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Custom Archival Picture Mats

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Picture Mats

Custom Cut Mats

Archival Mats

Protect and present artwork with custom archival picture mats cut to size. Compare standard 4-ply, deep-bevel 8-ply, fabric, black core, metallic, and museum-quality mat board, then specify the outside dimensions and opening needed for your artwork and frame.

Archival Mat Board Options Cut to Your Dimensions

Archival picture mats provide a finished border around artwork while using conservation-quality or museum-quality board intended for preservation-minded framing. This collection includes standard 4-ply conservation mats, deep-bevel 8-ply mats, fabric-covered mats, black core mats, metallic mats, and museum mats.

Each mat is custom 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. Single, double, and triple mat designs allow you to keep the presentation restrained or introduce texture, depth, a dark bevel, a metallic accent, or narrow inner colors.

Open the Custom Mat Designer Order Mat Samples

4-Ply Archival Mats

Standard 4-ply conservation mat board is approximately 1/16 inch thick and offers the broadest selection of colors for photographs, prints, documents, and works on paper.

8-Ply Archival Mats

8-ply conservation mat board is approximately 1/8 inch thick. Its deeper bevel adds dimension and stronger visual separation around fine art and photography.

Fabric Archival Mats

Linen, suede, and silk surfaces add visible texture and a more tactile presentation while using archival board construction beneath the fabric.

Black Core Archival Mats

A black core remains visible along the beveled opening, creating a crisp dark outline suited to photography, graphic art, and contemporary framing.

Metallic Archival Mats

Metallic surfaces introduce a controlled reflective accent that can relate to metal frames, metallic media, or highlights within the artwork.

Museum Picture Mats

Museum mat board provides the highest preservation standard in this collection for valuable, original, historic, or irreplaceable artwork.

What Makes a Picture Mat Archival?

The word archival describes material selected to support the long-term care of artwork. In a picture mat, that means the board is made to reduce the risk that the mat itself will introduce damaging acids or other undesirable contaminants into the framed package. This matters because the mat sits close to the artwork and often overlaps its edges.

Archival matting is one part of a complete preservation approach. Appropriate mounting methods, backing, glazing, frame depth, environmental conditions, and protection from excessive light and moisture also affect the life of framed artwork. An archival mat should not be treated as a guarantee against fading, moisture damage, poor mounting, or environmental exposure.

Best suited for: photographs, art prints, limited editions, certificates, documents, drawings, watercolors, and other works on paper where conservation-quality materials are appropriate.

Compare Custom Archival Mat Types

Begin with the preservation needs of the artwork, then choose the thickness, surface, and core that support the design. Museum board raises the preservation standard; the other archival choices primarily change color range, bevel depth, texture, core color, or finish.

Mat type	Best use	Visual or material advantage	Important consideration
4-ply archival	Photographs, prints, documents, and everyday preservation framing	Familiar bevel depth with the widest color selection	The strongest general-purpose choice, but not the deepest bevel or highest preservation tier
8-ply archival	Fine art and photography that benefit from added depth	Approximately twice the thickness of standard 4-ply, producing a deeper bevel	Requires more frame depth and is offered in fewer colors
Fabric	Textiles, portraits, traditional art, and designs needing surface texture	Linen, suede, or silk creates a tactile, refined presentation	Texture and undertone are best evaluated with a physical sample
Black core	Photography, graphic art, posters, and contemporary designs	The exposed black bevel creates strong edge definition	The dark line is intentionally visible and becomes part of the design
Metallic	Artwork with metallic details or framing that needs a reflective accent	A subtle metallic surface adds light and decorative emphasis	Reflectivity changes with lighting and is best judged from a sample
Museum	Rare, valuable, historic, original, or irreplaceable artwork	The highest preservation standard offered in this collection	Available in a smaller range of neutral colors

Shop 4-Ply Mats Shop 8-Ply Mats Explore Fabric Mats Shop Black Core Mats Shop Metallic Mats Shop Museum Mats

How to Size a Custom Archival 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, deckled edge, text, or image detail that must remain visible.
Choose the opening. The opening is normally slightly smaller than the artwork so the mat overlaps the 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 resulting 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. Make sure the frame can accommodate the mat, artwork, glazing, mounting materials, and backing. Double and triple mats require more interior depth than a single mat.

Do not make the mat 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 mat opening needs enough overlap to retain the art safely behind it.

Choosing Color, Borders, and Mat Layers

Start with the Artwork

A quiet neutral usually keeps attention on the image. A mat that relates to a secondary color can support the artwork without matching its dominant color too literally.

Consider the Frame

The mat creates visual space between the artwork and frame. Compare all three together so the mat does not appear disconnected from either the image or molding finish.

Add Layers Deliberately

A double or triple mat exposes narrow bands of inner colors. Use those layers as controlled accents rather than allowing them to compete with fine details in the artwork.

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.

Archival Framing Guidance and Related Options

Use these resources to make a more informed mat choice or continue building the framing package.

How to Choose the Right Picture Mat Compare 4-ply, 8-ply, fabric, black core, metallic, and museum mat board as well as color and mat layers. White Mat Color Shades Understand the visible differences among bright, cool, warm, cream, and gray-toned whites. Picture Mat Samples Compare actual color, undertone, surface, and core before ordering an important custom mat. Full Sheet Mat Board Browse uncut mat board when you plan to cut the opening yourself or need material for studio use.

Custom Archival Picture Mat FAQ

What is an archival picture mat?

An archival picture mat is made from conservation-quality materials selected to reduce the risk that the mat itself will contribute acids or other harmful contaminants to the framed artwork. It is a better choice than decorative paper mat board for photographs, prints, documents, and artwork you want to preserve.

Are these custom archival mats acid free?

Yes. The mats on this page are made with conservation-quality or museum-quality board intended for preservation-minded framing. Available choices include standard 4-ply, 8-ply, fabric-covered, black core, metallic, and museum mat board.

What is the difference between 4-ply and 8-ply archival mat board?

Standard 4-ply mat board is approximately 1/16 inch thick and works well for most framing. 8-ply mat board is approximately 1/8 inch thick and creates a deeper, more prominent bevel around the opening.

Are fabric, black core, and metallic mats archival?

The fabric, black core, and metallic choices included on this page use archival or conservation-quality board construction. Their visible surfaces and cores create different design effects, so choose among them according to both the artwork's preservation needs and the desired appearance.

When should I choose museum mat board?

Museum mat board is the highest preservation tier in this collection and is generally preferred for especially valuable, rare, historic, original, or irreplaceable artwork. Its color selection is more limited than standard 4-ply conservation mat board.

How do I determine the opening size for my picture mat?

The mat opening is normally made slightly smaller than the artwork so the mat overlaps its edges and keeps it from falling through the opening. Measure the area you want visible and account for signatures, borders, or important details near the edges before ordering.

How do I determine the outside size of the mat?

The outside dimensions of the mat should fit the inside of the picture frame. When replacing an existing mat, measure that mat. For a new framing project, use the frame size rather than the outside dimensions of the frame molding.

Can I order a double or triple archival mat?

Yes. Compatible archival mats can be combined into single, double, or triple designs. Inner mats can repeat a color in the artwork, add contrast, or create a narrow transition between the artwork and the top mat.

Should I order a mat sample before choosing a color?

A physical sample is recommended when color matching is important. Monitor settings and room lighting can affect how a color appears, especially with whites, creams, grays, and other subtle neutrals.

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