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PICTURE FRAMES
CUSTOM PICTURE FRAMES
CUSTOM PICTURE FRAMES
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Custom 4-Ply Picture Mats
Frame artwork with custom 4-ply picture mats cut to size. Standard approximately 1/16-inch-thick conservation board provides a clean bevel, broad color selection, and flexible single, double, or triple mat design.
Shop for Your Primary/Top Mat Color
Choose a versatile 4-ply color to begin your design. It will initially appear as the primary/top mat - the widest and most visible layer around your artwork.
Shop the 4-ply mats below and select a color that complements your artwork.
Use it alone or as the primary/top layer of a double or triple mat.
Add narrow inner accent mats to repeat a color from the artwork, create contrast, or connect the design to the frame.
Your selection is only a starting point. You can change the primary/top mat, colors, dimensions, borders, and layers using our Custom Mat Designer.
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248 Results
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9504
Archival
from $5.64
White Lie
Warm white nearly identical color to 9804 Pure White, but features a speckled surface.
9506
Archival
from $5.64
Egg White
Warm white perhaps a hint more yellow than actual egg whites.
9505
Archival
from $5.64
White Wash
Warm white neutral, soft alternative to our brighter 9500 White Glove.
9501
Archival
from $5.64
White Collar
Nearly identical to 9802 White Art but a different surface texture.
9805
Archival
from $5.64
Coconut Milk
Darker white relative to this grouping, but still translates as a neutral white.
WTBlkCore
Archival Black Core
from $7.05
White mat black core
White mat black core. This is one of only 2 mats with black core on our site.
9801
Archival
from $5.64
Chalk
Similar to 9613 Super White, but with a hint of beige and slightly textured.
9800
Archival
from $5.64
Bakers White
Cool white slightly textured neutral white great for cool color palettes.
rising_polar_white
Museum Rising
from $7.90
Rag Rising Polar White
Cotton Polar White Museum
9507
Archival
from $5.64
White Elephant
Creamy off white Similar to White Sands 9508 but lighter.
9616
Archival
from $5.64
Honey Wheat
Creamy off white yellow tone, very similar to 9807 Off White
9806
Archival
from $5.64
Dove
Creamy off white less yellow compared to others in this grouping; textured.
9508
Archival
from $5.64
White Sands
Creamy off white softer, less yellow, and lighter than 9616 Honey Wheat.
9615
Archival
from $5.64
Cream Puff
Creamy off white warm but not as yellow as other creamy off-whites.
5533
Fabric Tier 1
from $21.00
Vintage White Linen
Standard neutral off-white fabric mat with a fine weave
4840
Fabric Tier 2
from $28.50
White Silken
Classic ivory fabric mat with slight grain pattern variation
5598
Archival
from $5.64
Etched Black
Black mat with a bit of gloss. Deepest black of all mats.
4855
Fabric Tier 2
from $28.50
New Moon Shantung Silk
Black fabric with blue undertones with a shimmering surface
BlkBlkcore
Archival Black Core
from $7.05
Black mat black core
Black mat black core. This is one of only 2 mats with black core on our site.
4423
Fabric Tier 2
from $28.50
Candlestick Tatami Silk
Contemporary silver gray fine silken mat
3516
Fabric Tier 1
from $21.00
River Rock Linen
Light charcoal cross-hatch tweed over newsprint color
4461
Fabric Tier 2
from $28.50
Chinchilla Tatami Silk
Taupe gray fabric that is more gray than pink fine dress-slack grain
4417
Fabric Tier 2
from $28.50
Hibachi Tatami Silk
Dark slate gray on a soft fine fabric mat with a silky sheen
4843
Fabric Tier 2
from $28.50
Wheatfield Silken
Graham cracker southwest adobe clay yellow-brown color
4848
Fabric Tier 2
from $28.50
Shiitake Silken
Warm elephant gray-brown taupe color on a high-sheen fabric
4126
Fabric Tier 1
from $21.00
Majestic Brown Linen
Full-city roast coffee bean brown on a fine weave
4854
Fabric Tier 2
from $28.50
Caffe Shantung Silk
Warm coffee brown on a shimmering fine weave
4838
Fabric Tier 2
from $28.50
Dynasty Red Silken
Candy apple red like a cocktail cherry color
4179
Fabric Tier 2
from $28.50
Noel Suede
Rich and glamorous royal ruby red like Hollywood’s red carpet
4111
Fabric Tier 1
from $21.00
Scarlet Linen
Bright blood red wine like a fresh wine spill on your shirt
4121
Fabric Tier 1
from $21.00
Orange Zest Linen
A shade darker than pumpkin orange or apricot jam
4410
Archival
from $5.64
Golden Samurai
Golden Samurai – Shimmering gold silken fabric mat
4850
Fabric Tier 2
from $28.50
Wasabi Silken
Blend of yellow lemon-lime and light avocado green tones on a shiny fabric
4418
Fabric Tier 2
from $28.50
Harmony Blue Tatami Silk
Aegean Sea mist color with a silvery sheen
4457
Fabric Tier 2
from $28.50
Phantom Blue Tatami Silk
Dark teal blue silken mat that is more blue than green
4169
Fabric Tier 2
from $28.50
Lapis Suede
Dark teal blue suede mat that is more blue than green
4112
Fabric Tier 1
from $21.00
Watchet Blue Linen
Union Army blue fabric mat with a fine weave
4853
Fabric Tier 2
from $28.50
Dolphin Shantung Silk
Granite steel blue-gray color on a metallic-sheen fabric
5636
Fabric Tier 1
from $21.00
Purple Torch Suede
Violet mat that is like dark amethyst in tone
4459
Fabric Tier 2
from $28.50
Nightshade Tatami Silk
Purple taupe color on a soft fabric mat
4114
Fabric Tier 1
from $21.00
Enchanted Purple Linen
Fine weave dark indigo midnight blue
4454
Fabric Tier 2
from $28.50
Violetta Tatami Silk
Mauve purple mid-tone silk with a fine weave
Standard 4-Ply Mats Cut to Your Dimensions
4-ply picture mats are approximately 1/16 inch thick and represent the standard mat-board thickness used in most custom framing. They create a clean beveled opening while leaving room in many frame rabbets for glazing, artwork, backing, and additional mat layers.
Each mat is cut to the dimensions selected during ordering. You control the outside size that fits the frame and the opening that determines how much of the artwork remains visible. A broad color selection supports photographs, prints, drawings, documents, watercolors, and other works on paper.
Approximately 1/16 Inch Thick
4-ply is the familiar standard thickness used for most custom mats, producing a refined bevel without the additional depth of 8-ply board.
Acid-Free Board
These mats use conservation-quality, acid-free board intended for preservation-minded framing of photographs, prints, documents, drawings, and other works on paper.
Broad Color Selection
A wide choice of whites, neutrals, earth tones, and colors makes it easier to coordinate the mat with both the artwork and frame.
Why Choose a 4-Ply Picture Mat?
Standard 4-ply board balances appearance, color choice, frame compatibility, and cost. Its bevel is substantial enough to create a finished transition around the image while remaining thin enough for layered designs and frames with moderate interior depth.
The extensive color range is one of its strongest advantages. A quiet white or neutral can give artwork visual space, while a carefully selected color can relate to a secondary tone in the image. Multiple 4-ply layers can introduce narrow accents without requiring a specialized surface or core.
Best suited for: photographs, prints, drawings, watercolors, certificates, documents, posters, limited editions, and general preservation-minded framing where standard thickness and broad color choice are desirable.
Compare Standard 4-Ply Mat Options
Use a single 4-ply mat for a clean presentation, combine multiple layers for controlled color accents, or move to 8-ply when a deeper bevel is the primary design goal.
| Mat construction | Visible effect | Best use | Important consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single 4-ply mat | A clean standard bevel and one uninterrupted surface color | Most photographs, prints, documents, drawings, and works on paper | The simplest option and the easiest to accommodate within typical frame depth |
| Double or triple 4-ply mat | A top mat with one or two narrow inner color bands | Artwork benefiting from added depth, contrast, or coordinated accent colors | Every layer increases the total thickness of the framing package |
| 8-ply mat | A deeper, more prominent bevel with stronger dimensional definition | Fine art, photography, and restrained presentations needing added presence | Requires more frame depth, costs more, and is available in fewer colors |
How to Size a Custom 4-Ply Mat
A correctly sized mat must fit both the artwork and the frame. Treat the outside dimensions and opening dimensions as two separate measurements.
- Measure the artwork. Record its exact width and height, and identify any signature, border, text, or image detail that must remain visible.
- Choose the opening. The opening is normally slightly smaller than the artwork so the mat overlaps its edges. Base it on the visible image area rather than assuming it should equal the paper size.
- Determine the outside size. The mat's outside dimensions should fit the frame opening. Use the stated frame size or measure an existing mat that already fits.
- Review the borders. Confirm that the top, side, and bottom borders create the intended visual balance. A slightly wider bottom border can compensate for optical weight when desired.
- Confirm frame depth. Allow approximately 1/16 inch for each 4-ply mat layer, then account for artwork, mounting materials, glazing, and backing.
Do not make the opening exactly the same size as the artwork unless exposed paper edges are intentional and the artwork will be supported by another method. A normal opening needs enough overlap to retain the art safely behind the mat.
Before ordering, see how to measure artwork for a custom picture mat for guidance on artwork dimensions, mat openings, and overlap.
Choosing Color, Borders, and Mat Layers
Start with the Artwork
A quiet neutral keeps attention on the image. A mat related to a secondary color can support the artwork without matching its dominant color too literally.
Consider the Frame
The mat creates visual space between artwork and molding. Compare all three together so the mat relates naturally to both the image and frame finish.
Add Layers Deliberately
Double and triple mats expose narrow bands of inner colors. Use those layers as controlled accents and confirm that the complete package fits the frame rabbet.
Screen colors are approximate. Whites and neutrals can have cool, warm, gray, or cream undertones that become more obvious beside the artwork. Order a physical sample when the precise relationship matters.
4-Ply Mat Guidance and Related Options
Use these resources to compare mat materials, confirm color, or continue planning the framing package.
Custom 4-Ply Picture Mat FAQ
What is a 4-ply picture mat?
A 4-ply picture mat is made from mat board approximately 1/16 inch thick. It is the standard thickness used for most custom picture mat applications and creates a clean beveled edge around the opening.
What is the difference between 4-ply and 8-ply picture mats?
Standard 4-ply mat board is approximately 1/16 inch thick, while 8-ply board is approximately 1/8 inch thick. Four-ply offers more colors and fits more easily in typical frames, while 8-ply creates a deeper, more prominent bevel.
Are these 4-ply mats acid free?
Yes. The 4-ply mats on this page use conservation-quality, acid-free mat board intended for preservation-minded framing.
What artwork looks good with a 4-ply mat?
Four-ply mats are appropriate for photographs, art prints, drawings, watercolors, certificates, documents, posters, and many other works on paper. Their broad color range makes them suitable for both restrained neutral presentations and designs using coordinated accent colors.
How much frame depth does a 4-ply mat require?
A single 4-ply mat occupies approximately 1/16 inch of frame depth. The frame must also accommodate the artwork, mounting materials, glazing, backing, and any additional mat layers.
Can I use 4-ply mats in a double or triple mat design?
Yes. Standard 4-ply board is well suited to single, double, and triple mat designs. Narrow inner layers can repeat a color in the artwork, add contrast, or create a transition between the artwork and top mat.
How do I determine the opening size for my picture mat?
The opening is normally made slightly smaller than the artwork so the mat overlaps its edges and keeps it from falling through. Measure the area you want visible and account for signatures, borders, or important details near the edges.
How do I determine the outside size of the mat?
The outside dimensions should fit the inside of the picture frame. When replacing an existing mat, measure that mat. For a new project, use the frame size rather than the outside dimensions of the frame molding.
Should I order a 4-ply mat sample?
A physical sample is recommended when color matching is important. It lets you compare the actual color, undertone, surface, and core with the artwork and frame under the lighting where the finished piece will be displayed.
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Handcrafted by American framing experts
Family Owned
Serving customers for over 40 years
Premium Shipping
Professionally packaged for safe delivery
Ready to Hang
Hardware included with all frames
Framing Specialists
Over 40 years of custom framing experience
