Difference Between Mat Board And Foam Board

When you walk down the art aisle at a store you may feel overwhelmed.

Difference between mat board and foam board.

It comes in lots and lots of colors. Most people are familiar with the basic components of a framing package including the frame itself and the glazing. Mount board gives custom framed photos stability and is an essential part of picture framing. Foamboard is easily formed into shapes that can be used for interior design and architectural models.

Mat board is what is used to mat pictures with when they are framed it s found in the framing department of michael s or at a picture framer s. What s the difference between mat board mount board and foam core. Each of the choices may look similar but serve different purposes. Regular mat board is made from wood pulp which is buffered ph balanced during manufacture.

Rag mat board is made from cotton. Foam board or foam core board is a strong and lightweight material that is easily cut with a sharp craft knife or picture framing mat cutter. Posterboard for example is the most versatile and probably the most used. Backing boards come in any size.

Art items that you might encounter are posterboard illustration board foam core and tag board. For any original artwork we recommend a conservation quality backing to go with any conservation or museum grade mat board. A wood pulp based acid neutralized mat board the industry standard and the most popular kind. Regular mat board sometimes called paper board.

But there s more to it than that namely the mat board and mount board. Unlike mat board mount board is generally made of foam often polystyrene with a smooth sometimes paper based face on either side. The core and back of the board are acid free but not the surface paper. Mount boards often also referred to as foamcore come in a variety of thicknesses your choice of black or white and support different mounting techniques such as self adhesive mount boards versus heat activated board.

You can also choose between white and cream for the inside color. If your mat board is of an economy grade we recommend the white rpb boards or for something thicker the standard or acid free foam core offers more support for larger artwork. It is commonly used for the mounting of prints and photographs and as backing in picture frames. Backing is used to provide support and protection for your artwork either in a picture frame or as a standalone product in a show kit we offer economy pressboard standard matboard backing archival quality backing foam board regular and acid free as well self adhesive archival.