Picture Mats

A picture mat is a flat, thin piece of material that is included within a picture frame. It serves as secondary decoration and also works to separate the artwork or photograph from the glass. The process of putting picture mats in a frame is called matting. Picture mats can help to enhance the look of a framed picture, along with fillets and wooden moulding. Picture mats are designed to draw the eye's attention towards the framed piece or perhaps toward a certain element in the piece, such as color. Picture mats are cut thin, perhaps as small as 1/16th of an inch thick, which allows for triple or quadruple matting or for a fillet to fit in between mats. Picture mats are available in numerous colors and and may be covered with linen, leather, and other types of cloth covering.

Picture Frame Mats And Protection

A picture frame mat also offers protection. It separates the glass from the picture that is being framed, so that any condensation that develops inside won't cause mildew and damage the picture. Photographs can be easily damaged if they are exposed to the glass, since the surface of the photo could separate from the paper and stick to the glass if it became wet. Simply put, mats keep glass away from your picture, and glass is not your friend. In archival framing, the mat affects the mounting process of the picture. In archival type framing, paper items are not glued down to the backing. Instead, they are held in place against the backing with mylar photo corners, which are very small triangle-shaped pockets. The added weight of picture mats helps to hold the piece in place.

In dealing with picture frames and mats what is the difference between the terms acidic and acidic-free? Older mats are usually of the acidic variety, whereas acid-free mats are a relatively new product. Acidic mats can cause a process called “mat burn”, which according to the human eye, registers as brown marks that seep in from the outside and eventually onto the display piece. Acidic free-mats for picture frames prevent this damaging process.

Buying A Mat For A Picture Frame

There are many different styles of mats to choose from, including collage picture mats, paper picture mats and multi-colored mats of different cloth coverings. You can even make your own picture mats. Custom picture mats let you choose the size, material and color. Cheap picture mats may not be quality material, whereas wholesale picture mats offer you better quality material at a reduced price. Clearance items are also a consideration, but make sure they are of the acid-free picture mats variety for your own picture's protection. A picture mat protects your photos and adds much in the way of frame decoration.