Decorative vs. Archival

As a default, we will present archival-grade products to the client.

Archival 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.

Decorative 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.