Why you should use mat board for your photography

Why you should use mat board for your photography. After you have gone to all of the effort to create a beautiful painting or photograph, you will want to ensure that it is beautifully preserved for many years to come. There are, however, several ways that artwork can become damaged. Exposure to heat or cold, water, dirt, dust, pollution, and light can all play a part in causing the artwork to lose its luster. There are steps artists can take to protect your artwork from damage, and it comes down to your choice of picture framing supplies.

Temperature changes can distress your artwork held within a frame. Variations of heat and cold can cause artwork to expand and contract. Because of this movement, a piece of art can buckle within a frame, which can wreak havoc with the surface of the artwork. One way to prevent this from happening is to consider using framing supplies such as photo corners when mounting the art to the mount board. Because these corners are not permanently attached to the mount board, they offer a bit of give and take when the art is moving due to temperature fluctuations, and can lengthen the life of the artwork.

Another condition damaging to artwork is when water builds up inside a framed piece of art. If the artwork is in direct contact with the glazing, the resulting water from high atmospheric humidity levels can mar the surface of the art. Even if it is not in contact because a mat board separates it, nevertheless the combination of water with pollutants, dirt and dust can create acids harmful to your artwork, which can also cause deterioration in wood picture frames. This problem can be lessened by the use of acid-free framing supplies, including the mat board, method of adhesion of the art to the mount board, and the mount board itself.

Light that plays on your artwork can also be a source of damage. Ultra violet light rays can be harmful to photographs and other types of artwork, because they can cause the art to fade. If your artwork is placed near a window, this is an important consideration. In order to prevent light damage, many artists use acrylic glazing framing supplies. Although glass, a common glazing material, is strong and scratch resistant, acrylic framing supplies can be infused with a matte finish to reduce glare on the artwork's surface. It also comes in a form that resists ultra violet light penetration, which also helps to preserve the artwork within.

Susan Slobac is an avid photographer. Susan believes a picture frame is more than just fashion; it's a safeguard for something you love.