Matting questions....

[Killjoy]

Seeing as this is in regards to showing prints, I guess it goes here.

Where do you folks have your photos mounted and matted?

Do you do it yourself? If so, where did you learn to do it? Did you buy a matt cutter?

How do you decide which would be the best color, texture to match with your photos?

[DigitalScape]

Alan, I do a limited amount of matting/framing my prints (and nowhere near an expert in this). I use American Frame (http://www.americanframe.com/) for both the mats and the frames (I like these guys because the do custom cutting - both mats and frames). To choose the matting, I had ordered a set of mat corners from American Frame.

I then use their web site to define the mat size and opening - they cut to order. If I get to doing a lot of matting work, I might think about doing it myself, but I am not to that point.

[Killjoy]

Thanks for the link John. I'll check that out.
I'm also going to wander into my local Cheap Pete's and check out what they do, have, and charge now that I know there's one close.

[RogerAylstock]

Cutting your own mats is not rocket science. I used one of Aaron Bro's 50% off coupons and bought their $100 mat cutter for $50 several years ago. I take my print down to Aaron Bros and put their sample mat corners up and find mat(s) colors I like, buy the mat and come home and cut.

[windrivermaiden]

I worked in a frame shop for years so I do my own. I recommend the Logan brand matcutter, the blades are sharper and the corners line up better with fewer over cuts than with the Aaron bros. It often comes with a demonstration video.
Always use a sacreficial sheet under your mat board, of the same thickness as the board you are cutting. That insures a good solid protective surface for your mat face and allows the blade to go in beyond the face of the sheet for a cleaner cut and prevents overcuts on the inside corners. You will be cutting your mat from the back surface. Sketch your lines first and then line up the marks on the cutter with the sketched lines, press firmly and do each cut in one non hesitant smooth cut...practice, practice and you are in business. :-) good luck!

[Lilikoi the cat]

I have the Logan 3000 and instead of a sacrificial mat I use a fabric "roller" cutting mat instead. Haven't biffed a mat yet with it.
http://www.logangraphic.com/i/pb-pull.jpg

[windrivermaiden]

thats a good idea too. Kevin. :-)

[Killjoy]

Thanks for the input folks.

Kevin, seeing as you live fairly close, would you like to show me how to cut a mat for a photo I want to hang?
That would also let me decide if I want to buy one of these and continue doing for myself. :D

[Lilikoi the cat]

Yup. Show up on my doorstep sometime and maybe Lowell wants to get some cut too? 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington DC,20500
Now the hard part:
Single, double or triple mat.
Size of reveals.
What color of the mat(s)
Color of the interior of the mat.

Mon Mart
1279 Boulevard Way
Walnut Creek, CA 94595
phone: 925-946-9333

http://www.logangraphic.com/how-to/

And a question for those who know. How to affix a print without using tape? Corners? I have some lithos which I cut mats for but did not affix them.

[Killjoy]

Are you sure you want to throw your home address out there on the net?

Yeah, I'm sure it's out there and searchable. But think of all the spam junkmail you just opened yourself up to.

I'll talk to Lowell and see if he has anything he wants a mat cut for.

Thanks. :w00t:

[Killjoy]

Originally Posted by Lilikoi the cat

And a question for those who know. How to affix a print without using tape? Corners? I have some lithos which I cut mats for but did not affix them.

Windy? Roger? Can either of you answer that one?

[Lilikoi the cat]

You are such a Killjoy! Fine, I'll replace it ;-)

[Killjoy]

Originally Posted by Lilikoi the cat

You are such a Killjoy! Fine, I'll replace it ;-)

ROFLMAO

Okay, now THAT one might get the FBI knocking at your door.

[Lilikoi the cat]

That would be a change, usually it's the CIA

[lvolkjr]

Yea, sure, I would like to learn to cut mats. When?