The mat can help you tell the story. -------When you have a ideas we will help you create the mat.



Basic to Creative Mat designs

With the help of our computerized mat cutter and design software, we can draw, write-on, and cut

 almost anything you can show us. Our creative designs will allow you to have something that no other

 person has in their home. The design idea came from you, and no other home or room will have the

same mat design. The items used are from your designer mind, and even though other people

have physical objects, they don’t have your design mind.



Looking for inspiration?

We will help you develop your ideas into framing creations.

Not all mats are created equal.

Mats sold for craft projects are not usually

 designed to protect the artwork. They are

designed for school/ or home projects and

don’t meet the standards for protecting the

 artwork. Mats made with wood chips mixed

 with recycled paper do not fit the criteria for custom framing

So what type of mat should I use?

For essential protection of artwork with a limited life, you

can use the standard picture framing mat designed to offer

the necessary protection. How do you know it is correct for this

type of framing? Look at the core (center area)of the mat, and it

should be white, not gray or yellow–unless they are 100% rag.

We will call these mats just our standard white core matting.

But what if I want something better or the artwork will display for a longer time?

The answer  “framing quality mats,” and they fall into three or four groups.

First group: ” Buffered or Cotton core.” This group has had the damaging ligaments removed, buffered,

or made with materials that don’t any to start. A common term used as that the mat is Ph 7 +/- or considered neutral.

 The next set of groups are designed to offer additional protection. The Rag mats made from pure cotton fiber

offer the best type of protection. They may have a colored top mat surface and rag material making

 the mat, or solid core made of the same material thought.

Another group may be called “color core,” where the cover sheet is a different color from the center core.

Some of these mats will have red, green, blue, or yellow bases with the cover sheet designed to

match the artwork. The last groups are called “full” conservation or museum mats, and they may

come with an additional layer of cores. A Standard mat is four layers (ply), but some come in 6 or 8 (plies)

– with others designed for museum framing coming with up to 12 thicknesses.

These are called   “paper mats,”                 but there is another group of matting used in framing

 – called “enhanced covered mats.”

These mats covered with fabric, natural materials (leather, etc.)

and human-made materials (woven fabrics)

Good News

The good news is that all grades of modern matting materials are significantly less acidic than their

ancestors of 20 years ago. Matting is made either with wood pulp (trees) or with cotton. Wood pulp

is naturally acid-rich and therefore needs to be coated or chemically treated to either remove acidity

 or at least slow the process down. Cotton fiber, in comparison, is naturally acid-free, and these mats

provide the very best preservation quality. Their downside, as you might have guessed– is that

 cotton mats can cost a little more — but the addition protecting. We sell three grades of matting:

Decorative (fundamental decorative), Select (essential conservation or preservation),

and Ragmat or full conservation type are your best choice.

(1) DECORATIVE (primary) offers a minimal level of artwork protection, and we sell it on posters or limited

 life artwork only… It is made with wood-pulp and is coated with select chemicals to slow the damage

 caused by acidity. However, this mat will unlikely last over 5-7 years. It is suitable for replaceable art such

as photos or paper-based art that have limited life and do not require long-term protection.

(2) SELECT or PRIMARY CONSERVATION-grade is a much better level of conservation matboard if you plan

on keeping the artwork. Although these mats made from acidic wood pulp, they are chemically

treated to reduce acidity when the mat-pulp is still in liquid form. This grade of matting is suitable for

a basic level of conservation framing for items such as limited editions and reprints.

(3)RAG-MAT or FULL CONSERVATION RAG is the best level of matboard from a conservation point of view.

They made  from 100% cotton fiber and, therefore, naturally acid-free. Cotton is a

time tested material that will preserve any piece for generations to come. This grade is

the best to use because the value is worth the small cost over the others.

Not all mats are created equal

"Mats" sold for craft projects are not usually designed to protect the artwork.                 

They are designed for school or home projects and don’t meet the standards for protecting the artwork.

Reason---"Standard mats use raw wood chips and recycled "paper.

So, what type of mat should I use? 

  How do you know it is correct for this type of framing?

One quick test--"Look at the core (center area) of the mat, and it should

 be white, not gray, or yellow, (unless they are solid core rag"

 Framers will call these mats just standard white core matting. 

But what if I want something better?

For artwork will be  displayed for a longer time you need a better grade of the product.

The answer is “framing quality mats,” and they fall into three or four groups.

First group: These mats will have a Buffered or Cotton core.

This group has had the damaging ligaments removed,

buffered, or made with materials that don’t any to start.

 A common term used as that the mat is Ph 7 +/- or considered neutral.

The next set of groups are designed to offer additional protection.

 Rag mats are made from pure cotton fiber.

They may have a colored top mat surface with rag material inside making the mat,

they are called stable core mats that are made using the same content on all levels.

Another group may be called “color core,”

These are mats with a different color top surface from the center core.

Some of these mats will have red, green, blue, or yellow bases

 with the cover sheet designed to match the artwork

The last groups are called

 “full” conservation or 100 % rag museum mats, and they

 may come with an additional layer conservation cores.

The next thing to talk about is grades

Mats are graded in thickness --called "mat plys

Most mats are 4 ply.  Many mats are coming with additional ply -6, 8, 10 or 12.

The final group of mats have special top (cover) sheets.

These mats may be covered with leather,( etc.) and materials produced by man

 (woven fabrics).Many of these mats are covered by the framer in the shop.

- "hand-wrapped"           

Framing Idea

If you would like to have a home filled with personality and

one-of-a-kind treasures, custom framing can quickly help you achieve it.

We will create a special framing package for all your framing needs.

Exquisite artwork, photographs , and documents require unique display frames.

 We will create exclusive frame designs to address your style and space,

to provide the best framing solutions for each item you bring to them.

Matting ideas

                         Picture Framing Mats were designed to handle two core functions.

First they provide an area for visual relief without the distraction of the nearby surroundings.

Secondly, it allows an air space between the artwork and the glazing. 

 Mats now have taken on a more decorative role.

With  mats are now available in many colors, patterns, and textures,

they are used to match colors in the art and to coordinate with the room decor.

                          Mat borders (width of mat)

Mat borders are also an important consideration.

It is best to avoid having mat borders the same width as the frame surrounding

 the artwork. Generally, it will look best if the mat is larger than the frame.

 Too narrow a border can bring down the perceived value of the art,

 and it tends to look crowded in the frame.

Most mats have square or rectangular window openings, but other cuts are possible.

The mat window can conform to irregular art shapes.

An angled corner (octagon) can cover damaged edges on the art, etc.

 return to framing services

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