The mount (or mat) is the border between artwork and frame. It gives the eye room, protects the work from the glazing, and is one of the fastest ways to make a framed piece look expensive — or cheap.
Colour
- Off-white and soft white: the gallery default — works with almost any artwork and photograph.
- Bright white: crisp for contemporary prints; can look stark against warm paper.
- Black and charcoal: dramatic for bold graphic work and high-contrast photography.
- Colour: best as a thin inner line in a double mount, picked from the artwork.
Width
Narrow mounts make work look cramped. For most pieces a generous border works best, and larger works can carry wider margins. Many framers weight the bottom margin slightly wider, which visually centres the work.
Single, double or float
- Single mount: clean and classic.
- Double mount: adds a fine accent line and depth.
- Float mount: the artwork sits on top of the backing with its edges visible — ideal for deckled papers and works signed near the edge.
Always archival
Whatever the colour, the mount touching the artwork should be acid-free so it doesn't stain the work over time.