Re: Computerized Matte Board Cutters
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Corran
But a computerized rail and carriage system with custom software and manual resetting for each edge seems plausible for a competent software engineer to build.
This is a trivially simple effort, if a tolerance of +/- 0.001" is OK.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Corran
I can imagine how it would work but I don't know anything about software design.
I actually know quite a bit about designing such systems, both hardware and software.
Is there any significant market for such an item, and at what price point? Thanks.
- Leigh
Re: Computerized Matte Board Cutters
I am not surprised that it would be an easy thing to do, if you have the right skills.
Since such a device would have broad appeal to not only LF photographers but all photographers (who are matting prints), other artists who mat work, small frame shops w/o sufficient funds to buy a full-blown computerized system, schools, etc., I would bet the market would be quite large, given an appropriate price-point. I have no idea what that would be. I personally would be very interested at a sub-$1k price point, especially if such a system was built to be vertical. Considering large vertical mat cutters seem to cost several thousands dollars maybe that's not a workable price, I don't know. I'm not sure why those mat cutters cost that much.
It could even work as a peripheral to a phone app wirelessly, if one wanted to go down that route. I have a friend who has coded phone apps...hmm...
Re: Computerized Matte Board Cutters
Maybe 45 years ago I bought a dexter hand mat cutter. I still use it. If I do all the handwork for the print, finishing it off with an extra 10 minutes to cut a mat is not too much to do, at least for me. Now, if I did shows and needed quantity it would be a different situation.
Re: Computerized Matte Board Cutters
Personally, I've always preferred the look of mats which are cut knowledgeably and skillfully by hand (with a manual machine, like my C+H) versus those cut by an automated machine.
Re: Computerized Matte Board Cutters
Why John? I only have one big print with a computer cut 8-ply mat. All of my other mats are cut by me on a manual machine. The computer cut mat is perfect, to my eye at least.
Re: Computerized Matte Board Cutters
Having compared a number of results from two different computerized machines, operated by the same person (from a span of about six to ten years ago) to skillfully executed manual machine cuts...the straightness/sharpness of inside corners from the two automated machines seemed to suffer somewhat, at least when viewed closely, as compared to those from manual machine cuts.
A biased sample perhaps - my observations based only on four ply mats? Computerized machines not dialed in correctly? Single practitioner not well-versed? Perhaps more recent machines give better performance? At any rate - just my own observations at that time...and to be fair, maybe I should amend my use of "always" and check in again?
Re: Computerized Matte Board Cutters
No worries, John. I was just curious. My big mat was cut by Frame Destinations. Maybe I was fortunate.
Re: Computerized Matte Board Cutters
Quote:
Originally Posted by
John Layton
Having compared a number of results from two different computerized machines, operated by the same person (from a span of about six to ten years ago) to skillfully executed manual machine cuts...the straightness/sharpness of inside corners from the two automated machines seemed to suffer somewhat, at least when viewed closely, as compared to those from manual machine cuts.
A biased sample perhaps - my observations based only on four ply mats? Computerized machines not dialed in correctly? Single practitioner not well-versed? Perhaps more recent machines give better performance? At any rate - just my own observations at that time...and to be fair, maybe I should amend my use of "always" and check in again?
John, as someone who cut mats on a Fletcher 2100 for 25 years and also having had mats cut on a computerized mat cutting system, there should be absolutely no difference, if, and this is a big if, the blades are changed at a regular interval. That is the biggest detriment to computerized mat cutting. Matter of fact, a computerized mat cutter eliminates the the tendency for hooked corners because many people cutting with a regular mat cutter have a tendncy to not pull straight back with the blade, but use their wrist and that tends to hook the corners.
Re: Computerized Matte Board Cutters
The only poorly-cut mats I've ever had were the ones I cut :p
Re: Computerized Matte Board Cutters
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Jim Becia
John, as someone who cut mats on a Fletcher 2100 for 25 years and also having had mats cut on a computerized mat cutting system, there should be absolutely no difference, if, and this is a big if, the blades are changed at a regular interval. That is the biggest detriment to computerized mat cutting. Matter of fact, a computerized mat cutter eliminates the the tendency for hooked corners because many people cutting with a regular mat cutter have a tendncy to not pull straight back with the blade, but use their wrist and that tends to hook the corners.
What Jim Says, I have done both, the changing of the blades is most important.