Mat Board and Custom Cutting Service

Michael Kadillak · Aug 23, 2006

After a long process of comparing prices for custom cut mat boards, I came across what I believe is THE best price for over mat and custom cut mat board. Let me give you an example of the pricing for you to compare;

13x15" mount board with a 13x15" Over mat custom cut to 8 3/8" to 10 1/4" (for 8x10 contact prints) with both mount board and over mat Bainbridge 100% cotton rag PH balanced 4 ply priced out at $3.26/set (mat and over mat) when you purchase 100 sets. You could do 50 horizontal and 50 verticle when 100 total are ordered. Shipping to Colorado was $43 - not bad. If anyone can fine a cheaper price for this good a mat board in 4 ply, please let me know. These are cut with a computer and my first order was incredible. Packaging and customer service as well as the turn around was very quick - within a week. I am going to order a bunch more I was so pleased. If you have a particular board that you want to have him quote, let him know. He purchases in quantity to get the best pricing so keep that in mind.

Contact John Schofield at Schofield and Vose Framing in Hamden, CT. at (203) 230 2019. Just a hard working great guy trying to develop a client base and succeed. After pricing Superior and a host of other service providers, this was the best combination of a top product and a great price.

Mike Wilde · Aug 23, 2006

DIY options?

I am one who frequently doesn't produce an image that fits a standard matt, so I went the diy route. That auction site yielded a logan mat cutter including shipping for under $80, and a 11x14 dry mount press for about $160 also incl shipping. Apart from v-grooving, there is not a matt that I have yet failed at producing a same as professional result.

I am not into print sales, so this is not a cost/profit centre issue. I find that I put out about 1 finished print an hour. If it is colour I will spray and roll mount. RC b&w might be spray mounted a well. I know that there are ways to mount fibre prints without dry mount, but they are all so tortured compared to what dry mount tissue yields.

I am lucky enough to be able to buy matt and mount board at a place not far from my house - like 5 miutes driving round trip, and the price for 32x40 is like $8, with all taxes in.

The inner cut outs from larger prints become matts that frame non-standard sized prints that I use to decorate my front hall. Living with them this way will often lead me to a better way to print them a few months down the road.

Donald Miller · Aug 23, 2006

Michael, That seems to be a very good price. Especially when you factor time into the equation.

Michael Kadillak · Aug 23, 2006

Donald Miller said:
Michael, That seems to be a very good price. Especially when you factor time into the equation.

That is what I felt was the case Don. Considering the precision accuracy of the computerized mat cuts on the over mat there is no way I could attain this degree of precision with my manual cutter. Add into the equation the time I would allocate to this process and it frees me up to focus singularly on making photographs and the darkroom.

If you decide to give John a call, give him my best. He is a good man and will treat you right. I will order from him again shortly.

Onward!

ann · Aug 23, 2006

how about 8 ply boards

Travis Nunn · Aug 23, 2006

Couldn't you have posted this a couple of weeks ago? I just ordered a buch of boards from Redimat, but I'll keep this company in mind for next time for a comparison.

Michael Kadillak · Aug 23, 2006

ann said:
how about 8 ply boards

John can price it any way that you need board and that includes 8 ply.

I only posted the 4 ply as a reference point to compare apples to apples as these proportions and board thickness are pretty standard.

The reason that I did not post this information earlier is because I wanted to make sure that the product I received was packaged professionally and the worksmanship and the cuts were in fact as top drawer as I expected. I was not disappointed in any way.

When you have time just give John a call and he can price out anything that you want with no pressure. I am going to order some 8x20 and 11x14 mats soon so if anyone wants to aggregate an order to meet the minimums just let me know.

ilya1963 · Aug 23, 2006

At this price ,Michael, I think I might convert from cutting myself, do they have antique white?Thank you for posting this. To return a favor I don't know if you were the one looking for a polyestor custom size protection sleves and also custom cut storage boxes, when I was in California last year at Kim Westons, Gina gave me a name of a company and I have had very good luck with them, The name of the place is Conservation Resources out of Virginia 18006346932, the lady I have been dealing is Lavonia and if you deal with 13x15 mats, which I'm, she has all the right mesurments for the boxes and sleves, you might call and request a catolog, polyestor took about two months to get , but it is deffenetly worth it , I ship my work when I package it, it looks great. As far as the boxes, just tell her the same size as ILYA ASKINAZI , I had to ship a few of them back for corrections, but now they fit nice and snug without much movement.

Michael Kadillak · Aug 23, 2006

ilya1963 said:
At this price ,Michael, I think I might convert from cutting myself, do they have antique white?Thank you for posting this. To return a favor I don't know if you were the one looking for a polyestor custom size protection sleves and also custom cut storage boxes, when I was in California last year at Kim Westons, Gina gave me a name of a company and I have had very good luck with them, The name of the place is Conservation Resources out of Virginia 18006346932, the lady I have been dealing is Lavonia and if you deal with 13x15 mats, which I'm, she has all the right mesurments for the boxes and sleves, you might call and request a catolog, polyestor took about two months to get , but it is deffenetly worth it , I ship my work when I package it, it looks great. As far as the boxes, just tell her the same size as ILYA ASKINAZI , I had to ship a few of them back for corrections, but now they fit nice and snug without much movement.

You are welcome Ilya. When one finds a resource that makes sense (logistically and economically) my approach is to simply pass it on so that everyone that has the passion for expressing themselves through photography can access to it. I am sure that John can provide you with a variety of mat colors that meet your needs. I ordered Bright White. Remember, as long as John can sell a minimum quantity and not be left with any excess mat he is happy. That is why he is mandating the minimum quantity. The more you can order the better pricing he can give you. The computer cutting fees are already set so it is a pass through to the customer.

Michael and Paula turned me on to Conservation Resources and I have received a number of their custom negative and print boxes. I am wating on Lavonia to let me know about the negative folders I have had on order for 18 months + . Hope that they can figure out the paper stock problems so they can finally provide me my negative folders.

Cheers!

Scott Peters · Aug 23, 2006

Thanks Michael, I will give him a call for uncut mats. Even though I do 7 x 17 I find that when I trim, most of the time the image is basically the same size, but sometimes, I cut it down a little bit more. I also cut the same mat board for my 8 x 10 prints as well. Cutting it myself allows more options too on the size of the matting.

Thanks!

Solarize · Sep 12, 2006

A day spent cutting and I have 6 mediocre overmats to show for it. Not good!
Don't suppose anyone knows of a place in England (UK) that will machine cut them for me?

Curt · Sep 12, 2006

Michael, does he have an email address yet or is it best to just give him a call?

Thank you for the information, my hands have had enough hard work to be cutting any more matts.

Curt

Michael Kadillak · Sep 12, 2006

Curt said:
Michael, does he have an email address yet or is it best to just give him a call?

Thank you for the information, my hands have had enough hard work to be cutting any more matts.

Curt

Best approach is to just give him a call:

John Schofield
29 Marne St.
Hamden, CT. 06514
(203) 230 2019

Give him my best.

Cheers!

Curt · Sep 13, 2006

Thanks,

Curt

kjsphoto · Sep 13, 2006

Michael,

Can you get 13x15 blanks cut without the midle cut out from the company you mentioned? I am currently buying 32x40" 4 ply rag and it is starting to become too consuming to rip them down to 13x15 plus you also have to deal with the fact that sometimes the corners on the 32x40" sheets get bent and itis a headache to have to ship everything back and wait for more to come.

Thanks,

Kev

jovo · Sep 13, 2006

Oh no! Now we have digital vs analog mat cutting to deal with! Yikes!!! Will the controversy never end??

Kidding of course. Sounds like an excellent resource.

Michael Kadillak · Sep 13, 2006

kjsphoto said:
Michael,

Can you get 13x15 blanks cut without the midle cut out from the company you mentioned? I am currently buying 32x40" 4 ply rag and it is starting to become too consuming to rip them down to 13x15 plus you also have to deal with the fact that sometimes the corners on the 32x40" sheets get bent and itis a headache to have to ship everything back and wait for more to come.

Thanks,

Kev

Absolutely Kevin. Not only will John accomodate you with any specific board material you may be interested in, he can program any mat cut you desire - or leave it uncut at your descretion. He can price things over the phone so just give him a call.

Cheers!

Richard Wasserman · Nov 22, 2006

I just received 300 mats from John Schofield and want to add to Michael's original recommendation. The boards were shipped the day after he received the order, they were packed beautifully, are cut very cleanly and accurately, and were a great price. I couldn't be happier and will certainly use him again. Schofield and Vose Framing: 203-230-2019.

Richard Wasserman

Michael Kadillak · Dec 3, 2006

disfromage said:
I just received 300 mats from John Schofield and want to add to Michael's original recommendation. The boards were shipped the day after he received the order, they were packed beautifully, are cut very cleanly and accurately, and were a great price. I couldn't be happier and will certainly use him again. Schofield and Vose Framing: 203-230-2019.

Richard Wasserman

Wonderful. Glad that you were pleased Richard.

I just placed a sizeable order for 13x25" mats and over mats for my 8x20 contact prints from John and they are on the way. The quality and the price were spot on.

Jersey Vic · Oct 26, 2007

I just received an order from Redimat and am very pleased with the price, quality and speed of delivery of my order. Very helpful, very professional work.

Be Well

Victor

Michael Kadillak · Oct 27, 2007

disfromage said:
I just received 300 mats from John Schofield and want to add to Michael's original recommendation. The boards were shipped the day after he received the order, they were packed beautifully, are cut very cleanly and accurately, and were a great price. I couldn't be happier and will certainly use him again. Schofield and Vose Framing: 203-230-2019.

Richard Wasserman

Thanks for sharing your experience Richard.

Good Shooting!

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