Framer's Corner - Matting
If you are interested in Studio 11 offering a matting class, please let us know.
This month's topic is matting. Matting artwork serves two main purposes, presentation and protection.
Presentation:
Artwork is meant to be displayed, therefore a visually pleasing presentation is key. So, what makes up a visually pleasing presentation? Mat selection plays a very large role in the presentation, especially the top mat. Matting should extend the artwork, rather than be the focal point. When selecting mats, several aspects should be considered (color, texture, style, balance, and quality).
Color:
The obvious first aspect of mat selection is color. The top mat is typically the largest mat and thus the most important; it should complement the piece. One technique is to look for the main "theme" in the piece and use that color. If the top mat reflects the predominant color, then the theme of the piece may be lost. The focus should be the artwork rather than the matting - ask: would the top color draw too much attention? Should it be toned down? What is the theme and how can that color be enhanced? Using a color-wheel (you know ROYGBV for rainbow) to use the complimentary colors may help. Experiment, it leads to creativity.
Texture:
The next aspect of mat selection is texture. Does the piece warrant a rough look or is it smooth or delicate? Would it benefit from having a linen or suede mat? Possibly a textured mat? Mats come in many textures including lines, patterns, random markings, cloth, smooth, rough and others. Depending on the color, a textured suede mat can portray elegance, power or the softness of a babies skin .
Style:
Mats come in various styles. Let's look at mat thickness, typically 4-, 6- or 8-ply. The most common thickness is 4-ply, about 1/8". A 6- or 8-ply mat will add depth and draw a more dramatic affect. Matting styles may include double or triple matting, bevels, v-grooves, and floats. Where the outer, or top, mat extends the artwork, the inner, or liner, mat will accent colors. Bevels, the angled cut that exposes the core of the mat, gives the appearance of depth and adds a border around the art. Bevels can also be cut in reverse to hide the core of the mat. V-grooves are grooves cut into a mat to expose the core. This adds decoration and bordering. Even multiple grooves can be added for extra affect. Mats can be suspended, or floated, over mats which adds depth and shadowing to the package. Some objects that are framed are thick and require this extra depth. Extra depth, grooves, and liner mats can really make for a dramatic visual presentation.
Balance:
Balance, or weight, is the amount of mat to expose around the artwork. Should the mat be wide or narrow? Should the bottom border be wider than the rest to raise the artwork in the frame? Should the matting be elongated? How wide should the inner mats be? Should the mat be wider or narrower than the frame? Varying the weight of the mats will drastically change the presentation of the artwork. Have you ever seen a small frame with a thin mat? Does is look cheap, or even distracting? Widening a mat can, and will, give the artwork the necessary visually pleasing space. When matting multiple photos within a single frame if the photos are too close together or if the outer mat is too narrow the piece will look crowded and distracting. Wider top mats with the appropriate color, texture and style can greatly add to the presentation.
Protection:
One of the main purposes of matting is protection. Protection is achieved by inserting a mat between the art and glass, preventing the artwork from touching the glass. Matting sits over the art allowing the art to expand and contract with changing humidity. The chemical makeup of matting materials is important to the longevity of artwork. Mats are typically made of cotton or wood pulp. Wood contains lignin, cotton does not. We have all heard "acid-free", but have we all heard of "lignin-free"? Lignin is a main ingredient of wood, which over time will break down and release acid. Hmmm, not good. Now there is buffering, which is an alkaline chemical added to matboardto capture the acid. For most framing jobs, buffering is good, however will have a negative affect on organic materials, like leather. Cotton is naturally acid and lignin free. Mats vary in quality and degrees of processing. This processing may include the removing of lignin, addition of buffering agents, additional thickness or the addition of linen or suede. As the quality of a mat increases so does the price. All of these factors should be weighed when making matting choices.
Studio 11 Framing Portfolio:
To view many examples of the above mat selections, please visit our Website's Framing Portfolio at www.studio11photos.com.
Matting class:
