Most artists would agree that creating art is exciting because of the hands-on creative aspect. The ability to control and manipulate art materials to follow your personal artistic vision is thrilling and deeply personal. At the completion of your art making, whether it's works of art on paper or canvas, the framing process is another step in your art making process. A great frame does more than complement the art it surrounds, it also serves as a protective barrier from potential environmental and handling hazards.

At Opus, we are constantly growing and developing our product lines in order to offer a greater selection. We want you to come to us for all of your art material needs, from start to finish. Through our do-it-yourself framing area, you are given the opportunity to be an active participant in your framing process?from picking your moulding and matboard, to assembling it on your own. A great sense of satisfaction and pride is associated with this process!

Framing and matting your artwork is not a frivolous addition to your art making process, as framing protects and enhances your work of art. Framing also adds a professional look and shows a finished product to your viewer. If adding a frame can entice a viewer, exposure increases and so does the possibility of sales.

Even if you're not interested in selling your art, there are clear benefits of framing and matting your artwork. The protection of a frame prevents environmental hazards from damaging your art, whether it is hanging in a gallery, on a friend?s wall, or in storage. When you know what is involved in framing your artwork, you will be comfortable with your choices and know how well your artwork is protected. Through the use of archival and conservation materials, you can reduce potential damaging effects such as ultraviolet light, moisture, heat and handling. Opus stocks solutions to suit your conservation needs from sturdy frames to acid-free mats and proper surfaces for backing.

What is a mat? A mat is a rigid surface, with a window opening, that is placed between your work of art on paper and your frame. A mat surrounds your art within a frame, and is more than just a pretty color. The purpose of matting is also protective, as it is the barrier between your work of art and the glass, frame and backing you choose.

For aesthetic reasons artists use matboard to encase their work of art and bring out the colour in an image while drawing in the viewer?s eye. Matboard, as a graphic element, can act as a highlight?showcasing a certain colour, accenting a shape, or increasing the overall size of the framed piece. Colour plays an important role in this transformation process. For example, using a black matboard has the effect of ?lightening? and ?enlarging? the artwork, while using a white matboard serves to ?darken? and ?shrink? your artwork. A specific colour can bring out certain colours in your piece.

That being said, matboard also plays an integral role in the conservation of your artwork, and this should not be overlooked. One feature is to keep the glass from coming into contact with your framed artwork, as placing your artwork directly against the glass may result in buckles, wrinkles, mold formations and ?sticking? to the glass. By having a mat, the separation of the glass from the image allows the image to ?breathe?.

For further protection, a back mat should be used to provide a solid and strong support to your artwork. A front and back mat should be hinged together, either vertically or horizontally, even when the work is framed, to provide maximum protection. This will also keep the mats from moving in the frame or slipping out of alignment with each other.

Hinging your artwork to the back mat ensures that your artwork is held in place, while allowing it to expand and contract with minor temperature and humidity changes. The back mat is where you find the greatest amount of surface touching the artwork, so you want to ensure that your back mat is secure and of conservation quality.

Even if you're not framing your art, conserving and protecting it with a front and back mat will decrease the amount of actual handling of your artwork and extend its lifespan. The front and back mat will provide a rigid base for your artwork and will keep it well protected in storage or for viewing. This method also makes for quick framing for your shows and exhibitions, as you simply need to pop your artwork into a frame and it is ready to go. For storage, look at using conservation-grade matboard and storing your works of art in an acid-free Neutracore portfolio or clear glassy bags, which are available at Opus in a variety of standard sizes.

When choosing a mat, aside from size and thickness, the most important consideration is the quality. What differentiates matboard from each other is the nature of the fibres used in their production. The finer quality boards are made of cotton linter or rag fibres while less expensive matboards are made from wood pulp fibres. Matboards made from wood pulp fibre are often buffered as acids and lignins are naturally occuring, and can cause damage to your framed piece over time. It is important to select your matboard carefully, as it will be in contact with your framed piece. We have included a list of your framing options at Opus, divided into three categories to make your choices simpler.