The Framers Forum

As a newcomer to framing I am at the stage where all machinery has been obtained and now thinking about mount boards etc.
I have requested samples/chevrons from suppliers but they come in such quantities and different qualities it makes it difficult to choose.
The bulk of my work will be with art ( watercolours & pastels etc)
I am hoping to be able to have a smaller selection of samples
Advice would be appreciated as to recommendations for mount board colours etc

OK. Don't go mad. There are 1000s of boards and most of them you'll never use. Different grades, thicknesses, sizes. It's quite mind-boggling. It's maybe best to stick to one manufacturers range, at least for a start. One that you can get easily preferably.

As for colours, a good selection of neutral tones would serve you best. Eventually you will drop on the magic ones that are the most useful to you and they are the ones to keep a good stock of. Any others you can buy in single sheets if you can.

Mountboards can be a nightmare to store. Especially once you start generating offcuts. So give some thought to organising the stuff.

Stock one or two neutral off white/creams only - when you want a coloured undermount, cut all the mount from one of the off whites and just simply paint the undermount bit. Saves massively on stockholding and space and means all your off-cuts are useable.

If you can purchase single sheets and, especially if you can get free delivery on a supplier's van, then why not show the whole shebang and fill yer boots?

I've just taken these photos of stuff awaiting collection, not one off-white/cream and all customer's choice - no arm-twisting - in most cases we show neutrals in an opposite corner. We don't have a best selling colour any more - we used to, years ago - an off white called 'igloo'.


L-R (apols for not unwrapping some) red/charcoal double mount - light grey and grey/blue double mount - metallic "grey quartz" mount (REALLY suited the bike) The one on its side has no mount - the other, VERY dark green with antique gold slip.

Yeah but no but.... To be fair John, there's no watercolours/pastels either.

OK - OK! A gouache and a watercolour that were around the corner - the watercolour's not even my mount - that's how it came in.

Just saying given a choice a customer may pick something other than off white, with or without anything added like a double/triple mount or any decoration.

Not given the choice, it could be said, you are forcing your (one's) opinion of what is right on to people.

and in contrast robo......also what the customer wanted all 180 of em

Not wanting to divert the thrust of the thread, but I'm wondering what board peeps would pick if they could only have one.

I think we know what AG would have.

I would have AQ 'Lemon'.

I'm with Robo - use up your old stock of Daler Sepia and Bottle Green.

arq glacier white, in 1.4, 2.6 and 3.5

I use Arqadia, I like how it cuts better than Daler; these are the only two I've used in any great number.
The mountboard I use is 1400 thick and is conservation or whitecore.
I have the whole range of samples, as I can buy individual sheets from my supplier. This allows for people to pick exactly what colour they want and feel like they are getting a unique product.
That said, I have discovered that the 5 I use the most are Hayseed, Minuet, Snow White and Brilliant White and Black. I buy these in packs of 25. Most of these will be used for photographers or artists, as I find that the people that want individual bespoke framing are the ones that choose the random colours (just did a gold mount today ).
If I had to have one it would be Arq Hayseed.

If I had to have one it would be the one that takes adhesive the best, so's I could stick coloured surface papers to it, from a range of about 250.

I would start with just a few basics and order anything else as customers require. That way customer orders will be funding your growth of stock.

Do you have a supplier who will delivery small quantities direct to you on a van delivery route? If so find out which mountboard makes they stock and pick a make that you like and can always source from their stocks at short notice.

I would start with just a few basic neutral colours and solid black mountboard. Arqadia hayseed & light ivory are useful basic colours.

completely agree Mark.

Many thanks for all your replies
I have a company that will supply in small quantities.
The general consensus is to start with a small range and then build on it if required, it would appear from many threads on the forum that hayseed is a very popular colour, is this only produced by Arqadia?

sw03 by centrado, all suppliers will have there own version.

Neglected to mention.
Any particular mount board grade, thickness or brand recommended

If you are just starting out in mount cutting then choose one or two types of board and stick with them until you perfect your cutting techniques i.e. no overcuts or hooking etc.

Stick with standard whitecore or conservation 1.4mm to begin with and then move onto thicker boards as you become more confident with your techniques and mountcutter.

You say you will be framing pastels, you may find this thread interesting http://theframersforum.com/viewtopic.ph ... 08&p=72768

Many thanks David for the Pastel drawing link

An alternative to Hayseed is Antique white from Colourmount and an alternative to Light Ivory is Off White again from Colourmount.