Matting Information

Matting
and
Presentation
 Edward
Stapel
 
 Mat
Board:
 
 Type:
100%
acid‐free
mat
board
or
archival
buffered
board,
4‐ply
(2‐ply
optional)
 
 Color:
white
or
off‐white
(sometimes
called
ivory,
natural,
pearl)
 Size:
to
be
determined.

Typical
sizes:
11x14,
14x18,
16x20
 
 Foam
Core
(optional
backing
material)
 
 
 Other
materials:
 
 Acid‐free
paper
tape
or
linen
tape
 
 Archival
photo
corners

 
 PVA
archival
glue
(optional)
 
 Acid‐free
Scotch
tape

 
 Pencil
 
 Ruler
 
 Mat
cutter
blades
 
 Print
storage
box
(strongly
recommended)

 
 Mats
are
to
be
cut
on
4‐ply
board.

Prints
may
be
backed
with
4‐ply
board,
2‐ply
board
 or
foam
core.
 
 Prints
should
be
affixed
to
backing
board
with
acid‐free
tape,
archival
photo
corners,
or
 archival
glue.
 
 Any
writing
on
mats,
backing
boards,
or
prints
should
be
done
in
PENCIL.

Ink,
even
 archival
pigment
ink,
has
a
tendency
to
leach
into
paper
and
mat
board.
 
 Mat
windows
should
have
borders
of
at
least
2‐inches
on
11x14
or
smaller
board
and
at
 least
3
inches
on
board
larger
than
11x14
(these
basic
are
guidelines).
 
 A
note
on
mat
board:
Not
all
mat
board
is
created
equally.

Anything
that
is
not
 specifically
labeled
100%
acid‐free
or
similar
type
of
fancy
sounding
name
guaranteeing
 archival
quality
should
be
avoided.

Placing
prints
under
mats,
or
on
backing
board,
of
 inferior
quality
will
cause
them
to
discolor
and/or
degrade.
All
conventional
 chromogenic,
ink‐jet
and
alternative/historical
process
prints
should
be
matted
with
 acid‐free
board.

Black
and
white
silver
gelatin
prints
can
be
matted
in
archival
buffered
 board
OR
acid‐free
board.