Mat Board Terms

Front 1

Archival mat

Back 1

Mat which contains non-acid materials, and will not turn color or degrade over time

Front 2

Migration

Back 2

When the acid or pigment in a mat moves to, stains, or degrades the artwork it is supposed to be protecting

Front 3

Core

Back 3

The part of the matboard between the paper cover and the backing layer

Front 4

Matboard

Back 4

Board with window - used to protect and enhance a piece of art

Front 5

Mount

Back 5

Art is placed on top of center of larger board - used often for photos

Front 6

Underlap

Back 6

The part of the artwork under the matboard

Front 7

Surface treatment

Back 7

Matboard surfaces can be linen, pebbled, smooth, made of actual material, etc.

Front 8

Table mat cutter

Back 8

Professional cutting device with platen, rails, measuring stops, and cutting tool

Front 9

Double or Layered Mat

Back 9

Mat whose window is cut slightly
larger to show another mat's border underneath - usually a contrasting color

Front 10

Window

Back 10

The cut part in the center of the mat to show the artwork - cut slightly smaller than the art's dimensions

Front 11

Border

Back 11

The perimeter or "frame" or matboard surrounding the window, which creates the mat

Front 12

Weighted Mat

Back 12

A mat with usually the bottom border cut slightly wider - gives the illusion of visual weight - good for larger or taller and thinner artwork

Front 13

Color Psychology

Back 13

The study of colors and how they affect humans - important to understand when selecting colors of mats

Front 14

French Mat

Back 14

Decorative type of mat with lines on it forming additional frames or borders

Front 15

Folder Mat

Back 15

The basic type of mat -2 pieces of board the same size attached at the top - the top board has a window to show the art

Front 16

Shadow Box

Back 16

Mats with separation strips to add depth - designed to display dimensional or textured artwork

Front 17

Multiple Window Mat

Back 17

Mat with two or more openings to display multiplt pieces of art or photos together

Front 18

Backer Board

Back 18

A piece of matboard cut slightly smaller in dimension than the top mat with window - supports the artwork from the back

Front 19

Reasons for Matting Art/Photos

Back 19

To protect and preserve art, also to enhance (or not distract from) the visual experience of its viewing

Front 20

Blanking Out

Back 20

The first step in the actual cutting of a mat - trimming the outer dimensions of the matboard