If you think any mat and frame are fine for your art, think again! I answer a reader's question about archival and acid-free framing.
After reading my article How to Frame Your Artwork ,Stan Parchin, Feature Writer of Museums and Art Galleries wrote in with this question:
Can you explain the importance of acid-free paper when matting and framing a print?
That would be her top-most question right now.
Great question, Stan, and one that many artist are interested in. Acid in matting and framing materials will eat into a print over time, slowly destroying it. I have seen this so many times. I'll buy a piece of art and decide to re-frame it. When I take the print or painting out of the frame it will be discolored and yellowed where the mat had touched it because the mat was not acid-free. Or, worse yet, the acid from the mat had eaten through the painting or print, leaving spots comparable to moth holes.
The whole point of framing a print is to keep it damage free, so it doesn't make sense to mat and frame it with something that will damage it.
In my article Art Paper Terms and Uses I go into explaining the importance of archival quality art products and how to find out if your product is archival.
Thanks Stan!
Alina
