Different Alternatives of Picture Frame Mat Styles

For some viewers of art, wider mats give a visual breathing space between the art and the picture frame which is more comfortable. Once used mainly by museums and art collectors for highly valued pieces, wide mat borders are now popular for many varieties of framed art.

The right choice of mat borders is primarily personal preference, which can change as time passes. One great tip that will help you decide that which you like is to look at framed art in museums, magazines, friend's homes, and elsewhere that art is found.

In addition to the width of the mat border, different styles have developed with time, some of which came into being to match variations of art in addition to different decor. Create the mood of the art you display with assorted forms of mats borders.

Equal Borders, Single Mat

The very most basic, standard mat is one which has equal widths the whole way around and offers an effective presentation for almost any kind of art. The texture and color of the surface of this mat board can establish the overall character of the artwork.

Mats with Several Openings

This type of mat is generally used for photographs, and one mat board has multiple openings cut in it which allows someone to display more than one picture. The openings may be various shapes and sizes, or might be exactly the same shape and size. This form of mat is great for displaying collections, like stamps or trading cards. When you're displaying many items within one frame, usually it is advisable to choose simple frames, like solid colored wood picture frames or plain silver plated picture frames.

Double Mat

A double mat is really just two mats over one another. Between a 1 / 2 inch to an eighth of an inch on the bottom mat is revealed in the opening in the top mat. Generally both mats are different colors, however they don't need to be. This kind of mat creates both physical and visual depth. Artwork utilizing a double mat is usually considered to be a more finished, professional looking piece.

Weighted Bottom Mat

A weighted bottom mat is one that features a wider or slightly extended bottom border. Many people believe that it suits a person's eye as it provides the feel of a solid base. It is a very popular style for many varieties of art framing.

Museum Mat Type

This kind of mat features a distinctly wider lower border and significant borders along the sides and top. Art museums usually make use of this kind of mat to display drawings, engravings, and watercolor paintings, and that is where the name originates from. The normal color preference of museums is neutral mats in gray, off-white, and white, but when used for interior decor, some people like more density with the colors of their matting.

Oriental Mat

Meant to mimic the proportions of art on scrolls, this sort of mat has two narrow opposite sides, with much wider borders on the two remaining sides. The narrow sides usually are one fourth to one third the width of the other two sides. This type of mat is typically seen with Asian paintings and art, but it also works for elongated art.

An Arched Mat

To have a classical, traditional, or even romantic feel, choose a curved arch mat. This type of mat gives artwork a feeling of antiquity and would be perfect for vintage photographs. Additionally it is an excellent choice when you have romantic photographs, like from a wedding anniversary or even a wedding.

Print Mats

With wider sides and also a narrow bottom and top, this mat provides a piece of art a contemporary character and it is great for prints on oversized pieces of paper.

Oval Mats

A mat which includes an oval opening imparts both a romantic as well as an old-fashioned feel. This kind of mat works the best for a centered image, as the corners of the art that you will be framing will be hidden. Oval mats can be used to frame silhouette portraits, wedding photos, and vintage photographs.

Fabric Covered Mats

It's easy to add depth and dimension using the texture of the fabric mat. They are quite often found covered in silk, linen, velvet, and suede.

French Mats

The opening in the French mat is enclosed by ink lines, with panels of watercolor washes between the lines. These may have just two lines with one wash of color, or they can possess a series of lines and color panels.

Embellished Mats

It really is fun to apply decoration such as stickers to the surface of a mat, such as a small decorative design on each of the four corners or perhaps a simple monogram in only one corner. Make your artwork playful or maybe elegant and formal, according to what kind of embellishment you choose to do.

Now that you've learned about a few of the numerous styles of mat that you can choose, have fun framing your pictures. You can really improve your pictures aided by the kind of mat that you use.

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