Poll: Do do any post-print paper trimming?

[5stringdeath]

This is kind of a random poll that grew out of my questioning my own darkroom habits. I've always been a stickler for getting the image perfectly centered on the paper on the easel ... so on an 11x14 piece of paper I'd want even top/right/left and a little bottom heavy. Just what I learned at some point years ago and has stuck in my brain. A good habit I'd say in general.

Lately I've seen some (unmatted) prints where the white is trimmed down to about 1/2" each side -- I liked it. I saw some framed prints where the image was obviously trimmed down to full image, dry mounted, then framed .. I liked it. So I'm just wondering what everyone does in general, or at all. I'm personally trying to become a little more "loose" in my printing ... not wanting to have everything the exact same size, as certain images demand different sizes.

 

[wildbill]

I trim down to the edge of the image, dry mount to 4-ply, then leave 1/2" border with the overmat.

 

[5stringdeath]

I trim down to the edge of the image, dry mount to 4-ply, then leave 1/2" border with the overmat.

So in the framed version, you can see the drymount ... kind of like that raised 1/8" (or whatever) board with mat around it? That's the format I saw recently and kind of liked. Gave the image a "solid" feel ... instead of an image just surrounded by matt. If that makes sense. Like "here is a framed photographic print" instead of "here is a framed photographic image"

 

[Shawn Dougherty]

I trim down to the edge of the image, dry mount to 4-ply, then leave 1/2" border with the overmat.

Ditto. I like the way the "raised" print seems more like an object.

 

[MartinCrabtree]

I'm kinda lost here.Could someone help with visuals?

 

[Ektagraphic]

Carrots?

 

[5stringdeath]

Carrots?

I made too many choices and couldn't figure out how to edit the poll after - and I put carrots - it's an old joke from another forum. Kind of like "none of the above"

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I use a beveled mat to cover any off centered prints

 

[Ektagraphic]

BTW- Not a useless pole I only trim when absolutly needed. Now that I have 6X6 I have been printing without any trimming but I am going to either print and trim or print and just use square mats...maybe both.....

 

[L Gebhardt]

I trim down to the edge of the image, dry mount to 4-ply, then leave 1/2" border with the overmat.

That's what I do too. Only I leave a bit more space on the bottom where I sign my name (on the mount board).

 

[2F/2F]

I trim down to the edge of the image, dry mount to 4-ply, then leave 1/2" border with the overmat.

I usually do exactly the same thing, though my "gutter" is a bit larger. I dry mount to a board using a Falcon print positioner, then I cut an oversized hole in the overmat, giving leaving a 2 cm gutter on top and sides, and add a 2.5 cm gutter on the bottom (around 3/4 inch and 1 inch, respectively). I stick the top mat to the bottom mat with double-sided tape on all sides except the bottom, near the edges of the boards. I leave out the tape on the bottom to make it easier for someone to remove the overmat and replace it with another if they want.

 

[Jon Shiu]

My goal also is to print with perfect centered borders and then be able to mount with 3/8 inch of paper border showing in the window mat. This method leaves the option of showing the loose prints not mounted/matted.

I have trimmed and dry mounted before, but it leaves the edge of the image a bit vulnerable to getting dinged, chipped, damaged, deformed etc.

Jon

 

[doughowk]

Just got a Dahle paper trimmer; and plan to do more float mounting, especially for contact printing with Lodima paper. May do same for enlarging paper if it looks good float mounted.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I trim up to the edge of the image and then dry mount just like wildbill.

 

[Mark Fisher]

I trim down to the edge of the image, dry mount to 4-ply, then leave 1/2" border with the overmat.

me too. Lots of folks seem to not like dry mounting. It is a pain to do and a bit more difficult to deal with later, but it looks great now. I wrinkled print makes me crazy,

 

[Craig Swensson]

Always trim, i`m a brasilian kinda guy.

 

[5stringdeath]

Always trim, i`m a brasilian kinda guy.

Ugh, that was bad

 

[Doremus Scudder]

I trim to the edges of the image (sometimes a print a little more than I want so I can trim to precisely the right spot) and dry mount the print on 4-ply cotton rag Artcare board. Where the edges of my prints are is an important part of the composition, so I'm particular about where they go. Trimming is the most precise way I've found. The presentation is a little bottom weighted. The overmat is cut to show 3/8 to 1/2 inch outside the image area.

I think the decision to trim or not is often connected with the decision to dry mount or not. Prints that are hinged onto the mount need some space around them so the window can hold the print flat (or as flat as possible...). That said, if I presented this way, I would want an even (or maybe bottom-weighted) border around the print, so would carefully center it with a four-bladed easel or trim the excess borders.

I like the precision and squareness I get with a good rotary trimmer. I like the print flat, which dry-mounting does. The mounting board is part of the artwork and is carefully chosen for size and color. Info about me and the print goes on the back of the mountboard. I don't want anyone unhinging my photos and remounting them on a different board. I always make an overmat as well, which is hinged with cloth tape. This is also carefully chosen, but replaceable in case it becomes dirty or damaged. Even if the corner of the bottom board is damaged, a new overmat will cover it for presentation.

Best,

Doremus Scudder
www.DoremusScudder.com

 

[5stringdeath]

What about people who print full frame? Or does anyone bother anymore?