Picture Framing Mats & Matboards

Matboard is one of the most commonly used materials in custom picture framing. It creates visual space around artwork, helps establish proportion within the frame, and can play an important role in protecting the piece.

Mats are commonly used with photographs, prints, drawings, watercolors, documents, certificates, and other works on paper. The type of matboard, its dimensions, and how it is incorporated into the frame all depend on the artwork and the intended presentation.

What Is a Picture Framing Mat?

A picture framing mat is a specially prepared board placed around artwork inside a frame. An opening is cut into the mat to reveal the artwork while overlapping its outer edges.

The visible border separates the artwork from the frame and can give the piece additional visual space.

The terms mat, matboard, and mountboard are sometimes used interchangeably, although terminology can vary depending on the material and its function within the framing package.

What Does Matboard Do?

Matting serves both visual and practical purposes.

From a design standpoint, a mat creates separation between the artwork and frame. Its width, color, proportion, and number of layers can significantly change how the finished piece looks.

Matting can also help maintain separation between artwork and the glass or acrylic covering it. This is particularly important for many works on paper, where direct contact with glazing is generally undesirable.

Matting is one of several elements considered during the custom picture framing process, along with the frame, mounting method, glazing, and preservation requirements.

What Are Picture Framing Mats Made From?

Not all matboards are made from the same materials. The appropriate choice depends partly on whether the mat is primarily decorative or whether long-term preservation is important.

Standard Matboard

Standard matboards are generally intended for decorative framing where conservation is not the primary consideration.

Composition and quality vary by product and manufacturer, so they may not be appropriate for artwork that requires long-term preservation.

Conservation Matboard

Conservation-quality matboards are manufactured with preservation in mind.

Acid-free and other conservation-grade materials can help reduce the risk of framing materials contributing to discoloration or deterioration over time.

For valuable, original, historic, sentimental, or otherwise important pieces, conservation picture framing considers the matboard together with the mounting, glazing, backing, and other materials surrounding the artwork.

Cotton Rag Matboard

Cotton rag matboard is made from cotton fiber rather than conventional wood pulp.

Because cotton does not naturally contain lignin, cotton rag matboard is naturally lignin-free and highly stable. It is commonly used when a high level of long-term preservation is required.

Acid-Free vs. Lignin-Free Matboard

These terms are related, but they do not mean exactly the same thing.

Acid-free indicates that a material has a neutral or alkaline pH when manufactured.

Lignin-free indicates that lignin, a naturally occurring component of wood that can contribute to acidity and deterioration as it ages, is absent from the material.

For conservation framing, both the initial acidity of a material and its long-term stability matter.

Friedman's provides additional answers about matting, conservation materials, glass, and artwork protection in its Picture Framing FAQ.

Single Mats, Double Mats & Layered Matting

A single mat uses one visible layer of matboard around the artwork.

A double mat uses two layers. The lower opening is slightly larger so that a narrow border of the second mat is visible around the artwork.

Additional layers can also be incorporated when appropriate. Layered matting can introduce depth, contrast, or a subtle secondary color, but the number of mats should ultimately support the artwork rather than overwhelm it.

How Wide Should a Picture Framing Mat Be?

There is no universal mat width that works for every piece.

The appropriate proportion depends on factors such as:

• The dimensions of the artwork
• The overall finished frame size
• The width and visual weight of the frame moulding
• The composition of the artwork
• The amount of visual space the piece needs

A narrow mat can create a tighter presentation, while a wider mat can provide more visual breathing room and give smaller artwork greater presence.

The mat, artwork, and frame should ultimately work together as a single composition.

Choosing a Mat Color

Mat color can affect how colors and tones within artwork are perceived.

A mat does not necessarily need to match the most obvious color in the artwork. Neutral and understated mat colors are often effective because they provide separation without competing for attention.

In other situations, a carefully chosen mat color can draw attention to a subtle element within the artwork or create a stronger relationship between the artwork and frame.

The objective is generally to support the piece rather than make the mat itself the dominant feature.

When Is Matting Commonly Used?

Matting is frequently used when framing:

• Photographs
• Art prints
• Drawings
• Watercolors
• Documents and certificates
• Limited editions
• Original works on paper
• Small pieces that benefit from additional visual space

Not every piece requires a traditional window mat. Artwork type, mounting method, glazing, frame design, and preservation requirements all influence how the finished frame should be constructed.

Friedman's custom picture framing services include matting, frame selection, glass options, and presentation choices designed around the individual piece.

Matting as Part of the Complete Framing Design

The mat should not be selected in isolation.

Its material, color, width, opening, and relationship to the frame all contribute to the finished presentation. When preservation is important, matboard also becomes part of a larger framing system that includes appropriate mounting materials, backing, glazing, and other components.

At Friedman's Framing in Savannah, matting is selected as part of the overall custom framing design based on the artwork, how it will be displayed, and the level of protection appropriate for the piece.