Frame with passepartout

FRAME WITH PASSEPARTOUT

What is a Mat or Passe-partout?

A mount (also known as a mat) is a crucial component in framing artwork, photographs, or prints. It serves as a protective border between the artwork and the frame.
When you observe framed pieces, you’ll notice that many have a card-like “border” around the artwork within the frame. That border is the mount.
The primary purpose of a mount is to create a breathing space between the artwork and the frame itself. This is especially useful when the artwork is close to the edge of the medium it’s printed on.

Why Use a Mount?
Breathing Space: As mentioned earlier, a mount provides a buffer zone, preventing the artwork from touching the glass or acrylic of the frame. This helps avoid any direct contact that could lead to damage.
Enhanced Presentation: A well-chosen mount enhances the visual appeal of the artwork. It provides a clean separation between the image and the frame, drawing attention to the art itself.
Correction of Size Discrepancies: If your artwork is smaller than the frame, a mount can fill the gap, making the overall presentation more balanced.
Protection: The mount acts as a barrier against moisture, dust, and other environmental factors that could harm the artwork.
Custom-Cut Mounts: These are tailored to your specific requirements. You can choose the size, color, and even the shape of the aperture(s).
Advantages of Custom-Cut Mounts:
Flexibility: Custom frames allow you to adjust the mount border sizes and frame dimensions according to your preferences.
Creative Freedom: Your imagination sets the limits. Create unique combinations of colors, sizes, and shapes.

Advantages of Custom-Cut Mounts:
Flexibility: Custom frames allow you to adjust the mount border sizes and frame dimensions according to your preferences.
Creative Freedom: Your imagination sets the limits. Create unique combinations of colors, sizes, and shapes.
Professional Presentation: Custom-cut mounts elevate the overall look of your framed artwork.
Example Calculation:
Suppose you have an A4-sized print (210 x 297 mm). If you want to add a mount around it, the frame size will need to be larger than A4.
Ready-made frames limit your options, but custom frames allow you to adjust both the mount and frame sizes.

Standard 2mm Acrylic: Standard acrylic is a cost-effective option that offers excellent clarity and durability. It is lightweight, shatter resistant and provides UV protection, making it ideal for framing artwork and photographs. 
Cost-effective
Excellent clarity
Lightweight and break-resistant
UV Filtered Acrylic: UV filtered acrylic is specially designed to protect artworks from harmful UV rays that can cause fading and deterioration over time. This type of acrylic glass filters up to 99% of UV radiation while maintaining excellent clarity and durability. UV filtered acrylic is recommended for framing valuable or light sensitive artwork.
Protects works of art from UV damage
Maintains perfect clarity
Provides durability and resistance to breakage
Non-Glare Acrylic: Non-glare acrylic has a matte finish that reduces reflections and glare, allowing the framed artwork to be viewed optimally from a variety of angles and lighting conditions.
This type of acrylic is ideal for brightly lit environments or places where glare can be an issue, such as galleries, offices or homes with large windows.
Benefits
Reduces reflections and glare
Optimised viewing from various angles
Ideal for bright environments
Museum Grade Acrylic: Also known as conservation acrylic or museum acrylic glass, is a premium option designed to provide the highest level of protection and preservation for valuable works of art and artefacts. Here are some key features and benefits of museum acrylic

Optical Clarity: Museum acrylic offers exceptional optical clarity, allowing artworks to be viewed intact with minimal distortion or colour shift. This clarity is comparable to conventional glass and ensures that the true colours and details of the artwork are preserved.
UV Protection: Museum acrylic typically filters out up to 99% of harmful UV rays, providing the highest level of UV protection available. This helps prevent fading, discolouration and deterioration of artwork caused by prolonged exposure to sunlight or artificial light sources.
Anti-Reflective Coating: Many museum acrylic products are treated with an anti-reflective coating that minimises glare and reflections and allows for optimal viewing from a variety of angles and lighting conditions. This coating helps to enhance the visual clarity of the artwork and reduces distraction caused by glare.
Anti-Static Properties: Museum acrylic can also have anti-static properties to keep the acrylic surface clean and clear by repelling dust and debris. This helps to reduce the frequency of cleaning and minimises the risk of scratching or damaging the artwork during transport.
Resistance to Scratching: Museum acrylic is designed to be highly scratch resistant and provides an extra layer of protection against damage from handling, cleaning or accidental impact. This helps to maintain the pristine condition of the acrylic and ensures long-term clarity and durability.