The mat is the border between your art and the frame — and it does more work than most people realize. It gives your piece room to breathe, keeps the artwork from touching the glass, and can completely change how the whole piece feels.
What a Mat Actually Does
A mat creates visual space so your eye rests before reaching the art, it keeps the artwork from touching the glazing (which prevents sticking, condensation damage, and mold), and it adds depth and a finished, gallery look.
Single, Double, and Triple Mats
A single mat is clean and classic and works for most pieces. A double mat adds a thin inner reveal in an accent color for extra depth and polish — our most popular choice. A triple mat brings real drama for statement pieces.
Archival vs. Standard Mats
Standard paper mats are affordable and fine for decorative or easily replaced pieces — but the acids in regular paperboard can yellow your artwork and leave brown “acid burn” marks over time. Archival, acid-free museum mats are purified to protect your piece for decades. For anything valuable, sentimental, or irreplaceable, archival is the only choice we’d recommend.
Choosing a Color
Neutrals — whites, creams, soft grays — suit almost everything and never fight the artwork. You can also pull a subtle color from the piece itself for harmony. Dark mats create drama, light mats create airiness. When in doubt, bring the piece in and we’ll lay options side by side until one clicks.
When to Skip the Mat
Canvas art is meant to be seen edge to edge — use a floater frame instead. Full-bleed posters often look best with maximum image and no mat. And some modern photography looks sharpest float-mounted with no mat at all.
Ready to frame something? Request a free quote or visit us at 1550 Dell Ave, Ste A, Campbell, CA.