Crescent Select® Black Archival Matboard — 100% Acid-Free Custom Bevel
A rich, velvety matte black conservation matboard with a high-contrast 45-degree white-core bevel that acts as a theatrical spotlight for saturated color prints, diplomas, and sports/military memorabilia.
The Theatrical Spotlight Effect of Museum Black Matting
In optical color theory, surrounding a vibrant image with deep velvety black eliminates peripheral glare and makes saturated colors—and bright metallic seals—appear twice as luminous. That is why our Crescent Select® Black Archival Matboard is a favorite for concert photography, astrophysics/night-sky prints, and university degrees.
The 45-degree bevel cut reveals a crisp white inner rim that separates your artwork from the black surface with razor-sharp graphic authority.
Curator's Recommended Frame Pairings: Pair with our Larson-Juhl Black & Gold Academy Frame, our 2-Inch Ornate Black & Gold Frame, or our 1.25-Inch Black Gallery Cap Frame.
Interactive 20-Color Archival Matboard Selector
Every pre-cut matboard is 100% acid-free and lignin-free 4-ply alpha-cellulose. Click any shade below to compare color theory and frame pairings across all 20 studio colors:
Conservation Chemistry & Matboard Architecture
Standard retail matboards are milled from raw wood pulp containing lignin—an organic polymer that breaks down over time and releases acids. Within a few years, cheap mats turn brown at the bevel and permanently burn a dark yellow stain ("mat burn") into your artwork.
- Crescent Select® Conservation Standard: Purified alpha-cellulose fibers completely stripped of acid and lignin, buffered with calcium carbonate to maintain an alkaline pH reserve for 100+ years.
- Physical Airspace Spacer: The 4-ply (1/16") thickness keeps your photograph or watercolor from pressing directly against the glazing, preventing moisture condensation and emulsion sticking. Read Mastering the Mat Board: Depth, Color & Architecture.
How do our Pre-Cut Archival Matboard dimensions work?
- Outer Dimension Matches Your Frame Size: The outer size you select (e.g., 11"x14" or 16"x20") drops directly into our corresponding Ready-Made Picture Frames.
- Inner Window Overlap: The inner bevel window is precision-cut slightly smaller (typically 1/4" on each side) than the stated artwork size so your print or photograph rests securely behind the window without falling through.
- Need a Custom Fractional Window or Bottom-Weighting? Visit our Custom-Cut Archival Matboards Studio for custom window dimensions, 8-ply museum rag, double mats, and V-grooves!
An acid-free front matboard can only protect your artwork if the rear backing board and front glazing are equally archival:
- Mandatory Acid-Free Backing: Never place corrugated cardboard behind your artwork! Pair your mat with our Pre-Cut Archival Acid-Free Foamboards in the matching outer dimension.
- 99% UV Acrylic Glazing: Protect both your artwork and matboard pigment from sunlight fading with Tru Vue® Conservation Clear Acrylic or anti-reflective Optium Museum Acrylic.
Whether you are matting a single degree or ordering 200 mats for a gallery exhibition:
- Scientific Color Matching: See how we calibrate print colors to matboard undertones in Abbot Art's Scientific Method for Perfect Color Matching.
- Diploma Conservation: Read Diploma Framing: Preserving Your Greatest Achievement.
