|
|
Industry Standard +
Standard acid neutral, buffered, precut mats available in Tru-White™ and Black Cores. Our Tru-White™ Core is not only Acid-Free, they are Lignin-Free JUST LIKE ARCHIVAL MATS. Lignin is the property of paper mats that creates the acid! These precut / photo mats are buffered with calcium carbonate to fight acidity. Perfect when archival mats are not necessary. Click on image to select mat sizes and colors.
Sub Categories:
 - Copy - Copy.jpg) | TRU-WHITE™ CORE (4 ply) MAT BOARD
STANDARD, Tru-White™ Core, Acid-Free, Lignin-Free, 4 Ply
Our Best Seller. Our best value. Tru-White™ core mats are our Standard mat. Unlike many other mats called "Standard" that are really economy mats, our Tru-White™ core mats are not only "acid-free"; they are lignen free like Archival Conservation mats. Lignin is the ingredient in wood fibre that causes acid. If not removed, acid-neutral or acid-free mats are simply mats that will develop acid in a relatively short time. They are not considered archival mats because they use less expensive water based inks instead of pigmented inks for the face color, use optical brighteners to make colors look "brighter" and contain some recycled material, about 15%. Tru-White™ gives you quality and value. Click on image to select mat sizes and colors. |  - Copy - Copy - Copy.jpg) | TRU-WHITE™ CORE (7 ply) MAT BOARD
STANDARD, Tru-White™ Core, Acid-Free, Lignin-Free, 7 Ply
Our best-selling matboard in an impressive and dramatic 7 ply mat thickness. The deep 45 degree bevel will attract attention whether at a show or in your home or gallery. And, our Tru-White™ core 7 ply is both acid free and lignin free like archival mats. What is lignin? Buying "acid-free" mats that are not lignin free is like creating an image on paper that will soon deteriorate. Lignin is the property of paper mats that create the acid. Neutralizing the acid with buffering at manufacture may allow a mat board to test "acid-free" but the acid comes back. Try our impressive, acid free and lignin free Tru-White™ 7 ply. Click on image to select mat sizes and colors.
|  | BLACK CORE (4 ply) MAT BOARD
STANDARD, Black Core, Acid-Free, 4 Ply
BLACK BEVEL AROUND WINDOW! Get the black core look in acid neutral, standard core. Sharp contrast of black on white or the great look of black on black core. Add drama to your image. Click on image to select mat sizes and colors. |
Adding items to your cart does not obligate you to place an order.
You are not charged anything until you have completed the entire Checkout process.
Please call 1-706-686-3571 (800-385-6540) if you have any questions or experience any difficulties.
Due to color variations of different monitors, colors shown are approximate only.
|
What is the CORE?
The center of the mat board. It is the portion of the mat you see in the bevled edge of the mat window.
Other than Cotton Rag mats, mat board is made up of a "core" with a paper cover on the front (the "color" you see on the top of the mat) and a paper cover on the back of the mat board.
Cotton Rag mats are one piece. The top, bottom and center are one piece of cotton. No paper cover has been applied to them.
What is the CORE?
What does BUFFERED mean?
Almost all mats and backs have been buffered--calcium carbonate (the main ingredient in many antacids for your stomach) has been added to the board. This ingredient retards the accumulation of acid. Paper based mat boards have calcium carbonate added in order to retard the natural acidity of paper.
Most cotton rag mat boards also have calcium carbonate added even though they are naturally "acid free". The calcium carbonate combats environmental pollutants that can increase acidity.
What does BUFFERED mean?
What does ACID FREE mean?
Unfortunately ACID FREE has become a somewhat misunderstood term and, actually, is misleading. The proper term is "Acid Neutral". An ingredient called calcium carbonate (the main ingredient in Maalox) is added to the mat materials. This is a good thing and makes better mats just like Maalox makes my stomach better. It neutralizes the natural acidity in standard core mats. When measured with a PH meter, these mats measure "Acid neutral". A good thing.
Some big bad marketing genius decided that "Acid Free" sounded better than "acid neutral". But, this is where the misleading part comes, it is not permanent. It helps to retard the return of acidity it does not cure it.
So, a good thing (better mats) got turned into a misleading thing (They are cured!, They are cured! And it's free!).
What does ACID FREE mean?
What does STANDARD CORE mean?
We use Standard Core to differentiate basic paper mats from archival mats. Standard Core mats are Acid-Neutral mats, sometimes called "Acid-Free". Essentially they are the least expensive yet very good mats used for everyday framing and matting. They will last for many years. The primary change you will see is the core will turn darker. They are not meant for matting an image that has monetary or personal value that you want to preserve for decades to come.
What does STANDARD CORE mean?
What is the BEVELED WINDOW?
Traditionally, fine mats have been cut with a knife. The window(the part of the mat cut out so you can see the art) has a 45 degree beveled edge that slopes from the top of the mat down to the art.
This bevel cut exposes the core of the mat and is more elegant than typical cheap mats that were stamped out with a die. The bevel can be used to accentuate the art. For example, a black core in a white mat produces a black accent around the art.
What is the BEVELED WINDOW?
Do your mats have BEVELED WINDOWS?
Yes.
Do your mats have BEVELED WINDOWS?
Are the OUTSIDE EDGES of your mats straight cut?
Yes. Why is this an issue? Some less expensive mat cutting machines only cut with one knife. Therefore, you get a beveled edge on the mat window AND on the outside edge of the mat. This bevel cut is sharp.
Our machines cut with two knives. A 45 degree bevel for the window and a straight cut blade for the outside of the mat.
Are the OUTSIDE EDGES of your mats straight cut?
Why would I want different CORE COLORS?
Core color is a great design tool.
A white core and, hence, a white window bevel color has one effect in a white color mat versus a black mat with the same bright white core. It can be used to outline the image or blend with it. Our black core mats provide the opposite color combination.
Why would I want different CORE COLORS?
Does it make a difference if I order WHITE OR BLACK CORE?
Primarily, it dictates the color of the window bevel. It can either contrast with your image or blend with it. A white mat with white core will have a white beveled window. A black mat with a black core will be solid black in appearance. A white mat with a black core will have an black accent around the image.
Does it make a difference if I order WHITE OR BLACK CORE?
What is a DOUBLE MAT?
Two mats stacked on top of each other.
Normally the window for the "top" mat is larger than the window in the bottom mat so you see the color of the bottom mat next to the image and the overall color of the top mat.
What is a DOUBLE MAT?
Do the mats come with a BACK
No, because there are so many different kinds of backs and different preferences; the mats and backs are sold separately. Artists just don't seem to fit into a "cookie cutter" format.
One exception is our ONE STEP program. There, you can purchase a mat ALREADY ATTACHED to the back and get the resealable Plastic Presentatin Bag as well. See ONE STEP in the main MAT menu.
Do the mats come with a BACK 
|
