Acid Free
Acid Free usually means that the material is buffered to provide a pH balance that is neutral. All of our Bainbridge, Crescent and Canterbury paper mat lines arrive Acid Free mats, meaning pH balanced. Since it is the acids in materials that primarily cause problems, an acid free mat reduces the likelihood of damage from acids and resultant gases. However, acid-free materials began to lose their balance over a period of time determined in greatly by environmental conditions. Acid-Free paper mats are generally a good choice for high volume projects that do not have a high monetary or sentimental value.

Allowance
Industry term referring to the additional length added to frame rails or subtracted from mat openings, usually 1/8 of an inch for each side. For example, if the customer orders and 11x14 inch frame, the rails will be cut to 11 1/8 inch and 14 1/8 inch. The 1/8 inch allowance will allow for easy fitting of the artwork, matboard and glazing. For matboards, the opening will be cut 1/8 inch shorter on each side. For example, if the opening is for a 5x7 image, the opening will be 4 3/4 inches x 6 3/4 inches.

Archival Quality
Archival Quality is sometimes also referred to as "Preservation" or "Museum Quality". A product that is referred to as "Archival Quality" meets or exceeds the standards for conservation set by the Library of Congress. ArtCity recommends Archival Quality for all framing projects that involve artwork with monetary or sentimental value. Many manufacturer's are increasingly incorporating archival materials in their mats and other framing products. We recommend Bainbridge Alphamats® and Crescent RagMat® for all your framing need.

Artcare
The Bainbridge Alphamat Artcare system is a preservation system that not only preserves your precious artwork but is actually proactive in its protection. Since its introduction in 1995, ARTCARE® has raised the standard of museum quality framing to a level of excellence unparalleled in the art world, with mat and mountboards that actively protect artwork from the damaging effects of pollution, paper degradation and the by-products of the art´s own aging. This is something no other conservation product can do - because no other matboard contains exclusive MicroChamberŽ Technology.

Chop
Chop or chop service is a framing industry term referring to the process of cutting down a length of picture frame moulding to the desired sizes needed to make a specific size frame.

Frame Size
Usually the frame size is determined by your image size. However, sometimes you may have a small image or overall paper size but would like to have an oversize mat or frame. In this case your frame size will be determined by how much of a mat border you would like to display around the image. For example, assume you have a 8x10 paper with a 5x7 image that you would like framed. First determine how much of the 5x7 image and the 8x10 paper you would like to show through the mat opening. Next decide how much of a mat border you would like to have around the mat opening. This will determine your overall mat size which will determine your overall frame size. Therefore, if you determine that your overall mat size 16x20, you would order a 16x20 frame which will be cut with a 1/8 inch allowance to allow for easy fitting.

Mat Blanks
ArtCity offers mat blanking services for our do it yourself customers. You can buy any of our Bainbridge, Crescent and Canterburry mat boards cut to standard sizes with no opening. This is great for our customers that own their own mat cutters.

Mat Opening
Mat Opening refers to the square or oval opening in the center of the mat. Recently it has become fashionable to weight the mat so that the area below the opening is taller than the area above the opening, this is referred to as bottom weighted. For standard pre-cut mats, the mat opening is usually cut to fit standard size images, such as 4x6, 5x7, 8 1/2 x 11 and etc. If you are ordering a custom cut mat you need to measure the length and width of the image. This will usually determine your mat opening, remember the image size may be smaller than the overall paper size. You may have a 3 inch plain paper border around the image. You need to decide how much of the white area you would like to show through the mat opening in addition to the image. Remember, all mat openings are cut with the industry standard 1/8 inch allowance. When measuring art, it is very important to allow for some overlap (we recommend at least 1/8"-1/4" on all sides.) If the mat opening is exactly the same size of the art, the artwork will fall right through the mat opening. For example, if you have a photo that is 8 x 10, the mat opening should have an inside dimention of 7 1/2" x 9 1/2".

Mitered or Miter Cut
Frame moulding is usually cut at a 45 degree angle at the ends. This allows for a perfect 90 degree corner when the frame corners are joined. The 45 degree cut is usually referred to as mitered or miter cut, these terms simply refer to the angle cut at the end of the frame rails.

Mat Size
The overall mat size is determined by adding the mat opening dimensions to the mat border around the mat opening. For exmpale, assume your opening is 5x7 and you would like to have a 4 inch border all the way around. Your overall or outside mat dimensions would be 13x15 inches.

Rabbet
Rabbet refers to the inside depth of the frame moulding, the part where all the layers of your framing package fits. Your package might include mats, mounting and backing boards, the artwork and glazing. Please consider rabbet depth when you are using double or triple mats. Make sure the rabbet depth is deep enough to fit all the layers that you plan on framing, plus 1/8 inch allowance to allow for springs or flexipoints.

Rail
A picture frame is composed of four rails. Rail simply refers to one of the four sides of the frame.

Thumbnails
Thumbnails are plastic V-Nail like inserts that are used to form strong wooden frame corners. All of our custom wood frames can be shipped ready to assemble if you select the "Ready to Assemble" option. When this option is selected your mitered frame rails are routered at the ends to recieve the plastic thumbnails. The thumbnails are simply lightly hammered into the routered grooves to pull the wooden frame corners against each other and form a very tight fit. We recommend using a bit of wood glue for a long lasting fit.

V-Nails
Are special zig-zag type nails that are used in joining wooden and formica frame corners. They insure a tight fit by pulling the corner edges tightly together. V-Nails and some good old fashion wood glue make sure that wood frames give you years of quality and enjoyment. ArtCity sells V-Nails and the tools you require to help you make your own quality frames economically.

Weighted Mat
A weighted mat has a bottom dimenstion that is taller than the other three sides. Weighted mats can be subtle or dramatic. The more weight one adds to the bottom of the mat, the more dramatic and contemporary the effect.