Matting a painting involves placing it behind a mat board, which is a thick, stiff board with a window cut out of the center. This serves both protective and aesthetic purposes, separating the artwork from the glass and providing a visual border. A key step is securely attaching the artwork to the mat package, typically the backing board.
One common method for attaching artwork, especially paintings on paper or board, involves using tape hinges. This allows the artwork to hang freely from the top edge, preventing buckling over time.
Preparing Your Painting and Mat
Before attaching your painting, ensure both the artwork and the mat board (including the backing board) are clean and free from dust or debris. Position your painting on the backing board, centered correctly within the window of the mat board (which is placed over the artwork to check positioning).
Attaching the Painting Using Tape Hinges
Using archival-quality tape is crucial to prevent damage to your artwork over time. The hinge method involves creating small tape tabs that connect the artwork to the backing board.
Here's how to create these hinges:
- Apply Tape to Artwork: Take small pieces of archival tape. Stick one piece, sticky-side up, to the back of the artwork an inch from one of the top corners; leave about an inch of the tape exposed at the top.
- Repeat for Stability: Repeat on the opposite top corner. For larger or heavier pieces, you may add a third hinge in the center along the top edge.
- Secure to Backing: Carefully position the artwork on the backing board so it is correctly aligned within the mat window. Press down gently on the areas where the sticky-side-up tape is attached to the artwork. Now, take additional pieces of tape (sticky-side down). Stick the remaining pieces of tape—sticky-side down—horizontally over the exposed tape that is already stuck to the back of the mat. This second piece of tape secures the sticky-side-up piece (attached to the artwork) to the backing board, forming a hinge.
This creates a secure yet flexible attachment point along the top edge, allowing the painting to hang straight without being rigidly fixed on all sides.
Benefits of Matting Artwork
Matting offers several advantages:
- Protection: It prevents the artwork from touching the frame's glass or acrylic, which can cause damage, especially with certain media like pastels or charcoal.
- Visual Enhancement: A mat provides a visual buffer zone around the artwork, drawing the viewer's eye and enhancing the presentation.
- Depth: The thickness of the mat board adds depth to the framed piece.
- Preservation: Using archival-quality mat boards and tapes helps protect the artwork from acidic materials that can cause discoloration and deterioration.
By using the described taping method with appropriate materials, you can securely and safely matte your painting for display or framing.
