Matte Board

Practical use of photo mounting board.

What Is a Photo Mounting Board?

Mounting photos, prints and documents preserve the pieces and add beauty. Photo mounting board can set off the work, drawing attention towards a particular element of the piece. In fact, many people use photo mounting boards as an extension of the art work itself. Since they are typically thin, about 3/16,” they are easily altered to further decorative features. They can be cut in stacks to produce double or even triple matting. Photo Mounting Boards come in a variety of materials and weights.

Photo mounting boards

Four Popular Material Options for Photo Mounting Boards

1. Foam Core: This photo mounting option consists of a thin piece of foam sandwiched between two smooth sheets of paper. Foam core mounting boards are a popular choice for matting photos.
2. Gator Board: Gator Board is not different from the foam-core board because it is rigid foam which is sandwiched between some smooth sheets of paper. The thickness is 3/16”, and it is lightweight. Its rigid surface makes it a popular photo mounting board.
3. Mat Board: Mat board comes in different colors and textures, making it a popular choice for enhancing artwork and documents. Because of its rigidity and interesting surface texture, it is widely used for pencil, charcoal and chalk pieces.
4. Styrene Photo Mounting Board: This is a thin plastic mounting board that is 2 mm thick.
   

Several Ways to Use Photo Mounting Boards

1. Classic Tape Method: in this method, the first thing is that the board is laid flat. The document or photo is positioned; once the piece is centered, paperweights are used to keep the image held in that position. A tape that does not have acid should be applied – 2 vertical ones for the right and left margins and two horizontal pieces for the bottom and top margins.
   
   1. Photo Corners Backed With Adhesive: This is a permanent acid-free adhesive that is made of Mylar. It is used in making them, and one thing is that it will not touch the art work or photo; put a photo corner on each of the corners of the piece, and the self-adhesive backed photo corners should be attached to the mounting board. This is the method museums use.
   2. Dry Picture Mounting: After laying the mounting board on the flat surface, dry mounting adhesive tissue should be put between the piece and the mounting board. Then apply pressure and high heat. The image is permanently attached to the board: the process is not reversible.
   3. Wet Mounting: With this method, once the board is placed on a flat surface, wet glue should be pasted on the mounting board. Immediately position photos. Even pressure should be applied throughout the board with the use of a big glass. Let dry for 8-24 hours.
   4. Spray Mounting Technique: Again, the process starts by laying the board on a flat surface. Then, place the document or photo upside-down. Evenly spray adhesive onto the document or photo. Position the photo, document or work of art, and start smoothing from the center to the edges of the photo/document.

Why You Need a Photo Mounting Board

Photo mounting boards enhance beautiful prints and documents; they can complement the piece. There are several methods and materials to consider when choosing a photo mounting board—these will depend on factors such as cost, convenience and equipment availability. Take the time to choose the methods and materials that are right for you. You will soon have a beautiful display.

Leave a Comment December 26, 2011

The Beauty of Pre Cut Mats for Photo and Painting.

Pre Cut Mats

Pre cut mats allow you to frame your treasured pictures or paintings without the hassle of ordering custom mat boards. Mats keep your picture safe from condensation that may gather inside the glass, and they set apart your framed item to make them look even more spectacular. A mat also allows you to choose a frame that is larger than the picture that will be placed in it. Pre cut mats are available in many framing and hobby stores, but you can also order them over the Internet.

Colors

Pre cut mats come in a variety of colors to suit the photograph or painting that you will be framing. While you will get more choices with custom cut mats, you will have plenty to choose from amongst the precut variety. White, black and ivory are frequently produced in pre cut sizes, but manufacturers have started branching out into other colors as well. You may also be able to find pre cut mats in the following colors:

• Pink
• Brown
• Blue
• Green
• Red

If the store doesn’t carry the color you want, visit another shop or browse online sites. You are very likely to find the perfect shade for your picture in a precut mat.

Thickness

Mats typically come in three types of thickness. A single mat board is 1/16” thick and is known as a 4 ply mat board. Precut boards are also available in 6 ply and 8 ply. The thickness you want is determined by the effect that you want the mat to have. Simple pictures may do best with a 4 ply board, while more complex pictures can be given depth with triple matte board, or 8 ply.

You can also create a similar effect by layering different colors of precut mat boards over your picture. This is often known as stacking and can give your picture even more character. To do this, choose pre cut mats that all fit in the same frame but have openings cut to different sizes. Choose colors that will enhance the colors in the painting or photograph, but avoid using too many mats that could detract from the original beauty.

Precut mats are an excellent choice when you want to frame a beautiful object but don’t want to pay a hefty price. Since producers have acknowledged the popularity of precut mats, they have started providing a wider selection of colors and sizes for consumers to choose from. This will make it easy for you to find the perfect precut mat to suit your photograph or painting.

Leave a Comment December 23, 2011