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Thread: Mat Size vs. Mount Size

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Feb 2018
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    San Luis Obispo
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    Mat Size vs. Mount Size

    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.

  2. #2
    Eric Woodbury
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    Dec 2003
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    1,637

    Re: Mat Size vs. Mount Size

    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.

  3. #3

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    Aug 2000
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    Re: Mat Size vs. Mount Size

    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.

  4. #4
    http://www.spiritsofsilver.com tgtaylor's Avatar
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    Re: Mat Size vs. Mount Size

    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

  5. #5
    John Olsen
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    Jan 2012
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    Re: Mat Size vs. Mount Size

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Noel View Post
    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.

  6. #6
    Pieter's Avatar
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    Jul 2018
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    Re: Mat Size vs. Mount Size

    How are you attaching the smaller board to the larger mat? Will it hold up over time? And sandwiched in a frame, might the larger mat distort (curve inward) with the uneven thickness caused by having a smaller board attached to it?

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Feb 2018
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    San Luis Obispo
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    Re: Mat Size vs. Mount Size

    Good points Pieter. I'll stick with 16x20 over 16x20. In the cases that I do want a smaller mat, I'll likely go with Jim's 13x16 recommendation. Thanks all for the input.

  8. #8
    Vaughn's Avatar
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    Jan 2007
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    Humboldt County, CA
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    Re: Mat Size vs. Mount Size

    Quote Originally Posted by tgtaylor View Post
    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.
    "Landscapes exist in the material world yet soar in the realms of the spirit..." Tsung Ping, 5th Century China

  9. #9
    http://www.spiritsofsilver.com tgtaylor's Avatar
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    Re: Mat Size vs. Mount Size

    Quote Originally Posted by Vaughn View Post
    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.

  10. #10

    Join Date
    Sep 1998
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    Oregon now (formerly Austria)
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    Re: Mat Size vs. Mount Size

    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

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