Can Acid Free Mat Board Be Used For Watercolor Painting

The mat the backing and the hinges used for attaching the painting to the mat are all 100 acid free.

Can acid free mat board be used for watercolor painting.

In addition make sure you use japanese paper hinges and wheat starch paste to hinge your painting attach it to the mat. I prefer painting not cutting out windows in matting board. The pages i m using are from a book published in 1945 so i know the paper is not acid free. They have been buffered to temporary minimize the acids.

Your painting must be enclosed in an acid free environment. These mats are made from wood pulp also alpha cellulose. Use of adhesives like glue is a complete no no as far as quality framing is considered. You can find several varieties of backing board at most arts and crafts supply stores.

The acids then out gas from the matting and ooze onto the artwork. Many are acid free and self adhesive. Mat board is a thick acid free sturdy board used to frame and back paintings drawings and photographs. Over time as light heat and humidity contact the matting the acids react and breakdown.

Paper tapes or japanese paper hinges are great for attaching the artwork to the mat board. You can find several varieties of backing board at most arts and crafts supply stores. Use an acid free sealant spray formulated for use with water colors and be aware that some of the older sprays tend to yellow your paints somewhat. I ve painted lots of watercolors and only matted a few even though i learned how to mat a long time ago.

Rather than throwing away the excess mat board artists can recycle it into a canvas for a small painting. With this process with the barriers between the board and the paint it will help to make the surface acid free for longer period of time. Many are acid free and self adhesive. This is completely free of damaging acids and is considered to be of the highest quality.

Mount your painting on a firm backing. Use an acid free sealant spray formulated for use with water colors and be aware that some of the older sprays tend to yellow your paints somewhat. The problem is the mats they sell and use are not acid free. I used acid free mat board as a backing board from my pages.

I can t stress this enough. Most importantly always use acid free mats and acid free backing. Mount your painting on a firm backing. The mat board should be made from cotton or linen rags.

Mats are made from mat board which should be made from all cotton acid free fiber. Matting your watercolors protects and enhances the look of your paintings by cleanly defining the image edges and isolating your image in a uniform neutral or complementary background.