Digital BW, The Print

Hello Arthur,

>But I see other photographers signing and numbering just the print, 
>and cutting an overmat with a larger opening so that the signature 
>on the print shows.  Also, there's a bit of space showing around the 
>rest of the print.
>I'm told that galleries prefer this...

I remember these questions being asked years ago when I got started. 
I was told that this was called a floating mount and has been the
gallery/vintage print dealer preference for a lot of years.  If I
remember the reasons correctly it goes something like this:

1) Image is not cropped by the mat, the idea being that the the
photographer's intended composition is shown and has not been changed
by some later mat cutter's preference.

2) In the case of a trimmed dry mounted print, ensures that no damaged
print edges are hidden by the mat.

3) Exact dimensions of the image can be verified.

4) Assuming there is a signature outside the border of the image
(either on the mount board of a dry mounted print or a print that has
some border remaining), the signature is visible and stays with the
print, even if the mat is later discarded.


> So ... before matting and framing for three shows, I'm asking here 
>... what do you do, and why?

I continue to use the floating mount with my ink prints, but not dry
mounted (dry mounting was necessary for emulsion prints because they
curled).  Why?  I guess because it looks very elegant and professional
to me.  I like having a title and signature showing in the reveal
area (I don't like signing mats and not all prints I sell are matted).
 It's also a lot easier without dry mounting because the print can
be hinge-taped to the underside of the mat.  

 
Regards,
Clayton


Info on black and white digital printing at    
http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm
I-Trak 2.1   http://www.cjcom.net/itrak.htm