What do you do about aspect ratio?

[Jim Jones]

For many years I cut mats to fit the image. A Dexter mat cutter worked well with a T-square, although a Logan 4000 is easier to master and use. Laying out the cuts on the back of the window mat is quick with a series of templates made of scrap mat board with a strip mounted beneath to position the template's guiding edge at the right distance from the mat's edge. A self-healing cutting surface is unnecessary. Using any solid cardboard works well if it is shifted slightly between cuts to present a fresh uncut surface beneath the mat board. It is more practical to crop the image to fit some particular aspect ratio and size of mat. This also makes a more coherent exhibit. Pre-cut mats from a site like Frame Destination then becomes more economical, as does swapping prints between standardized mats.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

For many years I cut mats to fit the image. A Dexter mat cutter worked well with a T-square, although a Logan 4000 is easier to master and use. Laying out the cuts on the back of the window mat is quick with a series of templates made of scrap mat board with a strip mounted beneath to position the template's guiding edge at the right distance from the mat's edge. A self-healing cutting surface is unnecessary. Using any solid cardboard works well if it is shifted slightly between cuts to present a fresh uncut surface beneath the mat board. It is more practical to crop the image to fit some particular aspect ratio and size of mat. This also makes a more coherent exhibit. Pre-cut mats from a site like Frame Destination then becomes more economical, as does swapping prints between standardized mats.

When I make "slide shows" including short video clips and stills for display on my 16:9 UHDTV or monitor, I shoot in camera or crop to 16:9 to match the 16:9 4K or 1080 video portions. That way a get a more "coherent exhibit". I've gotten into the habit of shooting 16:9. I found that changing 3:2 or 4:3 shots to 16:9 in post does not often work as you wind up cutting off feet. What I found interesting, was that once I switched the camera to 16:9, I quickly adjusted to finding the right framing in the camera. It was not more difficult framing 16:9 in the camera as it was 4:3 or 3:2 or anything else. My brain adjusted.