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Source for mat board?
- Thread starter MRCocoa
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jaberg
Senior Member
I have a Logan Mat cutter and will often cut a custom mat, or customize the opening on a stock mat, myself.
yardcoyote
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Gotcha. I was thinking of the high quality, acid free mat board you use in framing paintings and prints for sale. Project grade board for internal use is probably less persnickety. There's no need to buy more quality than you need.
Art supplies make the best gifts. Your kid is going to have a happy birthday. Think about asking her for her list or getting her a gift card, though. Most of us have definite favorite materials. ( My pet present idea for an artist of any age doesn't come from an art supply store-- it's a whole case of cheap store brand copier paper from any office supply source. Tons of paper you can scribble on, cut, fold up and generally "waste" with a clean conscience! Paradise! Add a box of black sharpies and you can make comics.)
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Instagram: @yardcoyote
Art supplies make the best gifts. Your kid is going to have a happy birthday. Think about asking her for her list or getting her a gift card, though. Most of us have definite favorite materials. ( My pet present idea for an artist of any age doesn't come from an art supply store-- it's a whole case of cheap store brand copier paper from any office supply source. Tons of paper you can scribble on, cut, fold up and generally "waste" with a clean conscience! Paradise! Add a box of black sharpies and you can make comics.)
--
Instagram: @yardcoyote
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https://www.unitedmfrs.com/Default.asp. (usa )
32" x 40" standard size sheets. 10 sheets mat board minimum order.
ensure they use wood strips on edges of shipping box, I believe this is their standard practice now.
sound like you already have cutting tools, if not, Logan 40" is a nice tool.
32" x 40" standard size sheets. 10 sheets mat board minimum order.
ensure they use wood strips on edges of shipping box, I believe this is their standard practice now.
sound like you already have cutting tools, if not, Logan 40" is a nice tool.
My traditional gift has been some artists' sketch pads and whatever she's using at the time, watercolors and brushes, pencils, pens... whatever. A gift card is a great idea. She doesn't have anywhere nearly as much trouble making simple decisions as I do.
Nope, I did a shallow dive. Logan Elite 32-inch - but I added the 8-ply cutter! Does that get me bonus points?
Thank you for the link. I'll talk to them today.
Thank you for the link. I'll talk to them today.
It's not hard to cut a good window in mat board, it's just fussy. There are lot of DIY-type cutting systems out there if you look for them, from a straight edge and an X-Acto knife (or an holder with an angled cutting blade) all the way to contraptions costing thousands of dollars.
Logan seems to make the best tools, from the simplest to complex production systems.
There are scads of how-to videos on YouTube to give you an idea of how to cut mat board, and all you need to add is practice, practice, practice. My first windows were pretty wavy, but I just claimed I was starting a new fad for fancy mats in do-it-yourself picture framing.
It's just another skill, and it's not very hard to learn how to do it properly.
Logan seems to make the best tools, from the simplest to complex production systems.
There are scads of how-to videos on YouTube to give you an idea of how to cut mat board, and all you need to add is practice, practice, practice. My first windows were pretty wavy, but I just claimed I was starting a new fad for fancy mats in do-it-yourself picture framing.
It's just another skill, and it's not very hard to learn how to do it properly.
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I have two local (more or less) frame shops. I buy their scrap mat board at very reasonable prices. It is mostly cut-off ends of large sheets, and they have lots of colors and textures. Most of the stuff is 20x30 or larger. You have to look at each piece for dings, etc. but I never fail to find more than I need. I also get to try some new materials that I would never order unseen.
Prices for matboard have increased dramatically in the past few years. Unless you do just frame a few prints a year, the costs can be substantial. My wife is also a photographer and we both frame for home display, art gallery exhibitions and club events. Between the two of us we print and frame roughly 25-75 prints a year, mostly 12x18 or 16x24 sizes.
All of the local stores such as Michaels and Hobby Lobby have stopped carrying matboard. The only option is to order online for Blick or a similar supplier. That means ordering in bulk and paying for shipping. I have no recommendations for the best sources but can make some recommendations for keeping the costs down.
First consider the quality of the matboard you need. Museum archival board is extremely expensive. I have settled on Crescent Decorative. It is not archival but lasts for decades anyway.
Next consider the sizes you need. I have settled on using half sheets (20x32). This saves a lot of money. Full sized sheets are hard for the vendors to pack and ship and shipping costs go up because the packages are "oversized" at high shipping rates.
You can save huge amounts of time and money if you can reuse mats. I typically compose in camera with final aspects ratios of 3:2. This allows me to reuse my mats cut for 12x18 or 16x24 prints. Even if some cropping is needed, I find I can often resize the final edit to match the same aspect ratio. Files off size by 10 or even 20% can often be resized and still look great.
Of course the final cost savings is to stop using mats and frames. Prints can be glued to gatorboard or canvas prints can be displayed without any external mats/frames. Personal I prefer the classic look of a framed print.
All of the local stores such as Michaels and Hobby Lobby have stopped carrying matboard. The only option is to order online for Blick or a similar supplier. That means ordering in bulk and paying for shipping. I have no recommendations for the best sources but can make some recommendations for keeping the costs down.
First consider the quality of the matboard you need. Museum archival board is extremely expensive. I have settled on Crescent Decorative. It is not archival but lasts for decades anyway.
Next consider the sizes you need. I have settled on using half sheets (20x32). This saves a lot of money. Full sized sheets are hard for the vendors to pack and ship and shipping costs go up because the packages are "oversized" at high shipping rates.
You can save huge amounts of time and money if you can reuse mats. I typically compose in camera with final aspects ratios of 3:2. This allows me to reuse my mats cut for 12x18 or 16x24 prints. Even if some cropping is needed, I find I can often resize the final edit to match the same aspect ratio. Files off size by 10 or even 20% can often be resized and still look great.
Of course the final cost savings is to stop using mats and frames. Prints can be glued to gatorboard or canvas prints can be displayed without any external mats/frames. Personal I prefer the classic look of a framed print.
tex
Veteran Member
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Wholesale pricing in Portland OR: https://www.customframingwholesale.com/store/FULL-Sheets-32-x-40-Matboard/
jaberg
Senior Member
I don’t promise that this is the definitive list, but most of the techniques I use are variations of the techniques found in the tutorials on this YouTube playlist:
Photo Mounting & Matting
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I agree with the 3:2 aspect ratio. I decided to start cutting mats because I was tired of cropping pictures to fit standard 8x10-inch store-bought frames (I am NOT going to start making frames in this or any other lifetime) so I figured I could get larger frames and learn how to cut mats to fit my pictures.
These are some valuable tips for holding down the costs and I appreciate them.
I have one wall that might look good with a panorama collage without frames, so good tip there, too, but for everything else, I like frames.
Thank you.
These are some valuable tips for holding down the costs and I appreciate them.
I have one wall that might look good with a panorama collage without frames, so good tip there, too, but for everything else, I like frames.
Thank you.
Thanks! I have relatives who live not too far from Portland and could pick up a sheet or two for me - saves shipping and minimum quantities if I'm willing to wait until they come to visit.
Thanks!
Thanks!
We had to learn to cut mat board by hand back in high school (gee, I just dated myself, didn't I?) so I understood the basics. I only had to learn the proper techniques for using the cutting contraption I bought.
The videos for using Gator board will come in handy. I have a panorama that would look good as a collage without frames and I hadn't figured-out how to do that without making it way too complicated. Now, thanks to you (and jrkliny), I have a clue.
Thank you.
The videos for using Gator board will come in handy. I have a panorama that would look good as a collage without frames and I hadn't figured-out how to do that without making it way too complicated. Now, thanks to you (and jrkliny), I have a clue.
Thank you.
You have not mentioned frames. Since you seem cost conscious, I wonder how you are handling this issue.
I have settled on Nielson #15 matte black aluminum frames. For my 12x18 prints, frame size is 16x22. For 26x24, I use 20x28 frames which allow me to use half sized backer board and matboard.
I have settled on Nielson #15 matte black aluminum frames. For my 12x18 prints, frame size is 16x22. For 26x24, I use 20x28 frames which allow me to use half sized backer board and matboard.
I have used Redimat to but mat board and foam core in bulk:
www.redimat.com
And I use Frame Destination for frames:
Matboard | Pre Cut Photo Mats | Picture Mat Board Framing
Redimat is the National Leader for Photo Mat Board. Quality Pre Cut or Custom Economy and Museum Picture Matting & Unbeatable Prices. Trusted by Professionals - Call Now 877-883-1011
And I use Frame Destination for frames:
At the moment, I'm framing 6x9-inch prints and I can find premade metal frames for around $20 with everything except the print, mat, and hanging hardware. I'm not sure where I'll look when I start framing larger prints. I haven't thought that far ahead.
Good question. Hmm...
Good question. Hmm...
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