Bainbridge mountboard is a museum-quality paper mountboard that can be used for mounting and backing matted prints.  Bainbridge mountboard is an archival solution to mounting and protecting your prints against potential damage.

How to mount your artwork onto Bainbridge mountboard

There are a few different ways to mount your artwork using Bainbridge mountboard.  Here is a step-by-step explanation of one of the easiest ways to mat and mount your fine art or photography:

1. To mat and mount your fine art or photography on Bainbridge mountboard, start by measuring your image to determine the inner and outer size of your mat.  The size of your Bainbridge mountboard will equal the outer size of your mat.
2. Next, place your mat board face down on a clean, flat surface. Place your Bainbridge mountboard face up right next to the mat board.
3. Use an archival, acid-free tape (such as FrameTac or a linen mounting tape), to create a hinge that connects the mat board with the Bainbridge mountboard.  The hinge should allow you to open and close the two boards, similar to opening and closing a book.
4. With the two boards lying side by side, place your artwork in the center of the Bainbridge mountboard and then close the mat board on top of the Bainbridge mountboard.
5. You should see your artwork through the opening of the mat.  Carefully adjust the positioning of the artwork so that it is perfectly centered in the window.
6. Gently lift the mat board and use Lineco See-Thru Mount Strips to mount the artwork to the Bainbridge mountboard.  Place the sticky side of the Mount Strips onto the Bainbridge mountboard, with the clear side over your artwork.  This way, there will be no adhesive on your artwork – your art will only be in contact with the Bainbridge mountboard and the clear archival Mount Strip.
7. Once the artwork is well-positioned and the Mount Strips are in place, place a few strips of acid-free double-sided tape on the Bainbridge mountboard.  Close the mat on top of the Bainbridge mountboard and press firmly into place.

Bainbridge also has non-archival mounting boards available. You will find them listed under 2UB and 4UB in standard mounting board options.

Documounts conveniently carries all of your mounting and framing needs, such as mats, Bainbridge mountboard, acid-free tapes, and other mounting and framing supplies.

When it comes time to choose the art mat that best complements your work, the selection can be overwhelming.  Choosing the best art mat for your project can be a challenge; especially since the type of art mat you choose may vary based on how you intend to display your work.  For those who plan on selling their art at fairs or festivals, a simple white mat may suffice.  Others who plan on showcasing their work at galleries or in studios may desire an art mat that is thicker or one with color.

So how do you know which art mat to choose?  Use these 5 tips to choose the best art mat for your work.

Tip # 1 – Know when to choose archival quality art mat.

For artist framing limited edition pieces and one of a kind artwork, choosing an art mat that is of archival quality is essential.  An archival quality art mat has been treated so that all of the acids are removed from the paper.  Archival quality mats will protect and preserve your art for years to come.

Tip # 2 – Choose a high end art mat for a gallery quality look.

If a gallery quality look is important to you, consider a higher end art mat such as the Bainbridge Alphamat, Alpharag or Top Mat Alphamat.  All of these matting options provide a high end look and feel for your artwork.  Click here to view our gallery quality art mat options.

Tip # 3 – Consider the thickness of the art mat.

Top quality art mat comes in several thicknesses.  Bainbridge offers art mat in 4, 6 and 8 Ply thicknesses.  The Alpharag archival quality art mat comes in both the 4 and 8 Ply thicknesses.  The 8 Ply Alpharag is 1/8” thick; twice the thickness of a standard mat.  An 8 Ply art mat will provide a bolder more sculpted bevel.

The Bainbridge Top Mat Alphamat is 6 Ply, or one and half times the thickness of a standard mat.  This type of art mat is of archival quality and enhances the look of your art.  Click here to view these types of art mat.

Tip # 4 – Know what color art mat you want.

Sometimes the hardest part of choosing an art mat is choosing the color.  Depending on the type of art mat you choose, you may have as many as 150 color options.  From bright and bold colors, to shades of white, your color options are nearly endless.  Having an idea of what color you want will make the selection process easier.

Tip # 5 – If you are matting large quantities of art, consider our bulk options.

At Documounts, we offer pre-cut art mat kits.  Our pre-cut kits options include same sized art mat in quantities of 25 and kits that include the art mat, backing board and clear bags in quantities of 25 or 50.  Click here to view our pre-cut kits.

Bainbridge foam board is an ideal mounting surface for your fine art and photography.  When the longevity of your artwork is as important to you as its presentation, then mounting your artwork onto Bainbridge foam board will not only protect and preserve your artwork – it will also present your artwork in style.  Here’s how:

Bainbridge foam board comes in both archival and acid-free.  The archival Bainbridge foam board protects against pollutants and acidic deterioration, ensuring that your artwork will not yellow over time as a result of contact with the foam board.  If you use a foam board that is not archival, the chemicals from the foam board will eventually affect the artwork, facilitating the yellowing process. The pH neutral foam board can temporarily protect your artwork, but eventually the protective buffering will wear off.

Bainbridge foam board is thick and rigid. This protects the artwork from warping, bending or denting.  Mounting your fine art or photography onto Bainbridge foam board will protect the artwork against accidental damage while on display in an art rack, or while in storage or transit.

Bainbridge foam board presents your artwork to the public in a format that is attractive and saleable.  Artwork that is mounted on Bainbridge foam board is more appealing to art collectors than artwork that is not mounted.  Because Bainbridge foam board is lightweight and sturdy, art collectors don’t need to worry about the artwork being bent or crushed when they take it home.

Bainbridge foam board is just one essential element for mounting and displaying artwork.  If you want to sell artwork that is matted and mounted at your next art show or art festival, then in addition to the Bainbridge foam board, you will also need an archival mat, acid-free tape, and clear bags.

You can purchase Bainbridge foam board and all other essential matting, mounting, and framing supplies at Documounts, where you will save on many items when you buy in bulk.