materials like suede or silk. I use these decorative mat boards to enhance spaces like living rooms, kitchens, or formal areas.
Textured mat boards add style and aesthetic to your framing. A coastal look can benefit from these gorgeous, neutral toned mat boards.

HOW WIDE SHOULD THE MAT BOARD BE?

When framing artwork, the relationship between the art, mat board, and frame size is crucial for aesthetic balance. Typically, the frame should be chosen before finalizing the mat board’s width.

Mat boards samples that we use at the framing table are 10cm wide and come in standard sheets of 1020 x 810mm. So your mat board width can be as narrow or as wide as we prefer.

A general guideline is to adjust the mat board width to be smaller or larger than the frame’s width to maintain visual harmony when displayed. A minimum of 50mm is recommended for matting, though larger matting is preferable as it focuses attention on the artwork and can be adjusted depending on the space where the frame will be displayed.

For large landscape images, the bottom part of the mat can be made slightly wider to ensure the artwork looks balanced when hung vertically. This is called ‘weighting’ the mat board.

TAKE THIS TEST

Below are three art works, the same size. Look at three artworks to see which one you notice first. Does the end one with the wider mat board grab your attention first?

A wider mat board allows the eye to go directly to the art work and create a more sophisticated look. This is particularly effective for smaller or medium-sized artworks that are intended to stand out and make a statement on your wall.

Three framing samples to show how a mat board can give space to an art work and make it look sophisticated.
Three framing samples to show how a mat board can give space to an art work and make it look sophisticated.
Three framing samples to show how a mat board can give space to an art work and make it look sophisticated.

HOW CAN MAT BOARDS BE USED IN UNIQUE AND EXCITING WAYS?

Now that we’ve established the use of a mat board, how do we know what colour, or design the mat board needs to be?

Our designers, Jen, Abbie and Rex know how to best create those designs that enhance your framing.

We have a wide selection of mats to select from, and secretly, the mat boards are my favourite element of designing a frame.

Here are just a few of the options to consider:

  • A wide, single mat board
  • A double mat board where a bottom mat board is a subtle colour in the art work.
  • Textured mat boards such as canvas, weave, or suede finished boards.
  • Black core mat boards that when cut, leave a thin black line to surround the art work.
  • 8ply, thick mat boards that when cut, give a sophisticated and elegant look with a thicker cut on the 45 degree. This give a slight 3D look into the art work.

There are so many ways to present mat boards to enhance your art work. When you bring your art to our framing table, we take the time to give you options to choose from.

This image shows a small white printed border which is part of the print. No matting is required and a spacer is used to keep the glass off the print.
This image shows a small white printed border which is part of the print. No matting is required and a spacer is used to keep the glass off the print.
This image shows a small white printed border which is part of the print. No matting is required and a spacer is used to keep the glass off the print.
The wider textured grass woven mat give a casual but stylish finish to art work.
Woven Grass Matting
The wider textured grass woven mat give a casual but stylish finish to art work.
Woven Grass Matting
The wider textured grass woven mat give a casual but stylish finish to art work.
Woven Grass Matting
The textured mat board creates a neutral, coastal vibe when added to photos, original art or prints.
Grass Matting and textures for photos
The textured mat board creates a neutral, coastal vibe when added to photos, original art or prints.
Grass Matting and textures for photos
The textured mat board creates a neutral, coastal vibe when added to photos, original art or prints.
Grass Matting and textures for photos

COLOURED MAT BOARDS

Colour is making its way back in 2024 as people are looking for happy and bright additions to their homes. I love the range of the cotton rag mats with their smooth luxurious finish. Don’t be afraid to use colour and really let your art work pop. As a designer, I tend to use a the colour in the ‘under mat’ as an accent, rather than the top mat which can be ‘too much’ on the wall when it goes around all four sides of the frame.

The accent mat highlights the darker grey in the original art work giving the pale artwork a defined line. The lighter tone on top pulls the work into the silver moulding.
The accent mat highlights the darker grey in the original art work giving the pale artwork a defined line. The lighter tone on top pulls the work into the silver moulding.
The accent mat highlights the darker grey in the original art work giving the pale artwork a defined line. The lighter tone on top pulls the work into the silver moulding.
Finding the subtle colours requires a sharp eye and this great is a great choice as it pops the colour of the image out, and accents the pale grey that ties the art together.
Finding the subtle colours requires a sharp eye and this great is a great choice as it pops the colour of the image out, and accents the pale grey that ties the art together.
Finding the subtle colours requires a sharp eye and this great is a great choice as it pops the colour of the image out, and accents the pale grey that ties the art together.
Sometimes a bright, top mat is perfect as in this fun, style poster.
Sometimes a bright, top mat is perfect as in this fun, style poster.
Sometimes a bright, top mat is perfect as in this fun, style poster.

WHAT ARE MAT BOARDS MADE OF?

At Coastal Framing and Design, we provide three types of high-quality mat boards designed to protect your artwork. It’s crucial that these mats are archival quality, meaning they don’t contain lignum—an acidic substance from trees that can damage art over time.

Our standard mat boards are lignum free – archival with the lignum being leached out of the board in production.

For special art works of value, we use the cotton rag mat board, which is made from pure cotton. This material is ideal because it doesn’t involve trees or lignum and provides the best protection over time.

Lastly, we have museum-grade mats, meant for very valuable pieces or heirlooms, which are also made from cotton, ensuring top-notch protection.

OVER AND ABOVE – DESIGNER MAT BOARDS

Decorative mat boards are finished with a fabric or a texture and are exciting to use when a luxurious design is required. By utilising the many choices of these finishes, we can design frames that integrate with both the artwork and an interior space. 

I love the suede, denim, seagrass and woven mat boards, silk, and linen and these mat boards are in my special ‘treasure trove’, and come out when a unique and customised design is required.

The colours and textures of the mat boards were fun to work with today. The gold foil mat board was a hit with more than one custom frame, and the frames were diverse and creative.
The colours and textures of the mat boards were fun to work with today. The gold foil mat board was a hit with more than one custom frame, and the frames were diverse and creative.
The colours and textures of the mat boards were fun to work with today. The gold foil mat board was a hit with more than one custom frame, and the frames were diverse and creative.

Colours, gold foil, textures and plain mats are so much fun to work with in designing your frame.

NO MAT BOARD?

If you are not a fan of mat boards, don’t despair.  A spacer, or small length of tubing can be run around the ‘rebate’ in the frame to allow the glass to sit above the artwork. The spacer is not visible, but achieves the result of the glass sitting above the art. 

Frames without mat boards can look great using a spacer to lift the glass off the print to save damage. Jai Vasicek's work looks finished without a mat board, frame only with glass or acrylic.
Frames without mat boards can look great using a spacer to lift the glass off the print to save damage. Jai Vasicek's work looks finished without a mat board, frame only with glass or acrylic.
Frames without mat boards can look great using a spacer to lift the glass off the print to save damage. Jai Vasicek's work looks finished without a mat board, frame only with glass or acrylic.
Here these Jai Vasicek prints have the frame straight onto the print, using a ‘spacer’ to keep the glass from sitting directly on the print.

SUMMARY

Custom framing at Coastal Framing and Design is more than just assembling wood pieces. As professional designers and framers, we take inspiration from our coastal and hinterland settings to enhance your art with the style you desire for your space.

Take the time to enjoy the experience of selecting your frame with the guidance of our team.

For a project, or an extended interior design consultation, please book in with Jen, our qualified interior designer/ owner.

BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT HERE or phone in 07 55234101.

A blue mat board highlights the white and gives the small tile space in the frame.
A blue mat board highlights the white and gives the small tile space in the frame.
A blue mat board highlights the white and gives the small tile space in the frame. 
All text and images are  © Jen Hutchison Coastal Framing and Design Updated April 2024. Text or images cannot be used without permission. This includes print, social media, advertising or other.

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