With a piece that is dark you will want to go with a darker mat color for the top mat and vice versa.
How to pick a double mat.
1 4 inch is the most common.
This post will provide advice and showcase a few endless mat combinations ranging from simple to super eclectic.
The offset dimension is what determines how much of the bottom mat will be shown.
The top mat has a slightly larger opening than the bottom mat to allow a small border of the bottom mat to show around the image.
The simple trick of a double mat will give a personality to an artwork.
A double mat is when a top mat board is layered over a bottom accent mat.
Two or even three mats of different shades can be applied.
If the piece has a focal point and there are background colors you can help bring the eye to the focal point by choosing a mat color that goes with the background color.
1 mat over the picture.
Two or even three mats of different shades can be applied.
When to use double mat.
A double mat is essentially the same thing except a small reveal of another color mat lines the edge of the artwork between it and the top mat.
Double mats a single mat is a matboard border traditionally about 2 wide that surrounds the artwork and separates it from the frame and the glazing.
Use bold dark or bright colors as accent mats since these have a tendency to overpower your art and the frame.
The color of the inner mat is usually chosen from a particular tone in the image which may be lighter or darker than the outside mat.
If you choose to use multiple mats you can pick up various colors in the print or frame to unite the look and feel of your artwork.
Check out how you can use a blue and brown mat underneath a white one to pick up the blue in the art.
If you choose this method the eye of the viewer will be drawn to the art.
If an image has a strong element that is receding such as the river sweeping off into the distance in sisley s road to hampton court a darker mat perhaps one that ties into the dark green of the trees along the bank in the background helps to enhance it.
Adding a double or accent mat to your framed photo or artwork is an easy way to add character to make the image pop even more.