How Custom Mat Boards Elevate Your Framing

If you've ever wondered what separates amateur framing from professional, gallery-quality results, the answer is often one simple element: the mat board. A well-chosen mat can transform a plain frame into a stunning presentation piece. Here's everything you need to know about custom mat boards and how they elevate your framing.

What Is a Mat Board?

A mat board (also called a picture mat or photo mat) is the flat, borderlike piece of material placed between your artwork and the frame's glass or plexiglass. It serves both aesthetic and protective purposes, creating visual space around the artwork while keeping it from touching the glazing.

Why Matting Matters

Without a mat, artwork can look cramped inside a frame. A custom mat board provides:

• Visual breathing room — Gives the eye a resting space between the frame and the art, making the artwork the focal point.
• Depth and dimension — Adds a layered, three-dimensional quality to the presentation.
• Protection — Keeps artwork separated from glazing, preventing moisture damage and sticking.
• Color enhancement — The right mat color can bring out specific tones in your artwork or photography.

Choosing the Right Mat Color

The most popular mat colors are white, off-white, and cream — and for good reason. Neutral mats work with virtually any artwork and frame combination. For a bolder look, consider matching a mat color to a secondary color in your artwork. Dark mats (black, charcoal, navy) create dramatic contrast, especially with lighter images.

Double Matting for Extra Impact

Double matting uses two mat boards layered together, with the bottom mat slightly visible as a thin border. This technique adds depth and a touch of sophistication. A common combination is a white top mat with a colored or black bottom mat that coordinates with the frame.

Multi-Opening Mats

Want to display multiple photos in a single frame? Our multi-opening mat boards allow you to create beautiful collage-style displays. Perfect for family photos, wedding collections, school portraits, or any grouping of related images. Our custom multi-opening mat designer lets you configure exact opening sizes and positions.

Getting the Size Right

Mat borders typically range from 1.5 to 4 inches, with 2-3 inches being the most common for standard-sized artwork. Larger pieces often look better with wider borders. When ordering custom picture frames, factor in your desired mat width when determining the overall frame size.

Ready to elevate your framing? Browse our custom mat boards available in hundreds of colors and sizes, or explore our multi-opening mat options for creating unique displays.