Acid Burn: Yellowish-brown lines that appear on artwork that was not framed using conservation materials. This causes the artwork to discolor and become brittle.
Acid free: This general term is used to describe paper materials with a 7 pH. Acid-free materials are more permanent and less likely to damage or discolor over time. Our Bainbridge Alphamat Artcare collection of mat board is acid-free as well as our archival Mounting Board and Plexi-glass. Below 6.5 pH or above 8.5 pH is not considered acid-free.
Acrylic: Clear plastic sheeting used in place of glass to glaze a picture. Also used to make boxes to hold three dimensional objects.
Adhesive Transfer Tape: Used in mounting artwork, backing boards and similar materials where two adhesive surfaces are needed. (Mats to mats, dust cover to frame, etc.)
Analogous: Combined colors that are adjacent to one another on the color wheel, such as blue, blue-green, and green.
Archival: Framing procedure in which all materials are completely acid-free and allows the items or item to be unharmed and easily removed if desired.
Archival Paper: Paper containing a specific neutral ph level which is acid and lignin free and is made to endure without charges in color.
Aspect Ratio: The proportion of width to height in a shape.
Backing Board: Material used behind the artwork, usually scrap mat board or foam core board. The artwork is hinged or mounted to this board.
Beveled Edge: A 45 degree cut at the inside edge of mat board window. Exposes about 1/16” of the mat board core.
Blocking: The straightening and shaping of a piece of fabric or needle art. The material is dampened, stretched slightly and tacked to a board.
Brad: A small nail used in joining frames and securing the backboard into the frame.
Brushwork: Identifies the characteristic method that an artist applies paint.
Canvas: A common surface for oil and acrylic painting, it is a heavy woven fabric made of flax or cotton. Canvas is attached to a wood frame by stretching and stapling. Canvas paintings or prints are usually not covered with glass or acrylic when framed.
Collage: An arrangement of photos or art that groups them together. This can be accomplished with multiple opening matts in a single frame or by presenting multiple framed pictures in a setting together.
Complimentary: Color schemes are made up of two hues opposite each other on the color wheel
Composition: How an artist presents or arranges the elements of a painting or drawing.
Conservation Framing: Describes the framing procedure where all materials that come in contact with the artwork; mat board, mounting board, etc. are completely acid free. It is designed to minimize the deterioration of the artwork caused by exposure to the environment.
Digital Print: A fine art print produced by using computer technology.
Diptych: Artwork which consists of two separate pieces which are hung together producing a complete picture. The composition of the art flows into the next creating a singular presentation.
Double Mat: Technique where the artwork is matted using two separate mat boards; one on top of the other. The amount of the bottom mat you see is determined by the offset.
Dry Mount: Process of using dry adhesive tissues to mount artwork or photographs to a board using high heat and a dry mount press.
Dust Cover: Protective paper backing on a frame to keep out dust. Generally made from brown kraft paper.
Filler Board: Material used behind the backing board to fill excess space in the frame. Usually foam board or corrugated board and held in place with brads or points.
Floating Artwork: Matting technique where the matboard does not overlap the artwork. The arwork is adhered directly on the matboard with its edges exposed and appears to float in the frame instead of having the matboard window covering its edges.
Foam Core: Stiff lightweight material used as a backing board to give rigidity to the image. Foam makes up the center of the board with a layer of paper on its surfaces. Used as a mounting board, backing board, and as a spacer in deep frames and shadowboxes.
Giclee: Prints are producedusing a process which provides a wide range of tones with millions of colors.
Glazing: Refers to a variety of glass or acrylic products to finish and protect framed artwork. Includes conservation, preservation glass and acrylic, anti-reflective and non-glare glass.
Hardware: Describe the brackets, metal, or plastic that are used to assemble a metal or wood frame.
Hue: a particular color name, such as red or blue
Image Size: This is the actual measurement of your picture. Usually this represents the window size of the mat board.
Intensity: The brightness and purity of color; also referred to as saturation.
Intermediate Colors: Hues created by mixing a primary color with an adjacent secondary color.
Lignin: A component of wood that is sometimes found in non-archival papers and boards. Lignin yellows and becomes acidic over time. Preservation-grade boards must be lignin and acid-free.
Limited Edition Print: An edition is the number of prints produced of a specific image. When an edition is limited, there are a specific number of prints printed, and the printing plate is destroyed. When the entire edition sells out, limited editions generally rise in value.
Margin or Border: The area of white paper edging surrounding the image on the print.
Mat Board: A colored paperboard material used to create a transition from the picture to the frame.
Monochromatic: Color schemes based on the use of one hue.
Open Edition Prints: Prints produced in an unlimited quantity.
Primary Colors: Three hues are called primary: red, blue and yellow. These are pure colors that cannot be obtained by mixing other colors together
Profile: The cross-section illustration which displays the height (H), width (W), and rabbet ® of the frame, giving you a better understanding of the size.
Rabbet: The groove under the lip of the moulding that allows space for the mat, glass, art, and mounting board.
Secondary Colors: Hues created by mixing equal parts of two primary colors together.
Shade: values nearest black, such as Midnight Blue
Tint: values nearest white, such as pastels
Value: color’s lightness or darkness
