Square prints

hiroh · Oct 5, 2024

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.

jeffreyg · Oct 5, 2024

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.

koraks · Oct 5, 2024

hiroh said:
Do you center it or off-center it?

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.

Pieter12 · Oct 5, 2024

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.

Sirius Glass · Oct 5, 2024

I will either print square and cut the paper square or print in portrait [vertical] with the print raised towards the top.

Alan9940 · Oct 5, 2024

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.

fgorga · Oct 5, 2024

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.

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.

DWThomas · Oct 5, 2024

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:

MattKing · Oct 5, 2024

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.

beemermark · Oct 5, 2024

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.

MattKing · Oct 5, 2024

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.

Square prints

hiroh

jeffreyg

koraks

Moderator

Pieter12

Sirius Glass

Alan9940

fgorga

DWThomas

MattKing

Moderator

beemermark

MattKing

Moderator

Square prints

Moderator

Moderator

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency