Custom Matboards for Frames

Custom Color Matting You Can’t Find Anywhere Else

Craft & Quality

Matboards are made to protect your art and elevate your design. With multiple ply options, patterns, metallics, and endless color possibilities, you’ll find a look that fits any style or space. We also offer museum-quality, lignin-free, acid-free materials that resist fading and bleeding.

Creativity & Customization

You’ll find endless yet effortless color combinations that fit your style, space, and brand. With support for Pantone, HEX, and CMYK matching, our newest matting tools make it easy to bring any creative vision to life exactly as you imagined.

Need an exact match? Fill out our custom color matching form

Matboard FAQs

• What is a Matboard?

  A matboard, sometimes referred to as a mat, is a cardboard-like material that sits between a frame and your photograph or artwork to give it a more finished look. Matboards range in a variety of colors and cores, depending on your needs.

• What is the purpose of a mat?

  The two main purposes of matboard are for embellishment and protection. Matboards add a decorative touch to your framed art. When the right color is chosen, it can help draw your eye towards the frame. Matboards also protect the photograph or artwork by separating it from the acrylic cover. This is important because condensation can build up, which may result in water damage to the framed piece.

• What is a Double Mat?

  A double mat is 2 separate matboards, consisting of one top mat, and one bottom accent mat. The bottom accent mat opening should be slightly smaller than your print/picture. The top mat opening should be slightly larger than the bottom mat opening.

• How do I order a Double Mat?

  We will explain how to order 16" x 20" double mats, for an 11" x 14" picture. The OD (Outer Dimension) of the Bottom mat would be 16" x 20", the ID (Inner Dimension) would typically be 10 1/2" x 13 1/2". This will allow for 1/4" of the perimeter of the 11" x 14" artwork to be hidden (Essentially taped from the back) underneath the opening of the bottom mat. The Top Mat would also have an OD of 16" x 20", however the ID would typically be 11" x 14". This will expose 1/4" of the bottom mat window perimeter (1/4" Reveal), and will create the accent color or double mat effect. Although the 1/2" increment is typically the norm, we allow our customers to choose what they feel will work best for their artwork by ordering each mat separately. Please just keep in mind that when dealing with matting, correct measurements are essential, and one must always think about perimeter measurements. Hence, if an ID window is 1/2" smaller, the perimeter will be effected by 1/4", not 1/2". Most frames also typically cover 1/4" of the perimeter of what is framed as well. For the majority of customers, 1/2" smaller on the window size works out perfect.

• Are your matboards acid-free?

  All of our matboards meet industry standards and are labeled as acid-free by their manufacturers.

• Can you match my matboard to a Pantone color?

  Yes, we can! Please take a few moments to complete our custom color matching form, and someone from our team will be in touch.

• How do I choose the right color for a custom matboard?

  Choosing a color might feel overwhelming, but it can make such a statement! If you're looking for something other than white or black, perhaps choose a color you see in your art. For something bold, choose a bright color; for something more subdued, a neutral color is a good way to go. Need more assistance? We have set you up for success with our Smart Color Matching matboard tools. We offer matboard color recommendations based on your uploaded art, and an easy way to color-pick right from your image! Want more control? Enter a CMYK or HEX color code, and we'll do the rest.

• How much matting do I need?

  The amount of matting is always going to be up to your style or preference. But if you need a little more guidance to get you started, may we suggest:

  Art Size	Typical Use	Typical Matting
  Up to 5″ x 7″	Small photos, Instagram prints	1″- 1 1/2″
  Up to 8 1/2″ - x11″	Medium phots, small prints	1 1/2″ – 2″
  Up to 11″ x 14″	Large photos, small posters & prints	2″ – 2 1/2″
  Up to 18″ x 24″	Medium posters & prints	2″ – 3″
  Over 18″ x 24″	Large and very large posters & prints	2″ – 5″

• What core should I choose?

  The core is the color you'll see along the inside edge of your matboard when it's cut at a bevel. It adds a subtle accent that can change the whole look of your piece. Our custom color matboards all feature a white core for a clean, bright finish, while select styles are available with a black core for a bold, modern contrast. There's no right or wrong, just choose the look that best complements your art and your frame.

• What ply should I choose?

  Ply refers to how thick your matboard is. We offer the following options:

  • 4-ply = 1/16" thick
  • 6-ply = 1/12" thick
  • 8-ply = 1/8" thick

  When deciding which ply to choose, the most important thing to know is the depth of your frame's rabbet (the inner groove where everything sits). Once you know the rabbet depth, you can make sure your matboard, artwork, backing, and cover will all fit comfortably. Pick the ply that gives you the look you want and fits your frame's available space.

• How accurate will the color be compared to what I see on my screen?

  Great question! Screens are amazing… but they kinda do their own thing. Between brightness, calibration, and whatever "vibrant mode" your device is secretly running, colors on-screen won't ever be a perfect match to real life. But with that said, our matboard renders and color tools are designed to get you really close. If you need a truly exact match, especially for branding or client work, use our HEX/CMYK inputs, the color dropper, or request Pantone matching for the most precise results.