I recently had an enquiry about the difference between 'matted' and 'framed' in the presentation of our prints.The matted prints have a 1.5mm card border, cut with a bevelled edge. The card is manufactured especially for picture framing, and is typically called 'matboard' or 'mountboard'. It has a white core and a coloured paper top, both of which are acid-free. Most papers are made from wood pulp, and unless they are treated to become ph neutral, they will eventually damage the artwork underneath.
(You may have noticed old prints or paintings that have become covered with little brown spots. This is called 'foxing' and will not occur if the work is enclosed with an acid-free product.)
Our matted prints are backed with a product called fomecore, which is also acid-free. They are then wrapped in clear cellophane for protection.
It is possible to display the prints , just matted like this, as they are totally protected.
The description 'framed' means that the matted print has been enclosed by a wooden frame, and fitted under glass.
Another use for a mat when work is framed under glass, is to keep the glass from touching it, as condensation may occur leading to irreparable damage.
The outside size of our matted prints has been calculated so that they will easily fit into a ready-made frame. Just take out the back of the frame, and pop in the matted print, still with its acid-free back, and refit. It may pay to seal the back with some tape, to prevent dust from entering.
You may notice that sometimes the paper prints will not sit perfectly flat. This happens in periods of high humidity, and is nothing to worry about. They will flatten out. As these prints are individually signed, to glue them down would remove their value.
