What is a Rabbet?
The Importance of Rabbet Depth When Framing
For each style of frame, we provide a profile illustration (cross-section) with important measurements. Before ordering a frame, it is important to know the total thickness of your artwork, acrylic sheet, mat boards and mounting boards you are framing. Once you have that measurement, compare it with the "rabbet depth" displayed in the illustration. If the total thickness of your materials is less than the rabbet depth, your artwork will fit inside the frame.
The rabbet on a traditional wood molding is the recess on the back inside edge of the frame into which the artwork, acrylic, mounting board and mats fit. Our metal frames have an enclosed rabbet or channel.
These cross-sections illustrate the importance of knowing both the measurement of the frame’s rabbet depth and the combined thickness of your artwork, acrylic, mounting board and mats.
For example, our standard & archival mounting boards are 1/8” (0.125) thick, standard acrylic is 3/32” (0.09375) thick and each 4-ply Crescent Select mat is 1/16” (0.0625) thick – With a total thickness of 9/32” (0.28125) you will need to select a frame with a rabbet depth of at least 9/32” or greater.
If using multiple mats remember to consider the thickness of the additional mats when choosing your frame. Also note the thickness variance of our other acrylic and mat offerings. These are noted in The American Frame Essentials Handbook and on our website. It is also suggested that for visual continuity and ease in measuring mat thicknesses it is best to order your multiple mats from a single collection -