| Conservation
mats
Before
learning about any mat embellishments, it is necessary to
understand the importance of using mats that are safe for your
artwork. Paper, by nature, is an acidic substance.
This acid can eventually leave brown stains on your artwork
wherever the art touches the mat. While the brown
marks, or "acid burn" may be hidden by the mat for
sometime, the value of your artwork plummets as soon as damage
occurs.
Once
upon time, all paper matboards were acidic.
Acid-free mats simply did not exist. As the damage that
acidic papers caused became more understood, better framers
began calling for mat products that would eliminate acid burn.
In the 1980's, pH neutral mats became more common.
Finally, matboard technology (yes, we call it technology!)
called Alphamat Artcare was introduced that absorbed acids,
airborne contaminants, and outgassing from the art itself, pulling
the harmful substances away from the art.
This means that matboards of this caliber actually
take a proactive approach to protecting your art.
Make
no mistake - not every framer takes advantage of the new
technology. Mo's Gallery uses Alphamat
Artcare boards exclusively. We feel that if your artwork
is worth framing, it deserves the best care we can possibly
give. You should expect this level of care no matter
what frameshop you go to.
Hand-wrapped fabric
mats
|
Fabric mats have been in use for centuries, and we are
happy to carry on this tradition. Many framers
will apply the fabric to a full mat sheet, then cut
the opening for the artwork. While this saves
time, it leaves a ragged edge where the blade cuts
through |
 |
the
mat and fabric, and it also exposes the matboards
white core.
At Mo's Gallery, we cut
the mat opening first, then hand wrap the fabric to
create a smooth edge and rich look. We have
hundreds of fabrics to choose from, including silks,
linens, and suede. |
Painted bevels &
fillets
Even with several hundred
matboard colors to choose from, sometimes that perfect color
remains elusive. It is for this reason that we offer
hand painted mat fillets and bevels. With our fillet
paints, we can match just about any color, including some
metallics. The custom-mixed color can then be applied to
a second mat beneath the top mat, or painted onto the
1/16" of a bevel, for just a hint of color. The
results can be fantastic!
French
matting
It is a
simple touch, but a French mat, also known as a French line,
can add elegance and class to any framing job. We pick
out a repeated color in the artwork, then draw a fine line on
the matboard in that color. The line follows the
shape of the mat opening, and helps to further accentuate the
artwork. In fact, the maroon and black lines around this
page are a perfect example of a French line. Bring in
your favorite artwork, and see if French matting is the way to
go. |
