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.

Practical use of photo mounting board. is a post from: Matte Board

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.

The Beauty of Pre Cut Mats for Photo and Painting. is a post from: Matte Board

Matting Board

The Benefits of Matting Board

A matting board acts as a frame within the glass. It offsets the item without blocking any part of the image, and it can be used to bring out certain colors or aspects of the picture. Matting boards protect the photograph or painting by keeping it away from the glass. In some unfortunate circumstances, pictures that have rested against the glass have been damaged by condensation, but a matting board will prevent that from happening. A matting board also protects the picture from any cleaners that you use on the glass or frame. Matting boards also give you the benefit of being able to place a small picture in a frame that is larger.

How to Purchase a Matting Board

There are several things you must do before you purchase your matting board.

• Measure the photograph or painting. This will help you to know the frame size the matting board will rest in.

• Determine the margin. The margin of the matting board is how much of the board will show between the frame and the picture. If you have a small picture in a large frame, you will need a wide margin, but you may want smaller margins when framing paintings.

• Choose a core color and material. The core of a matting board is the inside color. You can choose a solid core that has color all the way through, a white core, or a black core. You should also determine if you want the matting board to protect your picture from acidic damage. If so, you should choose an archival board.

• Determine the thickness. Matting boards come in single, double and triple thicknesses. The object you are framing will determine the thickness you want based on appearances.

• Choose a color. This is sometimes the most difficult step. Try to choose a color that will enhance your photograph or painting. It might be a subtle overtone that occurs in the image, or it may be something bold and definitive. Take your picture with you when you shop to help you choose the perfect matting board.

• Precut or Custom. The size and color you want may determine whether you purchase a precut matting board or a custom cut board. Precut matting boards do not give you as many options, so you may not be able to find the color and size that you want. Custom matting boards give you much more variety, but they can be more expensive to order.

Once you have chosen the matting board, you can place it with the picture in the frame. You may want to have this professionally done at a framing shop. You can then take your photograph or painting home and enjoy it for many years to come.

Choosing a Good Matting Board for Your Photo and Painting. is a post from: Matte Board

matte board

A matte board can help your artwork or document look professional and elegant in its frame. While choosing the right frame may be hard, it is equally challenging to find the perfect matte board. There are several types of matte boards available, and they range in size, materials and colors.

Pre-Cut versus Custom Cut Matte Boards

A pre-cut matte board is a board that has already been prepared to fit frequently purchased frame sizes. These are handy when you need to quickly have a picture mounted, but they can cause problems. Pre-cut matte boards may not fit the dimensions of your photograph or document, and important parts of the image may get covered up. Pre-cut matte boards are best when you need a quick addition to a framing project.

A custom cut matte board is one that you get to select to perfectly suit your photograph or document. When you choose to purchase a custom matte board, you get to shop from a wide variety of colors and thickness, but you also get to determine the core of your matte board. The framing shop can help you decide the best size for your matte board to perfectly frame your treasured object, and they will cut the matte board to size. Custom cut matte boards are suitable for valuable photographs or documents, and they are also best for pictures that have a unique size.

Materials

The material that your matte board is made from can determine the long-term effect it has on the paper of your picture. Matte boards are typically made from:

• Wood pulp. Also known as paper or alpha cellulose matte boards, these boards are used frequently for projects that are less valuable. Pulp is highly acidic and has the ability to eat through photograph paper and documents. While the effect can be buffered, the buffering may only be short term.

• Cotton. Cotton matte boards contain far less acid, but many are still buffered for extra protection. They are also lignin-free, which makes them even better to use with valuable items.

• Variety. Some boards contain a mixture of wood pulp and cotton. These must be buffered to ensure the quality of the item being framed.

Core

Matte boards have different cores. A solid core means that the beveled cut of the board is the same color as the outside. A white core has a white bevel, and a black core has a black bevel. The various cores can affect the overall appearance of the item in the frame.

Matte boards help to protect items within frames, and they add to the decor of a room. Choosing the right matte board may seem difficult, but once you understand your choices, your decision will be easier to make.

What Matte Board do I Need. is a post from: Matte Board