Size (of your mats) matters

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Mecianne

Mecianne

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Jan 7, 2005
Posts
2,229
Loc
Alabama
Just been hanging out in the vast catacombs of knowledge that we know as the Grumble archives. (Today has been dead.)
I was reading a thread started by Edie that listed pet peeves of framers, although I think it frankenthreaded half-way through. (I got there by looking for info on fabric wrapped mats). Anyway...I noticed lots of people said "Ugh!" about 2-2 1/2" mat borders & 1/4" borders for 2nd, 3rd, etc. Just curious as to what you prefer. (I know it is not carved in stone for each project, but how do you decide?)
 
My mat sizes usually depend on the size of the piece and the amount of wall space the customer has left. A lot of my frequent framers are just plain running out of wall space and so they opt for 2" or smaller sizes. Sure, I would love to put 3-4" mats on everything - sometimes for artists and important pieces, I use 5-6" mats, but mostly, I'm afraid to admit, it's 3" or smaller.

I seem to be cutting a lot of 1" or smaller mats these days - because the customers say, "I don't want it too big" or the infamous (when showing 3" corner samples, "It doesn't have to be that big, does it?" LOL!

As long as I make a profit! No problem!
 
My computers default to 4 inches. I think the size of the mat has more to do with the frame size than anything else. A 2 in mat with a 3 in frame just looks like crap. The other way around is more visually appealing.

However, everybody likes different things. That is why we call it Custom Framing!
 
I love a wide mat...after all I do tons of french matting.
But we can all agree that a skimpy mat looks weird.

Try floating the art with spacers.

If a piece is free floated with 1" all around and 1/2" spacers it can be quite dramatic.

The depth seems to balance out the lack of height and width. And the customer's size restrictions are satisfied.

Off course it depends on the edges of the art, yadda yadda, but keep it in mind.
 
Meccianne, I think you were looking a little to far back.. 2" mats were like so last century....

The current debate is 3 or 4 for samples. But size of picture should always dictate the mat.

Many long years ago, I heard a master explain mat width so elequently that I never forgot it. I use the same statement on customers all the time.

"Wide mats give the piece the air and room to gain flight, as the artist intended, in the special universe so elegantly protected by the wonder frame you have choosen.

Narrow mats, on the other hand lend a certain, how you say it, constipation?"

Then you become quiet, and give the one raised eyebrow look of askance to your patron. The 3 seconds will stretch like hours.....
Then a 3" mat just would be to "Narrow"? :D
 
I noticed, when I started showing wall models with 4-5" mats, that those were the ones that people noticed and admired.

Those same customers would gasp with dismay at my 4" mat samples and say, "Ohmygawd, I see nothing but mat!"

So we rarely discuss mat width as part of the design process. I use my own (excellent) judgment and people are either happy with my decision or they have the good manners to keep quiet about it.

Just can't resist those cute topic titles, can you Mecianne? :D
 
Every piece I design is different.

While I find it useful to know of any design 'rules,' I have an inherent disregard for them. So when I hear that a 4" mat width is the only way to go, I want to design something gawjuss with a 1 1/2" mat and fat honker of a frame. I call that mat as a liner.

Since I am not a big fan of multiple mats, I do a lot of french mats and I have been liking the look of a narrower mat totally filled with a watercolor panel or two with lines in between only. Even a narrower mat wrapped in fabric, with a fabric wrapped deep bevel can be very stylish.

I think good design is not all about size, I think design needs to pay heed to color, scale, texture, appropriateness of materials, and even any historical application, as well.

I also like to get an idea from my customer- do they have oodles of wall space? Is the room a soaring-ceiling'd great room or a cozy panelled den? Knowing a bit of the look and feel of the room helps to determine mat width as well. There is no one right width, in my mind.

I remember that design pet peeve thread- it was fun- and I remember threatening to start a framing design favs thread. Maybe it's time... too bad I'm leaving on vacation tommorrow...

It might be kind of fun to have a framing design contest where rules are meant to be broken in the name of good design!

That said, most of my framed display samples have wide mats- "4,4,4 and 5" as I say.

edie the didweansweryourquestionyet goddess
 
Someone told me once of a framer they knew that said their mat cutter couldn't cut a mat less than 2". I guess that's one way to start your customer thinking bigger...

I don't discuss mat size unless they have serious space issues. That is not very common, in my exp. at least.

If they pick it up and the larger mat scares the bajeezus out of them, then we have lengthy mat width discussion. Yes, of course we cut it again, we do want happy customers, even if they have terrible taste. If they think it's just fab, who am I to say nooooo. I do my very best to show them a proper size mat.

Like Edie, when the "rules" come up, I am even more likely to teach the customer new "rules"!

The only absolutely "will not do" rule I have is this: I cannot stand the mat size to be the same width as the frame profile.
 
You also asked about 2nd and 3nd mat widths.

The one I use the most is a triple mat with the 2nd mat only an 1/8" of an accent color with the bottom mat about a 1/2" wide on a more subtle color. The smaller mat is to pull out the smaller detail.

Of course it all depends on the picture but the big rule of thumb is that the bottom mats should never, I mean never be the same size.

I also do alot of paper filets. That is where you strip the top layer of mat off and place only a 1/6th of it to show. there is no bevel and it is a cool look for really small detail.

I have been noticing alot of 4 and 5 mat combos latley. Have any of you been seeing this trend?

Jennifer
 
Edie, thanks for the great info. When you get back from vacation (hope you have fun!), I think you should start that design thread. It would be fun and probably full of great ideas.

Baer, According to your post, I think maybe I need a laxative.

Maria, I really like the look of spacers & the depth is dramatic. BTW, your work is beautiful.

Oh, I have heard that about the mat samples before. It takes all I can do to keep from cracking up!

Wouldn't 4 & 5 mat combos be slight overkill ? Just seems like a bit much if you just layer & layer & layer & layer & layer...

And Ron....I just can't help it. Maybe I need Post-title hypnosis therapy. Probably wouldn't be too effective, though.
icon21.gif
 
Jennifer- That paper fillet technique sounds nice. Could you relate more details of how you do it? Thanks
:cool: Rick

P.S.: Edie, what are you doing for vacation? Bicycling across the Australian outback, I bet. ;)
 
Rick,

I score the mat color of choice in 1/2" strips.

Then at one corner just peel the color off. It usually comes off fairly easily.

Then I use ATG tape on the back side of the top mat and apply by hand from the back while watching from the top. I usaully only let about an 1/16th of that color to show. I just over lap the corners.

After you attach it you can just add more mats as usual.
It really is a nice detail that alot of frames shops forget to offer. It it kind of forgotten like painted bevels.

Hope you could understand that description, I'm not very good at writng things out. :D

Jennifer
 
Jennifer,
I'm very interested in the paper filets. Is there a chance you might post a visual image? I am sure I am making it more complicated than it really is, but I do want to know. Thank you in advance for this idea, I'm intrigued....
Danny
:confused: :confused:
 
We let the piece dictate the final mat width. Most of ours tend to be in the 3" range with an extra 1/2" weighted on the bottom. It just seems to look better that way.
 
I agree with framo, depends on the size of the piece. But we usually do 3.5" and up to 5"

Some of our customers get the "oh my god face" when they see a wide mat. They want 1" or 2" on a piece that's to big!
faintthud.gif

It just doesn't look right. So I prepare to do my speech of why it would look better etc. And fortunately they go for it.

I have done some small mats because they running out of wall space. But to my perception even on an 8x10 put a 1" to 2" mat seems to "not let it breathe" (I need a spell check in this forum)

I guess all what It comes down to is whatever fits the piece, where is going to hang and the esthetics.

I have a feeling I didn't say anything new...
 
Nadia,

Log on to iespell.com to download a spell-checker that will work with a Right click on any internet text. It's safe and not spy-ware.

Pat :D
 
I hate to admit this but I don't know how to post a photo yet. I just bought a scanner but I haven't figured it all out yet.

If there is any one else who does these and can post a picture for Danny Boy, I would really appreciate it.

As far as pricing, I just charge a acid free mat charge because the time it takes to do it makes up the difference. Also it takes more ATG to do.

Jennifer
 
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