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Digital BW, The Print

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RE: [Digital BW] Matboard Questions...

RE: [Digital BW] Matboard Questions...

2006-04-07 by Eric Neilsen

I don't know your economic situation, but I'd only use high quality matte
board. Why 20x24? To me, some of the older established size matte sizes from
B&W silver days, just don't match the 11x17 format. I find that 4.5" of
white an excessive amount of negative space outside the image. 17x24 would
be a better size.  As for buying board and having it shipped remember that
shipping fees will add up and 40x60 is a large sized box. I'd go make
friends with your local framing supply company and while you may pay a
little more, the board can be inspected and rejected if damaged. While you
are there you can buy your glass and some cheap Uni 20 or Uni 40 frames.  

If you are going to buy mail order, buy enough to have it put on a pallet to
help ensure safe undamaged delivery. 

 Eric

Eric Neilsen Photography
4101 Commerce Street
Suite 9
Dallas, TX 75226
http://e.neilsen.home.att.net
http://ericneilsenphotography.com
Show quoted textHide quoted text
> -----Original Message-----
> From: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of G Guhan
> Gunaratnam
> Sent: Friday, April 07, 2006 12:08 AM
> To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Digital BW] Matboard Questions...
> 
> Hello,
> 
> I've got my cutting tools to give cutting matboard a shot.  Now I need
> some
> advice on which matboard to go for and was hoping someone here might be
> able
> to help with a debate in my head.  Sometimes, I get the feeling I might be
> getting carried away with some things, and I immediately think I have to
> get
> the best since I do like my prints.  At the same time, however, I know I'm
> still learning and that some, or many could be reprinted as time goes on.
> So I'm stuck deciding whether I should get museum-grade matboard, or go
> with
> something a little cheaper.  I will be showing my current run of prints to
> people of some importance in my life, so either way I want a good quality
> matboard, but I might be able to go without the archival quality of 100%
> rag
> acid-free.  I'd like to hear opinions.
> 
> Mats will be non-standard window sizes, so I'm not positive I'll be able
> to
> re-use cut mats on future prints (unless its for the same photograph).
> 
> Regardless of which route I go, I'll be getting enough cheap matboard to
> practice on before making the final mats.
> 
> If you shop on Dickblick.com (where I will probably be ordering from),
> which
> do you buy?
> 
> Ideally, I'd like to get 40"x60" sheets to cut down (though I'm wondering
> whether I'll be able to handle that size - I have the work area - but my
> straightedge is only 36" - I'm not sure if I'll have problems cutting
> along
> the 40").  32x40" sheets will give me fewer usable mats in the sizes I see
> myself using most.
> 
> I'm leaning towards 20x24" mats for images in the 11x17" range (printed on
> 13x19").  Is that a decent size or do you think the borders will be too
> large?  When viewing prints, I like a nice balance between the image and
> border size, I don't like it when the border does more than present the
> image.  I'll probably end up doing a quick test mat using poster paper or
> something similar, but if anyone has experience with this window and mat
> size...does it scream BORDER?
> 
> And a special thanks to everyone who's replied to my past posts.  All your
> advice has lead to much improved prints.
> 
> Regards,
> Guhan
> 
> 
> 
> Please visit the Group Homepage to check the Files, and other resources as
> they are often being updated.
> 
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RE: [Digital BW] Matboard Questions...

2006-04-07 by Jim in Tokyo

Guhan wrote:

> > image.  I'll probably end up doing a quick test
> mat using poster paper or
> > something similar, but if anyone has experience
> with this window and mat
> > size...does it scream BORDER?

I think borders digitally added to jpegs (if that's
what you're referring to) are a completely different
thing than mat board.  

I've seen tiny prints very tastefully matted with
large pieces of mat board. (As much as a business card
sized print with a mat board the size of the front
page of the New York Times.) 

You can pretty much use your own discretion and taste,
without limits.

That said, nothing in the world looks as good as thick
cream-colored archival 100% rag museum mat.  I just
wish I could find the stuff here in Japan.

Jim

=====================================
Jim O'Connell
http://jim.mmdc.net/=====================================



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RE: [Digital BW] Matboard Questions...

2006-04-07 by John Frendreiss

Hi Guhan,

I've matted quite a few photos, here's my bit of advice:

* Museum Rag Matboard, such as that manufactured by Crescent, is much easier
to cut cleanly than standard (non-archival) matboard.  

* Get a box of 100 blades and switch to a fresh edge after a max of 4 to 8
cuts; even more often if you're making lots of long cuts. Don't "conserve"
blades.

* I've found that 20x32 sheets are easy to manage as a starting point. Also,
they're not considered "oversized" shipments, so you aren't hit with higher
shipment charges due to dimensional factors.

* If you're photos are appropriately sized, 16x20 is a nice, economically
efficient overall mat size. You can get four mats from a single 32x40 sheet
(two from a 20x32) with no waste. And ready-made 16x20 frames are ubiquitous
and relatively inexpensive when compared with odd-sized, custom made frames.
Maybe 11x17 would be just a bit too large for this. My prints are generally
in the 8x12 to 10x14 range and this size works very well with them.

Good luck.

John F.
Show quoted textHide quoted text
-----Original Message-----
From: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Jim in
Tokyo
Sent: Friday, April 07, 2006 2:53 AM
To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [Digital BW] Matboard Questions...


Guhan wrote:

> > image.  I'll probably end up doing a quick test
> mat using poster paper or
> > something similar, but if anyone has experience
> with this window and mat
> > size...does it scream BORDER?

I think borders digitally added to jpegs (if that's
what you're referring to) are a completely different
thing than mat board.  

I've seen tiny prints very tastefully matted with
large pieces of mat board. (As much as a business card
sized print with a mat board the size of the front
page of the New York Times.) 

You can pretty much use your own discretion and taste,
without limits.

That said, nothing in the world looks as good as thick
cream-colored archival 100% rag museum mat.  I just
wish I could find the stuff here in Japan.

Jim

=====================================
Jim O'Connell
http://jim.mmdc.net/=====================================



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Please visit the Group Homepage to check the Files, and other resources as
they are often being updated.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint

If you wish to receive no emails or just a daily digest, or you wish to
unsubscribe, please edit your Membership preferences by visiting this same
page.

Please follow these basic guidelines:
- As threads develop, trim off excess portions of earlier messages to keep
them short.
- Good manners are required at all time. No personal attacks or flames.
Hostile, aggressive or argumentative users may be removed from the
membership without notice.
- Keep your posts and threads related to the group topic of digital B&W
printing. Users who persistently make off-topic posts may be removed from
the membership.
- By posting on this forum you agree to abide by the group rules and
guidelines, and to abide by the actions and decisions of the group Owner and
Moderators. See "Group Topic, Rules and Guidelines" in the Files section:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint/files/

BY PARTICIPATING IN AND/OR POSTING MESSAGES TO THE DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT
YAHOO! GROUP YOU EXPRESSLY UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT THE "OWNER" AND
"MODERATORS" OF DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU
FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR EXEMPLARY
DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS,
GOODWILL, USE, DATA OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES (EVEN IF THE  "OWNER" AND
"MODERATORS" OF DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES), RESULTING FROM: (i) THE USE OR THE INABILITY
TO USE THE DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP; (ii) UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO OR
ALTERATION OF YOUR TRANSMISSIONS OR DATA; (iii) STATEMENTS OR CONDUCT OF ANY
THIRD PARTY ON THE DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP; OR (iv) ANY OTHER
MATTER RELATING TO THE DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP.




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