Difference between panel cards & invitation mats?

phillychica85

Please forgive my ignorance but can someone please explain to me the difference between a panel card and an invitation mat? I know I'm probably missing something very obvious but an explanation would still be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Julie

Karen's MOH

The panel card should be the backing. You don't actually print on it. The invitation mat could mean two things-- either a second layer in between what you are printing on and the panel card (so you could have say, a white card you are printing on, then a gold mat, then a purple backing); Or, it could mean the piece you actually print on and glue to the panel card. Usually the front pieces are 1/4" to 1/2" smaller than the panel, so you have a 1/8" or 1/4" border.

Cards and Pockets has a pretty good tutorial to explain it all better than I can.

phillychica85

Thanks ladies, both of your explanations helped a ton!

squirrly

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_invites-paper_difference-between-panel-cards-invitation-mats?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:cd062f89-8272-496a-b0ab-225e1f87acecDiscussion:35e5f6fc-4d93-4a90-9aa0-8676dcfee519Post:7192f8dd-bbb3-4e57-a8c1-4a2d34da8aac">Re: Difference between panel cards & invitation mats?</a>:
[QUOTE]The panel card should be the backing. You don't actually print on it. The invitation mat could mean two things-- either a second layer in between what you are printing on and the panel card (so you could have say, a white card you are printing on, then a gold mat, then a purple backing); Or, it could mean the piece you actually print on and glue to the panel card. Usually the front pieces are 1/4" to 1/2" smaller than the panel, so you have a 1/8" or 1/4" border. Cards and Pockets has a pretty good tutorial to explain it all better than I can.
Posted by Karen's MOH[/QUOTE]

Nope, sorry.  A Panel card is a flat invitation.  The traditional (pre-pocketfold) choices were panel cards and folded cards.  The panel one is what 90% of people used  when I was a kid.  The traditional ones are embossed so that the "panel" where the words are is "lower" than the border of the card.  A double paneled card would have a two tiered border; a triple paneled one a three tiered border, etc.

An invitation mat is a contrasting piece of cardstock usually cut 1/8 to 1/4 inches bigger than the invite (panel card) on all sides, and the panel is mounted to the mat.  That is sometimes  further mounted inside a pocketfolder, etc.