Bespoke Print Mat

Matting a print consists of placing a piece of paper-based board with a cutout window on top of the print. This process has two main advantages, archiveability and aesthetic:

1. Glazing refers to the glass or acrylic panel used to cover and protect the artwork. Such panels are acidic. To ensure the archiveability of the print, it is crucial to avoid any contact between it and any acidic material. Hence, matting adds a protective gap between the print and the glazing.
2. The window helps to frame the print, isolate it from the surrounding even more, thus improving its narrative.

Tom Migot Fine Art only uses Conservation Grade Mat boards to mat the prints. These boards are conform to the Fine Art Trade Guild requirements for conservation (level 2) for the white and (level 3) for the black.

The difference between the conservation level 2 and level 3 is only on the top layer paper (the one not in contact with the print) which has not a neutral PH due to the colour. This has no impact on the matted print, but in theory, the top layer colour (here black) could fade over time. A coloured mat board cannot be of conservation level 2. Since some prints (often black & white) can benefit from being matted in black to better suit the subject matter, choosing a black mat board is a reasonable compromise.