Mat Size vs. Mount Size

[Justin Roxbrough]

I've been making a lot of prints at 8x10 and I enjoy the look of an 8x10 print with a 16x20 mat. I'm wondering if it's at all logical to mount my 8x10s to a small board that is still overmatted with a 16x20 board rather than using two 16x20s. My thinking being I'd save some supplies and also have the ability to jump down to a smaller overmat if I was inclined to do so. What do you all think? Thanks.

[Eric Woodbury]

You are right. 16x20 is a lot of bulk to store. You can use a small board, a 2-ply board, or no board for the 8x10. There are many styles of mounting and framing, as you are about to find out.

Justin, nice to see somebody from SLO.

[Jim Noel]

13x16 gives you 3 boards from a full sheet of board, with only 1" of waste. Most economical size I know of for 8x10 prints.

[John Olsen]

13x16 gives you 3 boards from a full sheet of board, with only 1" of waste. Most economical size I know of for 8x10 prints.

I agree with Jim, or close to it. I've standardized on 13x15 1/2 for verticals and 13x15 for horizontals. Cutting out of 32x40 sheets, this is very efficient.

[tgtaylor]

I gradually came to eschew the coast factor and instead focused on the presentation and now mount 8x10 contact prints 14x17 (esp vertical) and 5x7 alt contact prints that leave the brushing showing to 13x16. The former cost a little more but to me the look is worth it.

Thomas

[Vaughn]

I gradually came to eschew the coast factor and instead focused on the presentation and now mount 8x10 contact prints 14x17 (esp vertical) and 5x7 alt contact prints that leave the brushing showing to 13x16. The former cost a little more but to me the look is worth it.

Thomas

I found that out -- all my 16x10s were matted to 20x24 back in my early years -- not enough space...I prefer 24x28.

But 16x20 for 8x10 prints.

[tgtaylor]

I found that out -- all my 16x10s were matted to 20x24 back in my early years -- not enough space...I prefer 24x28.

For 16x20's I went to 22x28.

[Doremus Scudder]

I buy my mat boards pre-cut, so no worries about waste (except for the window cut-outs...).

I like 14x18-inch boards for 8x10 and smaller prints as well as panorama prints in the 5x12-inch range.

My prints on 11x14-inch paper (max. 10x13, but varying dimensions) are mounted on 16x20 board.

Prints made on 16x20 paper (15x19 or smaller, varying dimensions) go on 24x28-inch board, like Vaughn does (I, too mounted on 20x24 board first and found it a bit cramped).

Best,

Doremus

[Vaughn]

For 16x20's I went to 22x28.

I tried that...it looked good for my verticals, by the proportions looked odd to my eye with my horizontal images...adding those two inches solved that for me.

Like Doremus, my actual image size was close to 15x19, and I would cut a window that was slightly larger than 16x20 (used later for 8x10s!), and dry mount the silver gelatin print to the backboard so it is floating in the opening (1/2 inch on 3 sides, 3/4" space at the bottom.) Sample below...

For one reason or another, and depending on the medium, for my own work I prefer to see the entire image rather than have the window determine it. Subject to change, material on hand, amt of smoke in the air, or other conditions, including sometimes the print just looks better some other way. The second example (4x10 pt/pd) below just went up on the wall -- a quick pic from the gallery...forgot to photograph it before putting it in the frame.

[Pieter]

I tried that...it looked good for my verticals, by the proportions looked odd to my eye with my horizontal images...adding those two inches solved that for me.

Like Doremus, my actual image size was close to 15x19, and I would cut a window that was slightly larger than 16x20 (used later for 8x10s!), and dry mount the silver gelatin print to the backboard so it is floating in the opening (1/2 inch on 3 sides, 3/4" space at the bottom.) Sample below...

For one reason or another, and depending on the medium, for my own work I prefer to see the entire image rather than have the window determine it. Subject to change, material on hand, amt of smoke in the air, or other conditions, including sometimes the print just looks better some other way. The second example (4x10 pt/pd) below just went up on the wall -- a quick pic from the gallery...forgot to photograph it before putting it in the frame.

Do you trim the prints flush before dry mounting, or leave the white paper border?