2 questions on prints and mats

[DangerouslyMoody]

i know this may be a dumb question, but I have been seeing prints at local galleries on a foam board type of paper...its thick and sturdy...what is this??

Also, I see this a lot at festivals and fairs where there is a picture that is matted already, but the mat is an extension of the picture...how do you do this and what is it called...i can't find it online for the life of me!

[jeffkohn]

i know this may be a dumb question, but I have been seeing prints at local galleries on a foam board type of paper...its thick and sturdy...what is this??

It's just called foamcore, or foamboard. Usually it's in 3/16 or 1/8 thickness, although there may be thicker versions. There are different brands, some are archival and some are not. Bainbridge makes an archival 3/16 version under their "Artcare" line. There's another brand called Rising Museum Boards that's supposed to be pretty good.

Also, I see this a lot at festivals and fairs where there is a picture that is matted already, but the mat is an extension of the picture...how do you do this and what is it called...i can't find it online for the life of me!

Do you just mean that the print itself has a white boarder around the image? That's pretty easy to do. You can get a little fancier and add a "drop shadow" to make it look like the image stands out from the boarder. This can be done in Photoshop with the layer styles, there are also actions that can automate the process (some free, some for a fee). Or are you talking about something else?

[DangerouslyMoody]

No, its all one picture-the mat is an extesntion of the original picture....like someone took an 8x10 pic for example and then cut a 5x7 out of the middle and raised the edges to become a mat. Its usually made out of thicker paper or foam as well....

[picman]

For larger items I prefer Gatorboard. It's the same concept as form board, but stiffer. It doesn't warp like foam board and is much more durable - almost like a piece of plywood.

[janikphoto]

Originally Posted by DangerouslyMoody

No, its all one picture-the mat is an extesntion of the original picture....like someone took an 8x10 pic for example and then cut a 5x7 out of the middle and raised the edges to become a mat. Its usually made out of thicker paper or foam as well....

I've seen it before. I know everyone has their own opinion, but I personally think it is a very cheesy way to present your work. Some labs offer that kind of mounting, usually the ones that also offer other novelty printing (like mugs, stand-ups, etc.)