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Square prints

hiroh

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Dec 30, 2021
Messages
319
Location
Lisbon
Format
Multi Format
I recently started printing my photographs from 6x6 medium format negatives on 11x14 paper. I’m curious how you position your square image on the paper. Do you center it or off-center it? Do you trim the paper afterwards to fit the image, or do you leave the original paper size intact?

I won’t necessarily frame all my prints (if any), and I’m still figuring out what looks most pleasing when displayed in a portfolio box.
 
I print my square prints with the paper in a vertical position especially if you are using a portfolio box. That way it can be opened like a book (the hinged lid) right to left as opposed to up and down.
 
hiroh said:
Do you center it or off-center it?
Click to expand...

I generally print them with the paper in portrait orientation, and then keep the top and side margins equal. This leaves a wider margin at the bottom, which can either be (partly) trimmed off or matted over. I sometimes trim off the bottom margin before exposure and use it for test strips.
 
I print square all the time, even when that is not the aspect ratio from the camera. That way all my work is uniform, and I really like the 1:1 format. I also always print vertical. When I print on 8x10, I usually print 7-1/2"x7-1/2" with 1" on the top and 1-1/2" on the bottom. For 11x14, it is 9-3/4"x9-3/4" with 1-3/4" top, 2-1/2" bottom. I usually mat the 11x14 prints on 16x20, with a 10-1/4"x10-1/4" window, 4" on top, 5-3/4" bottom. Occasionally, I will print 6"x6" on 8x10 for wider margins and a more pleasing unmatted print. I sometimes also mat the 11x14 (with 9-3/4"x9-3/4" images) on 16"x16", with even margins all around.

 
I will either print square and cut the paper square or print in portrait [vertical] with the print raised towards the top.
 
Like others, I print square in the portrait orientation with more border at the bottom than the top. I don't necessarily try to get the left/right/top borders even in width, but definitely more weight at the bottom.
 
Alan9940 said:
Like others, I print square in the portrait orientation with more border at the bottom than the top. I don't necessarily try to get the left/right/top borders even in width, but definitely more weight at the bottom.
Click to expand...
This pretty much describes my practice.

I print square images in three sizes 4.5 inches square on half a letter-sized (6.5x8.5 inches) sheet, 6.5 inches square on a letter-sized sheet and 9 or 9.5 inches square on an 11x14 inch sheet. These sized differ about a factor of two in area (20.25, 42.5 and 81 or 90.25 square inches) and leave ample but not luxurious margins.
 
I normally trim the 11x14 paper by taking about 2.5 inches off the long dimension (which I use for test pieces or strips).

I print images about 10.5 inches square then mount the finished prints behind about a 10.25 inch square window cutout.

I use a double window with a slightly larger reveal at the bottom for a signature. This package goes in a 16x20 frame "optically centered."

A random example:
 
I've used a fair number of square frames.
When I do, I centre the print on 11"x11" - the 3"x11" left over from the 11"x14" sheet works great for tests.
Otherwise the same as others who orient it in portrait orientation and frame it with some bottom weighting.
 
I love the square format, from a long time love affair with Rolleiflexes. I even crop and print other formats like 35mm to the square format. Print them on square paper to mount in square frames. Leave a lot of border.
 
I participated in a group show a few years ago. I had some negatives in mind, and some square frames that went well with them. Some of the prints originated from square negatives. This one started out as 6x7.
 
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