Help!! - To matte or not to matte

Flyinggina

I have sold a print to a customer who wants to frame it under glass without a matte. I used 13 x 19 inch Ilford Smooth Pearl paper and made the print with the R1800.

I advised against framing without a matte, but realize that I don't actually know why I think it is a bad idea. Am I right or simply confused?

Thanks for any insights you may have.

Virginia

photobanks

Flyinggina wrote:

I have sold a print to a customer who wants to frame it under glass without a matte. I used 13 x 19 inch Ilford Smooth Pearl paper and made the print with the R1800.

I advised against framing without a matte, but realize that I don't actually know why I think it is a bad idea. Am I right or simply confused?

Thanks for any insights you may have.

Virginia

By a matte, do you mean a mount?? If so, I would recommend mounting any image larger than 8x10, or you will ovver time notice a slight curve in the paper as it would not normally sit flush against the back of thhe glass.

Michael

Sam

Flyinggina wrote:

I have sold a print to a customer who wants to frame it under glass without a matte. I used 13 x 19 inch Ilford Smooth Pearl paper and made the print with the R1800.

I advised against framing without a matte, but realize that I don't actually know why I think it is a bad idea. Am I right or simply confused?

Thanks for any insights you may have.

Virginia

Yes Virginia, you want a mat.

You do not want the print to rest against the glass, unless of course you want to replace the photo every couple of months or years.


You may or may not need to dry / wet / vacuum mount the photo to the backing material. Depending on the paper I will normally hinge mount a photo of this size, and even larger, but will always use a window mat if putting it in a frame with glass / Plexiglas.

Sam

Flyinggina

Thank you Michael and Sam for taking the time to answer and for confirming my understanding about this. When I am framing photographs myself (I recently framed 21 13"x19" prints), I definitely use a mat and hinge the photo to the mat with linen tape. This works well with foam backing and a basic metal frame. I have some I framed three years ago and they still look great.

My client wants to use one of my black and white photographs as a decorator item and is looking for a poster versus more formal look. I think I shall see if I can help her come up with some alternatives. I may end up losing the sale, but think that would be better than having her be unhappy with the photograph in a year or two because of damage due to improper framing.

Virginia

Sam

Flyinggina wrote:

Thank you Michael and Sam for taking the time to answer and for confirming my understanding about this. When I am framing photographs myself (I recently framed 21 13"x19" prints), I definitely use a mat and hinge the photo to the mat with linen tape. This works well with foam backing and a basic metal frame. I have some I framed three years ago and they still look great.

My client wants to use one of my black and white photographs as a decorator item and is looking for a poster versus more formal look. I think I shall see if I can help her come up with some alternatives. I may end up losing the sale, but think that would be better than having her be unhappy with the photograph in a year or two because of damage due to improper framing.

Virginia

Virginia,

With this additional information I now have a better idea of what you’re trying to accomplish.

I know of two alternatives. One, have a local frame shop dry mount the print on gator board, sinter or other ridged backing board material. Normally foam core isn’t ridged enough for this, and can warp over time. Then just hang this without any frame, or glass.

The second method is to use the Coda mount. This is a lightweight board about 1 ½” thick with an adhesive on the front and wall mounting cutouts on the back. Basically peal stick, and hang.

Oh, and I would recommend using a protective spry on the prints as well.

I hope this helps.

Sam

Travis

Gina,

Check out fotoflot. It may just work for for what u are attempting to accomplish.

claudermilk

I was thinking of those guys after reading Gina's second post.

For a traditionally-framed print, I mat in part for the reasons Sam gave. Also, it helps let the photo stand on it's own. To me a photo in a nice, wide gallery mat looks better.