Tone Giclée Print by Maeve Harris

Mats are made of heavy paper stock (called “board”) or fabric, and are used to separate the artwork from the frame and glass both physically and visually. Mats come in a variety of finishes, including smooth, textured, and linen. Conservators recommend using four-ply, 100 percent rag board or acid-free fabric. Matting materials of a lesser quality contain acid and will damage artwork.

Mats have an important functional purpose in that they create a protective space between the glass and the art. They can also dramatically enhance the presentation of two-dimensional artwork. A wide mat adds presence to any size painting, print, or photograph, while double mats lend a refined quality to a framed work. Although mats are available in many colors, most artworks look best against neutral grays, blacks, and off-whites; these colors are unobtrusive and they wear well over time. In any case, your eye should never be drawn to the mat, instead, the mat should help to focus attention on the art.

Always be sure there is enough matting around the artwork to enable the work to breathe. Three or four inches is standard, but discuss this with your framer, as his or her experience is invaluable.

A “floating mount” is an interesting alternative to a typical mat – especially when the perimeter of the artwork is asymmetrical. Instead of cutting the mat as a rectangular “window” frame around the artwork, the framer uses cushioning strips to attach the work to the top of a solid mat, so that the art appears to float. This technique is most often used with small pieces. “Close framing,” another option, eliminates the mat completely, so that the artwork extends to the frame; this treatment can make an image feel clean and fresh. Professional framers will introduce you to a range of matting techniques to suit a particular piece of work.