Size of mats

[RAP]

White out conditions? That is the only time you can photograph a polar bear in NJ is during a blizzard at night. I'll be watching from my deck.

 

[Flotsam]

What color mat are you going to use for your picture of a polar bear in a white-out snowstorm?

White?

 

[kaiyen]

I meant to reply to this sooner...so maybe my contribution is a bit useless at this point.

I have a mat cutter, and I used to mount photos into mats one size up. So 8x10 in 11x14, 11x14 in 16x20. The reasons were that 1) these were "standard" sizes which let me buy cheap frames in bulk when they went on sale and 2) I saved a bit of money by not having to buy all, say, 16x20 mats if I put both sizes into big mats like that.

However, for a recent set of prints I sold, I had custom frames and mats done. I standardized on 14x16 for my "smaller" mat (8x8, 8x10, 10x10 prints) and 17x20 for my "larger" mat (11x14, 12x12, etc prints). I was actually kind of torn about these, but I wanted to be able to keep the same orientation for all the frames so that they could be hung (or interchanged) easily. To do that in a "standard" mat, I would've had to use 16x20 for the smaller prints, and whatever is the next size up from 16x20 for the bigger prints. I felt that was getting a bit too big, though. So I made this compromise.

However, I"m now back in the same dilemma. I can actually get these mats pre-cut for pretty cheaply, but then I have to get custom frames, which are probably a good 25% more than the cheap-o ones I usually get. I actually prefer the look of using bigger mats, but the mats cost more, and they certainly take up more room. And I do think my custom sizes are a good compromise, but then I have to get custom frames.

So...it's a toss-up. I'll probably just buy pre-cut standard mats at the local Michael's or whatever, for practicality. If I were to sell more, though, I'd go with larger custom ones.

Wow. this got longer than I meant it to be. sorry.

allan

 

[colrehogan]

We're only getting a dusting of snow, but some really cold temperatures. I like snow.

 

[colrehogan]

I meant to reply to this sooner...so maybe my contribution is a bit useless at this point.

I have a mat cutter, and I used to mount photos into mats one size up. So 8x10 in 11x14, 11x14 in 16x20. The reasons were that 1) these were "standard" sizes which let me buy cheap frames in bulk when they went on sale and 2) I saved a bit of money by not having to buy all, say, 16x20 mats if I put both sizes into big mats like that.

However, for a recent set of prints I sold, I had custom frames and mats done. I standardized on 14x16 for my "smaller" mat (8x8, 8x10, 10x10 prints) and 17x20 for my "larger" mat (11x14, 12x12, etc prints). I was actually kind of torn about these, but I wanted to be able to keep the same orientation for all the frames so that they could be hung (or interchanged) easily. To do that in a "standard" mat, I would've had to use 16x20 for the smaller prints, and whatever is the next size up from 16x20 for the bigger prints. I felt that was getting a bit too big, though. So I made this compromise.

However, I"m now back in the same dilemma. I can actually get these mats pre-cut for pretty cheaply, but then I have to get custom frames, which are probably a good 25% more than the cheap-o ones I usually get. I actually prefer the look of using bigger mats, but the mats cost more, and they certainly take up more room. And I do think my custom sizes are a good compromise, but then I have to get custom frames.

So...it's a toss-up. I'll probably just buy pre-cut standard mats at the local Michael's or whatever, for practicality. If I were to sell more, though, I'd go with larger custom ones.

Wow. this got longer than I meant it to be. sorry.

allan

No problem. It's not too late (or long) either. It's interesting to see how people do these things. I suspect it will take some experimentation on my part to see what I like. Thanks for all the great replies!

 

[RAP]

What color mat are you going to use for your picture of a polar bear in a white-out snowstorm?

White?

HMMMMM, interesting question? What color will accentuate a print of a polar bear, in a white out blizzard, at night, in New Jersey? How much border should I use as well?

Any suggestions?

 

[Ole]

HMMMMM, interesting question? What color will accentuate a print of a polar bear, in a white out blizzard, at night, in New Jersey? How much border should I use as well?

Any suggestions?

Depends of the tone of the print... A colour photo, mostly lbue, I would put in a warm-white mat. If the bear is "unwasked" and offwhite, a very "pure white" would do nicely.

For B&W, the same applies - although I'd lean more towards white or black depending on the overall tone.

 

[Flotsam]

I'd just avoid wandering around polar bear country during a white out and forget the mat.
Those Jersey Polar Bears are particularly ornery, I hear.

 

[RAP]

So are the photographers

 

[FrankB]

I'm in a similar situation having just bought a mattcutter, and was about to ask this exact same question!

Many thanks for beating me to it and even more thanks for all the great replies!