Overmatting with a margin around the print

[walbergb]

Inspired by another post on the topic of presentation, I have a related question-more of a survey perhaps. Whether you do your own matting or outsource it, do you prefer to

1. mat your prints leaving a section of the backer board to form a border around the print, or
2. mat your prints leaving a section of the paper as your border?

Of course, if you overmat without a border, then this question doesn't directly apply to you, but feel free to contribute to the discussion.

Bob

[Kirk Gittings]

I always have a boarder (about one inch around) and use both options. It depends on whether when I printed it I left enough border (which I prefer). Otherwise the print is dry mounted and the boarder is made using the exposed support board.

[Ken Lee]

Option 2: leaving a section of the paper as the border

[vinny]

#1 since I started showing/selling work
Recently I've dipped into the inkjet (sorry ARCHIVAL Inkjet) world and have discovered that the papers I prefer don't like being handled after trimming, the edges tear up when applying squeegee pressure (scotch PMA mounting). I don't know what to do about it. Right now I'm printing those with a 3/4" border and overmatting.

[Tin Can]

Isn't there a concept of museum borders which are very large to allow for whatever may come?

I think I saw discussion of 4 to 6 inch borders or bigger for large prints being desirable for museum quality prints.

Once again, I cannot quote a source.

[Kimberly Anderson]

Both 1 and 2, depending...

[tgtaylor]

1 for me. I've settled on a 1/4" border at the top and sides with 1/2" at the bottom

Thomas

[Taija71A]

Option 2. Leaving a section of the paper as your border.

No Contest. Strongly preferred.
A black print border... Is also an interesting option!

[neil poulsen]

On B&W silver gelatin, I trim to the edge of the image and dry mount the print to archival white museum board. I overmat with the same board with a beveled edge and leave a 9mm margin around the print.

For color pigment, I leave plenty of white space around the image and use corner tabs to mount the print to at least a buffered board. Depending on the image, I bevel cut the overmat to leave a margin or possibly will overmat so that I just overlap the edge.

I tend to sign my images on the back of the print.

[Vaughn]

#1...when I was silver gelatin printing. Image area (trimmed) 15.25"x19" and a hole that was 16.25"x20.25" (I could re-use the hole as a 16x20!) Same board on back as in front (4 ply rag, bright white). Board size is 24x28

#2...for platinum prints...hole just slightly larger than the negative. Black between the window and the image area (film rebate). 8-ply front (natural white), 4-ply back, (8x10 print on 16x20)

Neither...for carbon prints (over-matted to just over the image area). 8-ply front (natural white), 4-ply back, (8x10 print on 16x20)