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Hi All,

In regards to using matt boards in your framed prints, is there a general rule as to how big the matting should be? Should the mat area be bigger the larger the print or should it be a consistent size for all prints (I can't imagine this would be the case)?

How much matt area would you have for the following image sizes:

8x6
8x10
8x12
14x11
20x16
24x20
30x20

Cheers,
W00DY

I think this is a personal decision - I have seen some beautifully printed and frame shots (and other forms of 2D artwork) which is, say, 3x3 but on a 20x20 frame/matt board.

Definitely a personal choice my friend, but as a general rule, you try to make the mat width larger than the width of the chosen frame and not too narrow. A nice wide matboard seems to give a more generous feel to the artwork.
I would not go any narrower than about 50mm for most images up to 30cm long and often wider.

Usually a slightly wider edge on the bottom gives "weight" to the final product, although I often make my wide panorama mats wider on the ends that the top & bottom.

Colour of mats should usually reflect the colours in the artwork (not necessarily the primary colours in the image) and not the colour of the walls as some think!

Colcam wrote:Colour of mats should usually reflect the colours in the artwork (not necessarily the primary colours in the image) and not the colour of the walls as some think!

Thanks for the comments guys. I will have to work out how wide the frames I am going to use are and work off that.

In regards to the above comment, if I wanted the same matt across all my images would it be safest going an off white colour? Not cream but not white either.

My local framer is happy for me to have a play around and decide what frames and mattes etc work best..

Find a good framer that will let you be creative and let you see all the options, rather than them saying "this one works best" as they either make the most $$ or it's the easiest etc...

W00DY wrote:

Colcam wrote:Colour of mats should usually reflect the colours in the artwork (not necessarily the primary colours in the image) and not the colour of the walls as some think!

Thanks for the comments guys. I will have to work out how wide the frames I am going to use are and work off that.

In regards to the above comment, if I wanted the same matt across all my images would it be safest going an off white colour? Not cream but not white either.

Indeed my friend, a fairly neutral colour like cream/beige/off or even pure white mats are good, maybe with a slight texture for interest and for the extra depth, go for a double mat treatment with about 5-10mm showing on the lower mat (Maybe a cream under white?).
As suggested here, try talking to a framer with samples in hand and you will find they are quite willing to talk it out with you. I am a framer, so if you have any questions, give a yell.
Col