Matt Board and Cutting Services

[Sparky]

Floating prints looks sloppy in my opinion because most photo paper will buckle with humidity changes etc.

If you're going to HANG a print in a frame like that (well, that's what I call it) - you need to have the image area occupying a small an area as possible on the final print. A really good solution is 1:1:1 - where border equals image length or height equals border (approximately) and, this way, the photo paper will be sandwiched between the sheets and the image will be quite flat - depending on what the absolute image size is, weight of paper used, etc... at least it'll minimize any 'rippling' or curvature. You'd also use Filmoplast (tape) to tack down the corners. I personally like dry-mounting at least as much - but it can have it's own aesthetic problems. In summing up, each technology demands it's own technique.

 

[Peter Schrager]

Scholfield And Vose

Want to put in an extra plug John Scholfield in Hamden Ct. I put an order in with him for my upcoming show and one of his workers was nice enough to let me oick up the materials on Sunday. They provided the mounting boards and cut the mats for me. Great job!! Number again is 203-230-2019 And yes I used 2 ply this time and it's just great by cutting down on the weight, etc.....
Best, Peter

 

[Michael Kadillak]

Want to put in an extra plug John Scholfield in Hamden Ct. I put an order in with him for my upcoming show and one of his workers was nice enough to let me oick up the materials on Sunday. They provided the mounting boards and cut the mats for me. Great job!! Number again is 203-230-2019 And yes I used 2 ply this time and it's just great by cutting down on the weight, etc.....
Best, Peter

Thanks for volunteering the comments Peter. Makes me feel good that someone else finds the experience in dealing with John and his staff a pleasant one. Quality products and service need to be made public so that others may have a similar experience and save some money on the process.

Cheers!

 

[User Removed]

The prices you have quoted are VERY reasonable, figuring Superior Mats is $2.50 for just the one window cut when you order 100 mats, or $5.00 per cut when you buy them each!

I've been using 4ply mount and overmat for several years now, but just this year I've switched over to using a 2ply mount and 2ply overmat. There are several reasons for this. First, I personally think it looks better! It has a cleaner, less distracting, very elegant look compared to the 4ply. Second, as my collection (and my collectors collection of my prints) grow larger, it gets very difficult to store so much mat board. By using 2ply, I can now carry twice as many prints with me when I go on the road showing work. Storing tons of matboard with prints is a great problem is todays galleries and museums because it takes up so much space. That is why I think they prefer no dry-mounted prints, because lots of places will remove the prints from the mats and store them somewhere else.

Brett Weston, Ansel Adams, and many other photographers in history have used 2ply mounts as well.

I'm a total formalist when it comes to photography, and I like things as clean and simple as possible. I really don't like the look of 8 ply mat board or images that have several windows cut around them. I feel that a strong photograph does not need such fancy and elaborate matting and framing and many people just try to make up for a poor image by doing huge fancy matting/framing jobs.

I would probably take advantage of this mat cutting service, however I find that 13x15 for 8x10 is abit small for my taste and prefer 14x17. Although Michael and Paula use 13x15 for the prints they show and sell, when they have an exhibit they mat to 16x18.

Best,

Ryan McIntosh
www.RyanMcIntosh.net

 

[Daniel_OB]

Peterboro 32x40 in. acid free boars, 1/8 thich, is $14 each to buy (in Canada), so 16x20 board cost to buy $3.5
add time to get in store
gasoline
car amotrization
your time to obtain all boards
time to cut
time to mark for cutting
electricity
tools
maintainance of tools
blades cost
PROFIT: say 5 times all expenses

So how can that two boards 16x20 are $3.5
Do not be fooled around. Are you sure what you are getting?

www.Leica-R.com

 

[Michael Kadillak]

Peterboro 32x40 in. acid free boars, 1/8 thich, is $14 each to buy (in Canada), so 16x20 board cost to buy $3.5
add time to get in store
gasoline
car amotrization
your time to obtain all boards
time to cut
time to mark for cutting
electricity
tools
maintainance of tools
blades cost
PROFIT: say 5 times all expenses

So how can that two boards 16x20 are $3.5
Do not be fooled around. Are you sure what you are getting?

www.Leica-R.com

John provides you his best price as long as you are willing to purchase some quantity, which I was more than willing to do. I have ordered several times in different formats from John and he is the real deal. Believe it!

 

[Peter Schrager]

plugging away....

just another plug for john at scholfield and voss. got my 200 two ply boards in less than a week. I'm lucky I can go pick them up amd save the shipping. phone number again is:203-230-2019
Best, Peter

 

[Bob Carnie]

Sorry to jump into this thread so late.

Elevator just purchased an Automatic Matt Cutter can I tell you how much I love this machine, it dosen't mouth back, dosen't take days off, never gets into a bad mood, I am actually competent enough to operate it.

Our mainstay board is Bainbridge Art Care Alpha Rag, if you have a specific board/thickness/shape let us know, volume will talk with this.
We are setting up prices now and if any one is interested in volume auto, cuts, send me a pm with your prefrerence for board/backing thickness, Our cutter does 8ply as well and maybe I can offer an APUG discount that makes it worthwhile shopping in Canada.
Shipping would be COD with your courier or post .*I can't tell you how much I hate shipping stuff all the forms and stuff.

We can cut up to 40x60 boards with any size window.

In fact this sucker can even do all the fancy v grooves and such if you desire as well as custom windows. All you need to supply is a corel draw file or anything that saves on a .plt format.

 

[Murray@uptowngallery]

what to do with spring clips

If you believe in not using them, or have a situation where you can't use them, the alternative (for those who don't already know) is to just insert mat board strips from behind to take up the excess space (don't jam it in there).

If you need to remove spring clips without the special tool and want to keep flying clips out of your eyes, bent-needle-nose plliers work well. Straight ones will do in a pinch (no pun intended).

Murray

 

[fdi]

I am the owner of Picture Frame Destination. My company specializes in picture framing for fine art photography. Bainbridge Alpharag 8-ply mat board is my favorite mat board. Bainbridge Artcare Foamboard is very archival, but it is an off white color. It is good for mounting for framing but not for unframed mounting. If the picture will be floated on it, then I will use a alpharag 4-ply for mounting in order to correct the color. Gatorboard is preferred for mounting when a frame will not be used. T-hinging is the least expensive, most archival, easiest mounting technique. Unfortunately, t-hinging will not guarantee the print stays flat. This will not bother a high end collector; in fact they will look for this. The average consumer will assume a poor mount job if you live in an area with humidity problems. I have some more info and some tips on picture frame mounting here.