Matting.
The mat is more than decoration, it's one of the most important choices in your framing package. It sets the tone of the presentation, creates breathing room between your art and the glazing, and, depending on the grade you choose, plays a real role in protecting your piece for years or even generations. At ART BY DESIGN, we provide an extensive range of mat colors, textures, and grades, including cotton, fabric, and silk options, so we can match the right mat to both your art and your goals.
What "ply" actually means.
You will often see mats described by their ply: 4-ply or 8-ply - which simply refers to thickness.
4-ply is the industry standard, about 1/16" thick, and the most commonly used mat in custom framing.
8-ply is roughly 1/8" thick, with a dramatic, deep bevel that adds real presence and dimension, often chosen for high-end or gallery-style pieces.
Thicker mats aren't just about looks, either. A heavier mat adds rigidity, holds its shape better over time, and creates a more substantial separation between your art and the glass or acrylic in front of it.
Regular, conservation, and museum: what's the difference?
Not all mats are built the same, and the difference isn't just cosmetic, it comes down to what the mat is actually made of and how it behaves chemically over time.
Regular mat board is typically wood-pulp based paper that's been acid-neutralized at the time of manufacturing. It's the most affordable option and works well for everyday framing: posters, decorative prints, and pieces that don't carry long-term sentimental or monetary value. Because it starts from wood pulp, it can still be more prone to yellowing or becoming brittle over long stretches of time compared to cotton-based options.
Conservation-grade mat board is a step up, typically made from alpha-cellulose rather than standard wood pulp. It's acid-free and lignin-free throughout, buffered to a stable alkaline pH, and built to resist fading. It's a strong, long-lasting choice for pieces that matter to you but may not require true museum-level standards.
Museum-quality mat board is the top of the line, made from 100% cotton fiber rather than wood pulp. Cotton is naturally more chemically stable over time, which means museum board resists yellowing, brittleness, and deterioration far better than paper-based alternatives. It's acid-free and lignin-free through the entire board, not just the surface, and buffered to protect against acidic byproducts that can form inside a sealed frame. Because color runs consistently all the way through the board, museum mats also show a clean, uniform bevel with no visible core color mismatch.
Museum board isn't necessary for every project, but for the right piece, it's the difference between framing something and truly preserving it. We recommend museum-quality matting for:
Original artwork - paintings, drawings, and one-of-a-kind pieces
Fine art and limited-edition prints
Vintage or historical photographs
Important documents, diplomas, and certificates
Family heirlooms and irreplaceable keepsakes
Anything with real monetary or sentimental value that you want to protect for the long term.
Fabric Mats: silk, linen, and more.
Beyond standard paper and cotton mats, we also offer fabric-surfaced matting, including silk, velvet, burlap, cotton and linen finishes, for a softer, more textured, and elevated look. Fabric mats are especially popular for memorabilia, elegant portraiture, wedding and event pieces, or anywhere you want the mat itself to feel like part of the artwork. Like our paper and cotton options, our fabric mats are built with acid-free cores and backing, so you don't have to trade preservation for style.
Endless colors, endless combinations.
One of the most fun parts of custom framing is choosing color. We carry mats in an extensive range of shades, from crisp whites and warm neutrals to bold, saturated colors, plus textured and fabric finishes for a completely different feel. Mats can be used alone, double-stacked, or layered in multiple colors to create depth, add a pop of contrast, or echo a color already present in your art. Whether you want a subtle, gallery-style neutral mat that lets the art speak for itself, or a bold color that becomes part of the design, we will help you find the right combination for your piece on your budget.
Let us help you choose.
With so many grades, thicknesses and colors to choose from, matting can feel like a lot of decisions, but you don't have to make them alone. Bring your piece into ART BY DESIGN and our team will walk you through samples in person, so you can see exactly how each option looks and feels before your frame is built.
For everyday posters, decor pieces, and prints that are easily replaced, a quality conservation or regular acid-free mat is often the more practical and more budget-friendly choice, without sacrificing a beautiful finished look.