~| Grey Goose Custom Picture Framing

Picture Framing News
— Issue No. 1 —

Tips On Mats And Dry Mounting

Better Ideas for Framing Your Picture

Hi there! Welcome.

In this first issue, we’re offering tips on how to get the most out of your framing purchase.

— C O N T E N T S —

	A Word on Dry Mounting
	Mats: Why and When You Should Use Them
	About Paper Mats

A Word on
Dry Mounting

Most of us like to see a picture flat after it’s been framed. That’s really easy if it’s a poster, photo or some other flat object. We include dry mounting at no extra cost at the time of framing your picture.

If you have an original piece of art that was painted on paper with acrylic paint, oil, or some other wet substance, chances are it will have some ripples and rolls in it. If you want to see your original work flat and want it dry mounted, it’s possible to do so, though not recommended. We need your permission in any case.

MATS
Why and When You Should Use Them

What is a mat, and what is it used for?

A mat is a border that surrounds your picture or art and enhances the look. It can be a paper mat or a fabric mat. Both are available in a wide range of colors and finishes.

The mat helps break up the closed-in look when a picture is framed up to the edge. A mat can also be used to crop out unwanted areas of pictures or photos, just as a photographer does in the darkroom.

Paper mats are the most common used in picture framing. See below for more information on paper mats.

Fabric mats, which include cotton, linen, silk, rayon, and other fabrics, are used mostly for more serious pictures or original oil paintings.

About Paper Mats
What is Museum Board and Acid-Free Board?
How Do I Know Which One is Best For Me?
How Do I Tell the Difference?
How Much Does it Cost?

“Just make my art look beautiful; I don’t care how much it costs.”

We love customers like that, and we realize you may not have the time to really learn about framing language and methods. This is a short course in what kind of mat board to choose when framing your art.

Museum Board vs Acid-Free Board

Museum board is the ultimate treatment for any piece of fine art. Another name for museum board is “rag” board because this board is made from cotton, as opposed to acid-free boards which are made from wood pulp. The board made from wood pulp will leave a brown line around your art whereas the rag cotton board will not do that.

How do I tell the difference?

Cotton only comes in one color. So, if you look at a “rag” mat from the side, you’ll see white. The top of your rag mat might be a color, but the “core” is white. On the other hand, acid-free mats have a brownish cast to the core. All mat boards today are acid-free. They are either labeled “Rag Board” or “Acid-Free Board”.

Which one do I want?

If you’re framing a family snapshot photo, magazine article, printed art or movie poster and you want a mat around it, the acid-free mat is fine.

If you’re framing fine art, you would want to use museum rag board. Examples of fine art would be original works of art such as signed editions or prints of photographs, lithographs, serigraphs, old etchings, woodblock prints, or anything created or printed on rag paper itself that is deserving of fine art treatment.

What does rag board cost?

About one and one half times the cost of acid-free board. Better to have rag board around your art than a brown mat burn. Rag is forever. It’s the ultimate treatment for your art. Ask for it when framing your next fine art!

Click here for our next newsletter, which contains a special report,
Consumer Awareness Guide -
Tips And Facts You Should Know Before Framing Your Next Picture