Regular vs. Acid-Free Mats

"Is this something you are going to keep for a long time, or will you be replacing this in a few years?"

The above question is one of the first ones we will ask you when you bring in your picture for framing, and will help us determine which is best for your picture when choosing a mat and foam core.

Acid-free mat boards, made from either cotton (rag mats) or virgin alpha cellulose, will hold their color on both the surface and the core and will not harm the artwork in any way. We highly recommend this form of matting for all framing, especially original artwork, limited-edition prints, and needlepoint.

Regular mats are made from wood pulp, using a buffering agent to neutralize the acid in the surface and backing paper. However, the core is not buffered and, over a short time, leaves your artwork vulnerable to "burning" (staining around the edge of the mat opening.) Regular matting is suitable for those who are interiour decorating, using posters, photos and open-edition prints that can be easily and inexpensively replaced.