Choosing The Mats

Mats are more than decoration. They protect the surface of the art and keep it from laying directly on the glass. To decide which mats to use, look to the colors in your art for inspiration. Using multiple mats will add to the beauty and depth of the finished piece.

Here a a few basic rules:

Dark colors tend to contain the art, while light colors tend to expand it. Mats should be at least twice as wide as the frame width for balance. In a multiple mat combination that refers to the top mat.

Vary the amount showing on each mat in multiple mat combinations to avoid "striping." A slight showing of the bottom mat can showcase a strong accent color that you want to feature in your piece. The top mat can be whatever color is predominant in the art. You can also use a nuetral top mat as an accent color.