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.

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.

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.

Yes.

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.

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.

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!).

Our mats are industry standard 4 ply except for our Very Thick 6-ply. More specifically, standard core mats are .050 to .055 in thickness, cotton rag mats tend more toward .060 and Very Thick mats are about .090 in thickness.

Let's take a real world example. An 8 x 10 with a 5x7 window.

The mat industry has adopted photography, paper and now digital printing sizes. It is easier for the customer to relate to image sizes like 5 x 7. And, they are usually expressed in whole numbers, no fractions.

However, mat windows are not usually cut equal to or larger than the image. You would see the edges of the print and the print would not be held down against the back.

So, the 5 x 7 window (HERE COMES THE FRACTIONS!) is really 4 1/2" x 6 1/2". A mat window that is 1/2" smaller than the print allows it to overlap the print by 1/4" on all sides (1/4" + 1/4" equals 1/2").

There is also one other advantage. It allows you to be a little less exacting when mounting your prints. Something you will appreciate after mounting 100 prints or so!

Orientation comes in 3 flavors. Centered (the window is placed in the center of the mat) Portrait (the window is taller than it is wide). Landscape (the window is wider than it is tall).

Centered windows allow you to turn the mat in any direction and the window will be just fine. So it can be used for both vertical and horizontal pictures.

Portrait mats have a vertical image. Because the mat has a larger Bottom Margin than the Top Margin, the mat can only be used with a vertical image.

Landscape orientation has a horizontal window. It can only be used with a horizontal image because the Bottom Margin (the distance from the bottom of the mat to the window) is larger than the Top Margin (the distance from the top of the mat down to the window).

For those of you who want a PHD is this subject you can consider that a mat could be a portrait mat with a landscape window, a portrait mat with a portrait window, or a landscape mat with a portrait window, a landscape mat with a landscape window or you could simply purchase a centered mat and go out and buy a frame that can hang either way!

Riddle: What is a mat that doesn't have a window? 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.