Which type of Foam Mounting Board should you use?

People have been practising art framing since the advent of craft. Choosing the best picture frame is hands down a paramount step to beautify your artwork.  However, you cannot ignore the fact that the support system of your artwork is the foam board. Imagine, on a good-hair day you decide to visit a framing shop near you and the owner showers you with numerous framing jargons. With all this lingo floating around your head, selecting the right foam board material can be pretty exhausting, ultimately leaving you baffled. Don't sweat it! Here is a great piece of advice on how to choose the right foam board that would compliment your work of art perfectly.

Sometimes foam board is also referred as mounting board. As the name implies, a mounting board is used for 'mounting' of your artwork. It is what holds your frame and artwork together, and is attached at the back of your picture or illustration. Many people use cardboard as the foam board material; however, it is an unwise choice as cardboard causes early yellowing of your artwork. Instead of that, prefer high-quality mounting board materialthat is composed of polystyrene. Polystyrene is basically a versatile plastic material that is used to make different products, including a foam board. Boards made of polystyrene are usually smooth and durable. To get a clear idea of the different types of foam boards available, follow through.

Types of foam board

Standard

These are regular foam boards and are preferred for popular framing types, like posters or digital prints. Standard foam boards are slightly acidic; albeit not much to ruin your artwork. The suppliers tend to keep their acidity as low as possible. Even though the minimal acidic property is not an issue, do not go for standard boards if your artwork is limited edition or is one-of-a-kind piece.

Acid-free

If you are looking for long-term preservation and maintenance of your exclusive work, acid-free board is an ideal choice.  Original and rare pieces that hold significant value to one should definitely pitch for acid-free boards. They assist in preserving your artwork for several years to come.

Self-adhesive

The most easy to use foam boards – just peel and stick. These type of boards have a layer of adhesive on one side where you have to stick your photograph or poster.  The glue is strong enough to hold your artwork for long and tight. That being said, you should definitely avoid using these boards for valuable art pieces as separating it later from the board might cause significant damage.

Choosing right foam board precedes with the most important and deciding factor about the picture framer you will go for. Opt for a framer who has years of experience in this niche. A good picture framer will help you with all the small details that goes into custom picture framing. Select your frames from some of the top online picture framing stores like PaintBoxSoho, Michaels,  FrameBridge, etc. Right frame selection is an art and deserves more efforts on our part.  Come and make your artwork grow more in its style and attraction.