Learn these terms to better understand what you are purchasing and how it can help.
Acid-Free: Acid-free paper is paper that, if infused in water, yields a neutral or basic pH (7 or slightly greater). Over time, depending on humidity, the pH level will increase. It can be made from any cellulose fiber as long as the active acid pulp is removed during processing. Acid-free paper addresses the problem of preserving documents and preserving artwork for long periods. This type of mat board usually lasts a couple of years, depending on how you take care of it. (Tips: Don’t leave out in the sun and keep in room-temperature areas).
Acrylic Glass: Poly(methyl methacrylate), also known as acrylic, acrylic glass, or plexiglass as well as by the trade names Crylux, Plexiglas, Acrylite, Lucite, Perclax and Perspex among several others, is a transparent thermoplastic often used in sheet form as a lightweight or shatter-resistant alternative to glass.
Adhesive Transfer (ATG) Tape: ATG tape is a type of a double sided tape designed for use in tape gun dispensers, to save time and make application easier. ATG stands for ‘Adhesive Transfer Gun’. These tapes can still be used without an ATG gun, however if you have a lot to mount, we recommend you use a gun.
Backing: Backing board (aka backing, backer, back boards) prevents your print from warping and provides an acid free surface for your print to lie on. It also gives your mat board an extra protection, sturdiness, and finished look. You can also use these for many other crafts, posters, boards, etc.
Black Core: The color of the bevel edge of a mat board.
Bottom Weight: There are different ways to cut your opening on a mat board, one is having it center and another option is shifting the opening upwards. Resulting the bottom of the mat board to be bigger.
Conservation Archival: A conservation archival mat is a higher quality mat board, resulting in keeping your prints, documents, artwork, etc safe and unharmed. All prints, antique, artwork, originals are safe to be used with archival mat board. Archival refers to something used in storing and preserving such as archival boards, which are used for storing and keeping artwork and records. The qualities that make a board safe for storing artwork and valuable documents have been evolving for decades.
Beveled Edge: It is the core of your mat board, normally slanted at a 45 degree angle. All our mat boards have a bevel edge at a 45 degree angle. By default it is white core however we also carry black core as well.
Digital Print: Digital printing refers to methods of printing from a digital-based image directly to a variety of media. A fine art print produced by using computer technology.
Double Mat: It is two single mats mounted together. All our pre-made mat boards are mounted. If you’d like a custom double mat, please note they are not mounted together.
Foamcore: Foamcore backing is a backing board made out of foam core. These are used to give your mat board a finished look, so when you turn it around, you won’t see the tape etc in the background. It also gives your mat board an extra protection and sturdiness.
Floating Artwork: The artwork is adhered directly on the mat board with its edges exposed and appears to float in the frame instead of having the matboard window covering its edges.
Glazing: Refers to a variety of glass or acrylic products to finish and protect framed artwork. Includes conservation, preservation glass and acrylic, anti-reflective and non-glare glass.
Hardware: Describe the brackets, metal, or plastic that are used to assemble a metal or wood frame.
Hue: Attribute of a color by virtue of which it is discernible as red, green, etc., and which is dependent on its dominant wavelength and independent of intensity or lightness.
Image Size: The size of your artwork, print, document etc.
Intensity: Referred to as saturation. The brightness and purity of color.
Intermediate Colors: Hues created by mixing a primary color with an adjacent secondary color.
Lignin: Organic material in wood that binds fibers of cellulose together. It is the presence of lignin in paper pulp that reduces paper permanence and contributes to the yellowing of paper over time. A component of wood that is sometimes found in non-archival papers and boards. Lignin yellows and becomes acidic over time. Preservation-grade boards must be lignin and acid-free.
Limited Edition Print: Limited edition prints is when there will only be a certain number of prints produced and once they're sold out, there won't be any more available. When the entire edition sells out, limited editions generally rise in value.
Margin or Border: The area of white paper edging surrounding the image on the print.
Matboard: Mat Boards are sturdy and firm boards made of quality materials that won't harm artwork, photos or documents. Economical for mounting and acid-free, they are ideal for displaying all manners of sentimental or important documents, pictures, artwork, and prints.
Mat Burn: Mat burn creates a darkening edging around where the window of the mat was, but can also darken any area in contact with an acidic mat. Poor quality mats are created from paper with heavy wood pulp content, which is chemically unstable and acidic.
Open Edition Prints: Prints produced in an unlimited quantity.
Plexi-glass: Poly(methyl methacrylate), also known as acrylic, acrylic glass, or plexiglass as well as by the trade names Crylux, Plexiglas, Acrylite, Lucite, Perclax and Perspex among several others, is a transparent thermoplastic often used in sheet form as a lightweight or shatter-resistant alternative to glass.
Profile: This is the side of your mat board or side of your frame.
Primary Colors: Three hues are called primary: red, blue and yellow. These are pure colors that cannot be obtained by mixing other colors together
Rabbet: The groove under the lip of the moulding that allows space for the mat, glass, art, and mounting board.
Shade: Values nearest black, such as Dark Blue.
Tabs: Used in picture framing to secure the backing board, mount, artwork and glazing into the picture frame. The tabs are pushed into the side of the frame. (Tip: Use a box cutter or small tool to pull the tab up and to push down). Not all our picture frames includes this tab.
Tint: Values nearest white, such as pastels.
Value: Color’s lightness or darkness.
V-Groove: A thin white line (black line for blackcore) which is carved into the top mat around the entire mat. This is a single mat that gives you the illusion of a double mat.
Swivel tabs: Used in picture framing to secure the backing board, mount, artwork and glazing into the picture frame. These tabs makes it very easy to open and close your picture frame by simply sliding it in and out of the frame. Not all our picture frames includes this swivel tab.
Window: Also known as the opening of your mat board.
White Core: The color of the bevel edge of a mat board.