Help me clear this - matting and mounting

[modafoto]

Hi

I have seen the words matting and mounting a lot when it comes to presentation, but want to clear this out.

Is matting and mounting the same or is matting simply one way of mounting among others?

Morten

 

[Monophoto]

Morten -

I think its easy to get wrapped up in words that have multiple meanings. In this case, I suspect that the meanings may have subjective interpretations.

The way I use these words, mounting refers to attaching the print to a support, while matting refers to attaching a second board on the face of the mount that may (or may not) actually overlap the print. That is - the mount is under the print, while the mat is on top of the print.

With these definitions, prints can be mounted but not matted, matted but not mounted, mounted and matted, or neither mounted nor matted.

 

[Bighead]

And they are all done using Mat board... (among other things, I guess)

 

[jstraw]

I didn't want to start a new thread for a mounting/matting question so I thought this one would do.

Informal survey for people that mount and for people that mount *and* mat...

What weight (in plys, I suppose) do you use for mounting and for matting?

 

[ann]

4 ply backboard, 8 ply windows

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Depends on the display venue - if it is going in my portfolio box to be carried around and handled, then 4ply mat/4 ply back. For framing or exhibition, 8ply mat, foamcore back. I do not dry-mount; I hinge-mount with linen tape that has a water-soluble acid-free paste.

 

[eddym]

I use 4 ply mat board and attach the print to acid free foamcore with mylar corners, all from Light Impressions.

 

[photographs42]

I use 4-ply museum board for both mounting and matting. The mount is then backed up with 3/16” foam core board for rigidity.

Mounting a print without matting it is a rather dangerous practice. Adding a mat not only enhances the aesthetic appearance of the mounted print but also provides a level of protection by recessing the print surface. If the print is framed under glass, the mat keeps the surface of the print form contacting the glass which would cause several problems of various types.

Jerome

 

[Jim Jones]

I completely second Photographs42's post.

 

[Paul Sorensen]

I use 4 ply mat board and attach the print to acid free foamcore with mylar corners, all from Light Impressions.

Precisely what I do as well. Except for Light Impressions, I buy from a local wholesaler.

 

[Vaughn]

matting

I have used the term "matting" as short for "window matting", and as others have said, mounting a print (illegle in Arkansas) is attaching it to a mat board.

For my platinum prints and carbon prints I prefer to hinge mount onto 4 ply rag with an eight ply rag window. Silver prints I dry mount on 4-ply and have a 4-ply window mat.

Vaughn

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Vaughn- mountin' a print 'ts legal in Arkansas if'n ya'll's marriet n ya gits 'er pregnint!

... even if'n she's only 11 ... x14 ...

 

[jstraw]

You can pretty much mount anything you can catch...in Arkansas.