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Category: Paper Glossary

Glossary of paper terms & definitions.

Mat Boards & Picture Frame Mats: A Beginner’s Guide

What are mat boards?

A mat board is a thick layer of a cardboard-like material that is used to protect your photo or artwork in a frame. Mats are typically made from either pressed wood or cotton pulp.

The mat board material serves as a protective barrier between the glass or acrylic in a frame and the surface of your artwork/photograph.

For example, if moisture seeps into a frame and there’s no protective barrier (mat board), it can be disastrous. Over time, moisture can cause the artwork to stick to the glass or acrylic, which will eventually destroy the photograph or art piece. Having a mat board as a barrier protects your photo or artwork from the glass or acrylic.

But mats are not only used for protection of an art piece; they’re also a decorative border around your photo or art print. The mat breaks up the spatial continuity of a complete framed piece. It can be used to lead a viewer’s eye to the art/photograph by bordering it with negative space. It also gives the artwork a finished look.

Is mat board acid free?

Not all mat boards are acid free—but many are. Mat board quality depends on the material it’s made from.

There are three classes of mat board: decorative, conservation, and archival. Both decorative and conservation mat boards are made of pressed wood pulp and are made to be either acid neutral or acid free.

  • Decorative mat boards are acid neutral. The wood pulp is treated with calcium carbonate which neutralizes the acid and lignin that naturally occur in wood pulp.
  • Conservation mat boards are made of wood pulp where the acid and lignin are removed from the material.
  • Archival mat boards are usually made of cotton pulp which naturally does not contain either acid or lignin

Our mat boards are in the decorative class and are therefore acid neutralized (not acid free). The wood pulp they are made of is treated to protect the board for degradation of the acid and lignin. So if you’re looking for a mat to protect your photos or art—but not necessarily preserve them for a lifetime—our framing mats will work great for you.

Is mat board the same as mount board?

No. Mat board serves as a layer between your photograph and the glass or acrylic cover. Mount board is for support under your photograph or artwork and serves as a stiff backing to assist in sturdiness.

How to frame with mat board?

First, determine the photo or print size you’re going to frame. That’s the inner size of your mat. Then, decide what size frame you want, and that’s the outer size.

For example, if your photo is 8” x 10”, you’ll want a mat that is larger than that opening. An 11” x 14”-sized mat board with an 8” x 10” would accommodate your photo beautifully.

Mat board size also depends on preference. How much negative (border) space do you want around your photo? Do you want a thick border or a thin border? Once you choose your image and mat board size then you’ll want to choose a frame that accommodates the size of the mat board’s outer edges.

Once you have your art/photo, the mat board, and frame then it’s time to assemble your finished piece!

Black frame with white mat board holds a photo of a sun backlit lighthouse and pier.

Is mat board recyclable?

Yes. Mat boards made out of wood or cotton pulp are recyclable.

Mat Board vs. Chipboard/Cardboard

Chipboard is a thinner board made of wood pulp and/or recycled products. It’s also sometimes known as paperboard. Chipboard varies in size and thickness and is sometimes used as a backer board for photographs and artwork.

Chipboard is normally not “acid free” or “acid neutral”. Sometimes the board is covered in acid free paper that will help protect your artwork. However, this type of product is not considered “museum” or “archival” quality.

Cardboard is often made of several layers, and it’s usually thicker and sturdier than chipboard. Cardboard can come in many forms. The most common type is corrugated cardboard (what’s used for to make shipping boxes), which is made of two layers of heavy paper called liners, with a middle layer of paper folded like an accordion. The accordion is glued to the two outer layers. Corrugated cardboard is not usually acid free. It can be covered with an acid free paper to protect artwork for a limited amount of time.

Mat board is made from either wood pulp or cotton pulp; cotton pulp provides the most long-term protection. Mats are often labeled as “acid free” when they are actually “acid neutral.” Since wood pulp naturally contains acid and lignin, a chemical is added to wood pulp boards to neutralize the acid. Cotton pulp is naturally acid- and lignin-free so these types of mat boards are used for archival purposes.

Standard Mat Board Dimensions

Standard mat board sizes are typically the same size as standard photograph sizes:

  • 5″ x 7″
  • 8″ x 10″
  • 11″ x 14″
  • 16″ x 20″
  • 20″ x 24″

But mat boards are not constrained to these sizes. Professional framers and some mat board vendors can cut a mat board to a custom size. Need a custom-sized mat board? We sell mat boards cut to size.

What are some mat board uses?

Mat boards can be used to protect and display your:

  • Artwork
  • Photographs
  • Certificates, Awards & Diplomas
  • Posters
  • Sports Memorabilia

Can text or logos be added to mat board?

Yes! Decorative mat boards can be personalized. At Studio Style we can foil stamp text, logos, monograms, or even a special message on a mat board. Learn more about our personalized photo mats or give us a call at (800) 346-3063.

Green, white, and blue photo mats imprinted with company logos.

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What is linen textured paper and what is it used for?

Wonderfully elegant, classic, and timeless; linen weave paper stands the test of time.

Linen Paper texture detail

It’s classic. It’s luxurious. Linen weave paper is perfect for event and studio photography alike.

Used by makers of upscale wedding invitations, bookmakers, and print houses, linen weave textured paper is a luxurious texture paper option. Makers of fine stationery, invitations, report covers, and presentation folders have long used this paper stock to achieve an upscale look.

What is linen textured paper?

Linen textured paper has a subtle embossed, crosshatch-textured finish that resembles woven linen fabric. Depending on the manufacturer, the textured finish is added either during the paper making product, or as the product is assembled.

Some linen weave paper has a subtle finish; we choose to create a textured paper that is noticeable at a glance, and that can easily be felt. Other manufacturers choose to create a much more subtle linen textured paper stock that gives you just a hint of the linen texture.

Most linen textured paper is made with a matte finish.

What is linen paper used for?

Once you start looking for linen paper stock, you’ll see it’s a very popular paper stock option. Here are just some of the places you can find this textured paper in use:

  • Book publishing
  • Certificate printing
  • Portrait folders and folios (more on that below)
  • Upscale stationery
  • Presentation folders
  • Wedding invitations
  • Greeting cards
  • Business cards
  • Art prints, paintings, and drawings

How does Studio Style use linen weave paper in photo holders?

At Studio Style, we use linen weave paper to create many of our ready-made picture frames and portrait folders. These photo folders are reminiscent of antique or vintage portrait folios, so using linen weave card stock adds to the

We offer most of our linen products in black or white. These neutral colors that look great with any photograph. Many of these portrait folders also have deckle edges, which is yet another nod to how these products used to be made.

Linen textured paper portrait folder
Linen textured white portrait folder with deckled edges.

While we have many economy photo folders available, many of our customers choose linen textured portrait folders for their events because it has an upscale look—but at an affordable price. If you are planning a wedding, corporate event, golf tournament, or a Christmas party, consider a classic portrait folder with linen weave finish.

Linen weave photo folders and frames are available blank, or you can add your logo or event branding with foil stamping for a professional touch.

Linen textured paper is a classic touch that never goes out of style.

Linen weave paper detail with gold foil design accent.
Linen weave paper black with deckle edge detail.

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What is a Dual Easel Frame?

Dual easel frames have two separate easels to display both horizontal or vertical photos.

Many picture frames have an easel attached to the back to prop up the frame for display on a desk or table. That easel is what props the frame up.

A frame that is described as having a dual easel simply means that there are two easels attached to the back. These dual, or two easel frames are designed for propping up the framed photograph horizontally for landscape photos or vertically for portraits.

Here is an example of a dual easel frame displayed using the horizontal easel:

Black horizontal paper frame with pop-out easel back

Why dual easel paper picture frames are practical event giveaways

  1. Your event photographer can take both horizontal and vertical photos, as opposed to being stuck with one orientation. This allows them to frame the picture based on how many people are in the photo, and the surroundings or background.
  2. Paper frames protect event photos. Made of durable recycled cardstock, these paper photo holders provide a little extra support for your photos so they don’t get bent or crinkled on the ride home.
  3. They’re cheap! By “cheap” we mean inexpensive in price. Starting at just $1 per frame, you can get blank paper picture frames for cheap as guest favors for your party or event.
  4. No minimums. If you’re hosting a small party or event, you can order just a few blank frames. No need to buy in quantities of 10, 25, or 100. At Studio Style, you can buy any quantity you need.
  5. You can add your event logo or company branding. Kick your image up a notch with foil stamped personalization. This extra little investment can help boost your brand visibility.
Black paper frame with pop-out easels for horizontal or vertical display. Frame has na silver foil logo imprint on the back.

Get your easel back frames from Studio Style

We’ve made hundreds of thousands of photo frames. We know a thing or two about the best way to personalize a photo holder. So go ahead, start shopping for dual easel picture frames, call us at (800) 346-3063, or send us a message. We’re here to help!

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What is a Beveled Edge?

Cardboard photo frames and mats cut with a beveled edge add a polished look to photographs.

Last month we defined a deckle edge, describing the difference between natural and machine-cut. Today we write about the beveled edge, another specialty edge treatment that customers often ask about. Common with mirrors, cabinets, tile, and countertops, you’ll also see the phrase beveled edge to describe a characteristic of paper, most commonly mat board used with photo framing.

Beveled edge detail on blue mat board frame
A bevel cut on the inside edge of a mat board photo frame.

Any edge cut at less than 90° degrees can be called a beveled edge, however in order to create a bevel cut the paper needs to be fairly thick to cut it on a slant. A thin piece of notebook paper would not be able to produce this look.

Within the realm of paper products, mat board (the thick cardstock frame that surrounds a photo) and corrugated cardboard are the two main types of paper that are thick enough to produce a bevel cut.

Our beveled picture frame mats are a great example of a product that uses this cut.

Beveled edges are a highly desirable feature for picture frame mats, as it gives a polished and finished look to photos. Since the slanted cut edge surrounds the image, it draws your eyes towards the photo. It is this subtle detail that really accentuates framed photographs.

Simply put, paper that has a beveled edge is not cut at a 90° right angle.

Edge detail of beveled edge cut on a white mat board frame
Detail on picture frame mat board beveled edge

Need picture frame mats with a beveled edge? You’re in luck.

We make picture frame mat board inserts. We have stock sizes available, or we can custom-cut a frame mat for any size, any shape. Want to add your studio or event logo? We offer timeless foil stamping for that professional touch. Learn about mat board frames or give our team a call at (800) 346-3063.

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What is a Deckle Edge?

A deckle edge is the name given to the irregular hand-torn appearance on the edge of a paper.

Deckle Edge Paper Detail
Closeup of the deckle edge detail on the corner of white and black portrait folders.

The name “deckle” comes from a tool called a deckle, which is a wooden frame used in the process of papermaking. With handmade paper, as the wet pulp dries it seeps between the deckle and the mould. During this process there is some run-off which gradually thins at the edges. This results in irregular edging, or a deckle edge.

Deckle edges are not perfectly straight like the paper we are typically use. Some people describe them as being rough, ragged, raw, frayed, or uneven in nature. Depending on if the effect is a natural result of papermaking—or if it is artificially produced with a machine—there can be some variation in the degree of unevenness.

With handmade art paper, the deckled edges tend to be a soft, feathery edge that gradually becomes thinner at the end. Since it is softer and thinner, it is also more delicate. This is common with books, scrapbooking, and watercolor papers.

Many wedding invitations, stationery, greeting cards, cardstock, and higher end paper products also have a deckled edge. These often have what is called a faux deckle edge, where a machine cuts the edge of the paper to create a ragged (somewhat rippled) decorative edging for ornamental effect. Since these edges are cut rather than created naturally, they tend to be stronger than traditional deckle methods.

Buy Deckle-Edged Portrait Folders from Studio Style

Several of our products feature a deckle edge including our popular Portrait Folders. Since the edges of our folders are machine-cut with a special deckle die, they are sturdy and suitable for portrait, school, special event, and wedding photographers.

Deckle edge folders also work well for upscale event photography, for photo giveaways at galas, fundraisers, cruises, restaurants or any formal, upscale celebration.

Deckle edges on black and white portrait folders

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