A mount (known in US as a ‘mat’) is a board surround for the artwork.
Its purpose is to:
- Separate the artwork from the glazing
- Provide a non-acidic aperture to protect the artwork.
Draw the eye to focal points in the artwork.
Carefully select mount for colour and size.
- It should be complementary to the artwork and it’s width proportional to the width of the moulding.
- Modern colours are not appropriate to traditional images.
- Wedding and christening photographs usually look better in a soft pastel shade. Monochrome pictures benefit from a stronger colour.
- A mount can be used to crop part of the picture to improve the composition.
- The bevel will not discolour on mounts which are cut from non-acidic board.
- The artwork will hang better if supported by, and hinged to, an under-mount.