Reversible Matboards for Prints: Black vs White Side Explained
By B&C Camera | Published: 2026-11-02
Category: Buying Guides
A reversible black and white matboard gives you two framing looks in one board. Learn how to pick the side that suits your print, wall, and frame.
Quick answer
Choose the white side when you want the print to feel light and the frame to stay quiet; choose the black side when the image is dark, high-contrast, or needs a bold border. A reversible matboard lets you test both looks before committing.
What the two sides actually change
The mat is the visual bridge between the print and the frame. A white face reads as neutral and pushes the eye toward the image, which is why it suits bright prints, pastel work, and thin metal or light wood frames. A black face absorbs the frame edge and makes saturated or low-key images appear to float, but it can also swallow fine shadow detail if the print is already dark.
Reversibility matters most when you are framing for a specific wall. A white mat may disappear against a pale wall, while a black mat can look heavy in a small, light-filled room. Because both faces are on one board, you can hold the print against each side in the actual room before you cut.
When an 11x14 matboard is the practical choice
An 11x14 matboard fits standard 11x14 frames, so it is a common size for small prints and gift framing. The board itself is larger than the visible opening, which means you need to plan the window you cut rather than assume the print fills the frame. If your image is much smaller than 8x10, an 11x14 mat can leave a wide border that feels intentional or empty depending on the subject.
Check the frame’s rabbet depth before adding a backing board. A reversible matboard adds thickness, and a tight frame may not close over mat, print, and backing together. If the frame is shallow, test the stack dry before you trim anything.
The trade-off: one board, two compromises
A reversible matboard is convenient, but you cannot show both colors at once. Once you cut the window, the face you choose becomes the finished look; the other side is hidden. That makes the decision less flexible than buying two separate mats, so reserve reversible boards for prints where you genuinely might change your mind or want to frame several images from one stack.
Color also shifts under different lighting. A white mat can look warm under tungsten bulbs and cool near a window, while black can show dust and handling marks more readily. Inspect both faces under the light where the frame will hang, not just at the counter.
Decision rules for choosing the mat face
- Start with the print’s overall value: If the print is mostly light or mid-tone, face the white side out. If it is mostly dark or high-contrast, face the black side out.
- Match the frame, not the wall: Use white behind light wood, silver, or thin metal frames; use black behind black, dark wood, or thick statement frames. The mat should separate the print from the frame, not compete with it. Hold the frame molding against both faces before cutting.
- Check the viewing distance: For a print viewed close up, a white mat keeps attention on detail. For a print seen across a room, a black mat can make the image read as a single shape.
- Confirm the frame depth first: Dry-fit the mat, print, and backing in the frame. If the frame will not close, reduce the stack rather than forcing the corners. Measure the rabbet depth before trimming the mat.
- Cut only after a room-light test: Tape the uncut mat to the frame and view it under the room’s actual lighting. Once the window is cut, the hidden side is no longer a fallback.
Product facts
- Dotline Image Maker Black and White Reversable Matboard (11x14) 10x: Dotline Image Maker matboard is reversible, with black on one side and white on the other, in an 11x14 size. You can compare both border colors with your print before cutting, which reduces the risk of committing to the wrong look.
Dotline Image Maker Black and White Reversable Matboard (11x14) 10x
Who should choose a reversible matboard
Best for
- Framing small prints in standard 11x14 frames when you want to compare a light and dark border
- Photographers and printmakers who frame several images and want one board that can suit different tones
- Gift framing where the recipient’s wall color is unknown
Not for
- Anyone who needs a specific archival mat color or a custom-cut opening beyond the supplied board size
- Framing very large prints where an 11x14 mat is too small
- Projects that require showing two different mat colors in the same frame
