MATBOARD
Art should touch your soul....only cotton should touch your art.
Always use acid-free mat board, as it rests directly against your work, and poor quality
materials will cause yellowing and decay of the art (the yellowing edge of a low-quality mat
board appears dirty as well). Rag mat board is the best choice, as it is made from cotton fibers and cotton is “born” acid-free and has a proven record of stability.
GLAZING
Regular glass is the most affordable option available, and meets the base requirements of
protection from moisture and accident. However, it only blocks about 45-50% of the UV rays
which cause fading of colors and speed the overall aging process of substrate papers.
Conservation clear glass has a silica-based coating on one side which blocks about 98%
of UV light rays. Its visual appearance is similar to regular glass, without any special
treatments to reduce glare/reflection. This glazing option is more expensive than regular
glass, but generally within a reasonable budget.
Reflection control glass is preferred by some framing customers who are bothered by
broad reflections in regular and conservation glass which obscure their view of artwork –
especially if it is displayed opposite a window, or in an otherwise exceptionally well-lit area.
glass is generally similar to conservation clear, and rises if you opt for the non-glare surface
treatment along with conservation coating.
This is the Cadillac of glazing options – with magnetically applied treatments intended toreduce glare/reflection while remaining crystal-clear, along with a UV blocking interior
coating. Museum glass is quite expensive and you will need to use an alcohol
based cleanser.
GLASS PRICING
- Conservation glass is normall twice that of regular picture framing glass.
- Non-Glare Reflection Control is and addtional 25% increase over Conservation Glass
- Museum Glass is about 3 1/2 times the cost of Conservation Glass
Mounting
In our opinion, the acceptable way to mount an art print to matboard is by using acid-free polypropylene framing corners. The corner sticks to the matboard and not to the art. The art slips into the corners and therefore can be lifted from the mounting at anytime as a virgin piece of art. Very important if you want to consider that many art prints appreciate in value but future buyers hesitate to consider buying a print that has tape and glue damage on the print.
Backing Board
CARDBOARD SHOULD NEVER BE USED!
Cardboard is manufactured using highly acidic untreated cellulose fibers, and causes paper substrates to become yellowed and brittle. Exposure to cardboard over time will damage your artwork. If you feel the back of a framed piece through the dust cover and feel a ribbed surface, chances are your framed piece has been backed with cardboard. Please have the backing replaced with acid free foam core backing materials as soon as possible for the safety of your artwork.