We offer high quality, archival Custom Mats at an affordable price. We strive to make the ordering process as simple and streamlined as possible. This article covers the steps needed to order single-window, multi-window, and special request custom mats.
Custom Mat Basics
First select what type of mat board you want. All of our boards are acid-free, lignin-free, archival, and buffered. We do not use any optical brighteners. Museum Board is the gold standard of mat board. It is made of 100% cotton fiber. Conservation Board is made with purified wood pulp, which is still archival, but more economical than Museum Board.
Choose the color and ply of the mat you want. We offer black and several shades from white to cream. Bright White is our biggest seller. Popular colors come in 2-ply (1/32″), 4-ply (1/16″), and 8-ply (1/8″) thicknesses, whereas some board only comes in 4-ply. We sell a Board and Paper Sample Pack that has examples of all the Mat Board colors and the different plies, Acid-Free Foamboard, and all of our Archival Papers.
The Sample Pack gives you the opportunity to look at the different options next to the artwork you plan to mat.
Windows and Backing Board
How many windows do you want? Most mat orders are for a single window. But multiple windows are possible and now easy to order on our website. Do you want your window to be a square or rectangular shape, or a round or oval shape? Do you want a backing board to attach your print to. If yes, what type of board would you like and do you want it hinged to your window mat? If hinged, do you want the hinge on the short or the long edge?
Dimensions
Determine the outside dimensions of the mat. These should be the same size as your glazing (glass or acrylic) if you are framing it. Decide what dimensions your window needs to be. If you have an 8 x 10 photograph that is printed to the edge of the paper (no white border), your window dimensions might be 7-3/4 x 9-3/4. That gives you 1/8 inch overlap on all sides.
Decide if you want your window centered or bottom weighted. Bottom weighted means that the bottom border is larger than the top border. It is a practice begun in the Victorian Era that has continued to be popular among framers. It is a personal preference.
How to Order a Single-Window Custom Mat
This is our basic, popular standard window mat option.
1. “Single-Window” is the default and will have a blue dot next to it when selected.
2. Select the type of matboard you want and a backing board (if any) and hinging choice.
3. Enter the height (H) and width (W) of your mat exterior. This dimension should be the same as your glazing, if framing. Enter whole numbers in first window and fractions in second. Fractions do not go smaller than 1/8″.
4. Enter the height (H) and width (W) of your window. Our windows are cut with a beveled edge and all of our matboards are one solid color throughout. On rare occasions a customer might want a straight cut, rather than beveled for their window. They would enter this request into the notes section at the bottom of the order form.
5. Window shape is square or rectangular by default and will have a blue dot next to it. If you want a round or oval window select that option.
6. Select window position from drop down menu. Options are centered, or bottom weighted 1/4, 1/2, or 1″.
7. Click to agree to terms.
8. Select quantity desired. Default quantity is 1. Quantity price breaks only work for mats with same exact specifications and they begin at quantity of 5.
9. If you have any notes, type them in the box under the red “Add to Cart” button. A note might be naming or numbering each mat.
10. Click on the red Add to Cart button to add the mat to your order.
How to Order a Multi-Window Custom Mat
A Multi-Window Mat has more than one window.
1. Click on the “Multi-Window” option (Single-Window is selected by default and it will reset to this every time). The blue dot appears next to your selection and the diagram on the left will change.
2. Select the type of matboard you want and a backing board (if any) and hinging choice.
3. Enter window details (mat dimensions are determined by window specifications). Window shape is square or rectangular by default and will have a blue dot next to it. If you want a round or oval window select that option.
4. Enter the number of Columns and number of Rows. Diagram at left will change.
5. Enter the height (H) and width (W) of your windows (all windows must be the same height and width to use this order form – which means they are also the same orientation – ie: all vertical or all horizontal). Enter whole numbers in first window and fractions in second. “-/-” equals zero or a whole number. Fractions do not go smaller than 1/8″.
6. Enter the space between columns and space between rows, as needed. The form default is the minimum space of 1/2″. To enter a whole number, enter it in the first box then change the fraction to “-/-“.
7. Enter the left and right border dimensions.
8. Enter the top and bottom border dimensions.
9. The number of Windows and Mat Size show up in gray boxes. These are calculated automatically based on the data you entered.
10. Click to agree to terms.
11. Select quantity desired. Default quantity is 1. Quantity price breaks only work for mats with same exact specifications and they begin at quantity of 5.
12. If you have any notes, type them in the box under the red “Add to Cart” button. A note might be naming or numbering each mat.
13. Click on the red Add to Cart button to add the mat to your order.
* If your windows vary in size, orientation, shape, or layout, go to the Special Request Mat Cutting page to submit a PDF and request for a quote.
Special Request Mat Cutting
The Special Request Mat Cutting page is only for submitting a request for non-standard, odd-sized, and special layout mats that can’t be ordered through the Custom Mat Cutting page.
If you want a Multi-Window Mat whose windows are not all the same exact height and width and same orientation then you would need to fill out the form and submit a PDF drawing or diagram of the layout and dimensions.
If your mat exceeds dimensions (larger than 40″) or the border is too small (less than 1″) you will have to use the Special Request Mat Cutting page to submit a request. If you are trying to order a Custom Mat and you get a pop-up warning about exceeding dimensions then you will have to fill out the form. We will determine if we can accommodate your dimensions and get back to you with a quote.
Above are four examples of multi-window mats that would need to be ordered on the Special Request Mat Cutting page. Below are two examples of the types of PDFs you could submit to us so we could create a quote for you. The diagram can be made using a computer or hand-drawn but it needs dimensions, borders, and spaces clearly labeled.
After You’ve Ordered Your Mats
For standard single-window and multi-window custom mats, you will receive an order confirmation email that includes your six digit order number and specifies the custom mat details that you entered. Custom mat details can’t be changed once your order had been submitted and custom items can’t be returned. Remember the old adage to measure twice, cut once! Custom mats take 2-4 business days to ship from our Rochester, NY manufacturing facility.
If you submitted a Special Request Mat Cutting form, you will hear from us in 2-4 business days.
If you have any questions you can email or call and we will do our best to answer promptly.
