Although some people might interchange these phrases, especially when employed in picture framing, you can find yourself talking in circles. Are they similar? What, if any, important distinctions exist? In this post, we’ll discuss these issues and provide you with some useful examples you may apply to your upcoming photo frame job.
A Backing Board is what?
A backing board often referred to as a mount board or a cardboard substitute is a piece of material that is affixed to the back of a framed piece of art. It is generally used to hold the object in place, and avoid bending, folding, and creasing for many of these prints, photos, and paintings.
Since they were first used by framing specialists more than 40 years ago, underlagspapp has gained widespread recognition for its low-cost ability to shield framed photographs, images, and other pieces of artwork from physical harm.
After being hung for an extended length of time, framed paintings may bend and take on new shapes. Numerous environmental conditions, such as the humidity in the room, exposure to bright sunshine, and others, might cause this. The likelihood of warping will be reduced by selecting the proper backing board.
Components for backing boards
Picture holder Backing board can be produced from a variety of paper- and non-paper-based materials, such as:
- Core Foam
- Historical Foamcore
- Gatorfoam
- Cardboard
- Wooden MDF board
- Coroplast
- Coreflute
- Acrylic, often known as Perspex and Plexiglass
- Mylar/Polyester
It should be noted that backing boards made of cardboard and MDF wooden boards are not advised since they absorb moisture and can cause long-term harm to artwork by causing browning or foxing. Later on, we’ll talk about the advantages and disadvantages of employing backer boards made of plastic.
The board is measured, cut, attached to the rear of the frame using framers points, and then sealed with framers tape during the picture framing process. The artwork should be able to expand and contract during the day due to the ventilation provided by the backing board.
Matboard and backing board differences
The main distinction between a backing board and a matboard is in their locations within a picture frame, even though both are composed of comparable paper-based materials.
From the front of the frame, a matboard is visible. It serves as a noticeable barrier separating the artwork from the glass during the picture frame process by being positioned between the artwork and the glazing.
A matboard can visually serve as a border for a framed artwork, directing the viewer’s attention to the piece’s center. Matboards are another imaginative technique to highlight colors and give artwork depth.
A picture frame backing board, as its name indicates, is placed behind the artwork and primarily serves to hold it in place and preserve it. To avoid damage while hanging or in transit, it is positioned exactly behind the artwork during the frame. On a finished work, the backing board is visible, but only when looked at from the rear.
Difficulties with backing boards
Having a backing board in a picture frame has no negative functional effects. The sort of material chosen, however, is the main drawback.
Picture frame backing boards can also be made of plastic, while most industry professionals still utilize paper-based materials. It has been discovered that plastic offers a tighter barrier between the piece of art and the frame, reducing exposure to many of the negative environmental elements mentioned above.
However, artwork on a plastic-based backing board can retain moisture in areas with extended periods of wetness, leading to the growth of mold and harm to the artwork. Plastic is not advised for most frames exposed to Australian humidity, especially museum- or conversation-grade framing.
A paper-based backing board is better suitable to prevent long-term harm if the artwork has strong sentimental or monetary worth. Additionally, we advise hanging your artwork in a space with enough ventilation.
Selection of a backing board
There isn’t a universal backing board specification that applies to all picture frame projects. There are distinctions to consider while attempting to select the best board, in addition to the size and weight of the finished artwork, depending on environmental considerations.
Things to think about
Environment: As previously mentioned, a backing board made of paper gives picture and photo frames the longest lifespan. The gold standard for the museum- and conservation-quality picture frames is this material.
Weight:
There are different weight options when choosing the best backing board for a photo frame. As a general rule, a lighter is preferable since it will be safer to hang. The needed weight will often depend on the sort of frame it will be housed in.
Size:
The backing board should be the right size to provide a snug fit, but it shouldn’t be too loose to not preserve the artwork. When hanging large frames properly, weight becomes a problem even if you can get away with a thick kompositbrädor on a smaller frame. Ask us about our service for cutting backing boards to fit any frame.
What do we suggest?
Quality and durability are crucial for every framework, according to Frame Today. This is why we decide to use natural materials in all aspects of our picture framing services. As was previously said, the best quality backing board for a picture frame is one made of paper, more precisely foam core.
Typically, a foam board has three layers. An inner layer made of polystyrene or polyurethane foam is the first. Although foam core is available in a range of thicknesses, we typically choose a 5mm thickness. Depending on the requirements of each unique project, foam core is also available in non-adhesive and sticky forms.
