Protecting bold, dark top mats prior placing in frame

G

Gary Tanner

CGF, Certified Grumble Framer
Joined
Dec 6, 2020
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138
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Bennington, Vermont
Business
Retired Exec. Director
I tend to use dark, bold mats as top mats when I think they really suit the art and flies they surround, and when I think the crowd at the fund-raiser they are going to will be inclined to bid on a piece with said bold mat. I'm as careful as I can be (well, most of the time), but sometimes the mat will get not quite a scratch but rather more of a mark or marring across it, taking it out of the picture, so to speak (see what I did there?) Wondering if any of the pros here have any tips on how to protect that kind of mat during the whole framing process?
Gary
 
I have learned its hard not to get at least small, light marks on black or dark mats. I wait till its ready to go into frame and look it over in the glare of the lights and lightlly wiping a damp cloth over the marks and they disappear usually always. If i were you I would take some scraps and scuff them in different degrees and wipe a damp cloth on it and experiment with what will and wont come out. You dont want to soak the mat. Just damp enough to wet the area. Dont over wipe. I wet the whole rag and ring it out and fold it so theres a straight edge of the rag to just drag the damp cloth across the marks with no hand pressure. Hope that helps
 
Sometimes the mats already come in like that. It's one of the reasons I prefer fabric mats (but not everyone will pay for that)

With scuffs, a little heat and damp might work. Sometimes just breathing on it close by does the trick.

I rub it with either a rubber 'sponge', or a soft cotton cloth. Wipe in circles, don't rub too hard.

Also, remember that most people won't even notice it. When you're working on it, you go over it at very close distance, noticing every little flaw. Hold it at arm's length away from you and see if you still notice it.
 
my wife tells me i fret over the least of flaws that arent noticeable. I dont think customers notice the things we do because I have had customers bring back frames to get some glass or mat upgrades and the frame and glass looks like it was knocked around a storage unit for a while
 
There are things that I think the proper name for is a "Drafting Pad". Basically a muslin bad full of
granular hard rubber. I call them Magic Sausages. 😄 They are very effective for cleaning light dirt
from artwork and mats. They will lightly abrade the surface without scratching.
Worth a try.....

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A dedicated space for fitting.
And I know that is asking a lot as most of our work surfaces serve multiple functions.

As an addendum to Ylva's suggestion to hold at arms length, rotate the piece a random amount and see if you can find the flaw.
 
Prospero said:
There are things that I think the proper name for is a "Drafting Pad". Basically a muslin bad full of
granular hard rubber. I call them Magic Sausages. 😄 They are very effective for cleaning light dirt
from artwork and mats. They will lightly abrade the surface without scratching.
Worth a try.....
Click to expand...
In school we used to call those "bunny bags".
:icon11: Rick
 
The only thing i have had to protect while cutting window is those suede mats. They seem to scuff when you look at them wrong and its not always easy to fix but possible
 
Jason M said:
The only thing i have had to protect while cutting window is those suede mats. They seem to scuff when you look at them wrong and its not always easy to fix but possible
Click to expand...

A wrung-out damp white paper towel (no printed designs) nuked in the microwave for a few seconds works wonders on superficial suede marks when rubbed with a gentle hand. Works on paper finishes, too.
 
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