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Picture frame anatomy: moulding, rabbet, mat and glazing

A picture frame is a moulding with a rabbet, an L-shaped channel at its back inner edge, that holds the glazing, mat, artwork and backing in a stack. The mat is a thin board with a bevelled window that keeps the art off the glass. The glazing must not touch the paint surface (Canadian Conservation Institute).

Labelled cross-section of a frame edge showing glazing, mat, artwork, backing, moulding and the rabbet that holds them — One edge of a framed picture in cross-section, front at the top, with the six terms labelled. Not to scale.

The figure in words

Frame parts and what each does
Part	What it is	Guide
Glazing	Glass or plastic in front of the work; it must not touch the paint surface	Canadian Conservation Institute
Mat (mount)	Thin paper-based board with a bevelled window between picture and frame	Wikipedia (Mat)
Artwork	The print or painting, held behind the mat	Project term
Backing	The board at the back that holds the stack in the rabbet	Custom Picture Frames
Moulding	The frame profile; the rabbet is cut into its back inner edge	Custom Picture Frames
Rabbet	The L-shaped channel at the back inner edge of the moulding that holds glazing, mat, art and backing	Custom Picture Frames; Wikipedia (Rabbet)

Rabbet is the North American spelling; rebate is the British form (Wikipedia).

How to use this infographic

Start at the top of the stack: glazing, then mat, then artwork, then backing.
Find the rabbet, the channel in the moulding that holds that stack.
Use the six terms when you compare frames or ask for a custom size.

Questions

What is a rabbet on a picture frame?

It is the L-shaped channel at the back inner edge of the moulding that holds the glazing, mat, art and backing (Custom Picture Frames).

What does a mat do?

A mat is a thin paper-based board with a bevelled window placed between the picture and the frame. It keeps the artwork from touching the glass.

Is rabbet the same as rebate?

Yes. Rabbet is the North American spelling and rebate is the British form (Wikipedia).