Most mountboards are made of wood pulp and will therefore contain a substance called ’lignin’, which generates acid. It is this that can damage paper over time, causing discolouration.

At eat art, all of our standard mountboards are White Core and buffered with calcium carbonate (chalk) to increase alkalinity and in this way counteract the effects of acid, the perfect board for regular, everyday framing.

We also offer a range of conservation grade boards specifically designed to protect and conserve for generations. Cotton core boards are made from cotton fibre rather than wood pulp and do not contain lignin and so called ’artcare’ boards have been developed to actively trap and neutralise airborne pollutants and have been shown to retard deterioration of artwork.


Artwork on paper should always be glazed for protection and ordinary float glass is adequate for most framing, but specialist glass is also available.

To shield from ultra-violet, specialist glass and acrylic is available which blocks more than 90% of the damaging rays, vastly slowing any fading and paper deterioration. There is also glass that reduces reflections by more than 99% whilst allowing maximum light transmission to the artwork, rendering it almost invisible. Available with or without UV protection


Picture frames are traditionally backed with MDF to protect the artwork from behind. However, as this is not a conservation grade material, a conservation undermount is essential in order to protect the artwork from impurities in the backboard. At eat art works on paper are always undermounted with a conservation barrier board for extra protection.

However, if strict conservation is a concern, we stock specially formulated backing materials, which tests show to be ph neutral.


Throughout assembly, we use only conservation glues and tapes for artwork and seal the backs of all frames with gummed paper tape as this allows the frame to breathe.