I had a lady come in on Tuesday and wanted a half inch mat top and bottom and a 3/8 on the sides! I asked why such a measurement and she told me that her boss built a frame for somebody who had a canvas that she wanted framed. She gave the measurements to this gal's boss and he went ahead and built some kind of wood frame without even checking the measurements!
First of all, I told her that you don't normally mat original art on canvas.
Secondly, I told her that a mat that small will hardly show in the frame with the amount that will be covered by the rabbet.
And thirdly, I told her that she would have to pay $25 for this mat, it was some odd size around a 10x12. I suggested that she go back and tell her boss what I said before I cut the mat because it was not refundable if he didn't like the narrow cut.
She brought back the frame and told me that he would settle for a half inch all the way around. The reason for the odd size and narrow mat was the woman's measurements were off and he built the frame slightly too large. So he spray glued the canvas down to a piece of masonite to fit the frame and he was lacking a half inch top and bottom for a fit.
I cut the mat, took her money and had her sign a disclaimer on the mat.
She left happy.
I think if the truth were known it was HER canvas and it was HER husband who built the frame without knowing what the heck he was doing.
Framerguy