The color of a light mat should be a tone darker than the lightest color of the image.
How to choose a mat colors for photos.
You can change the background color to any of the mat colors so you can see how your mat choices to together.
Tips for choosing the best mat color.
Your frame comes with your choice of top and bottom mats.
Most photographers and studios like to use white mats with black cores for their prints.
A very common way to choose a mat color for your portrait or piece of art is to choose one that will help bring out the dominant color of the piece.
Neutrals for matching decor.
Picture mats also give your photos painting or drawings a professional look even if they weren t made by a professional.
Learn this and more in this free online photography video about framing taught by expert minnie bell.
How to analyze your picture to be framed and choose complimentary matte colors.
And mats can help to accent colors in the framed image or draw in other colors for contrast.
Darker color as the bottom mat reveal.
If you choose this method the eye of the viewer will be drawn to the art.
Cool and warm tones.
Using a colored mat is a good way to attract attention to important segments of a photograph.
Many different whites.
Mats come in many colors and choosing the right one is difficult.
If using a dark mat its color must be one tone lighter than the darkest color on the photo.
If you are looking to create a modern gallery like grouping use a mat that is at least 3 inches wide.
My most popular choice of mats is antique white for the outer mat and black for the inner.
Here are some guidelines and examples that should help.
Determine the secondary colors.
With a piece that is dark you will want to go with a darker mat color for the top mat and vice versa.
If you don t like the color of your picture mat or you have a boring mat jazz it up with some acrylic craft paint.
Black cores create a well defined black outline and visually sets the photograph apart from the white mat.