Borders or no Borders: My question goes like this. I’m printing on 13x19 paper. Do I print edge to edge or do I put a border on it, if so how big. Are boxers equal on all sides ?Do you...

Ronsh Loc: Floresville,Tx.

My question goes like this. I’m printing on 13x19 paper. Do I print edge to edge or do I put a border on it, if so how big. Are boxers equal on all sides ?Do you need to leave border to sign a print? Yes I want to sell prints. I’m printing on metallic paper as well as 100% cotton fine art paper. Printer is a Epson P 800.
Thank you
Ron

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

My feelings are that if it will be matted, why print to the edge?
Most borders are about 1/4 inch.
If I'm sending only the print, I'll sign the border, if matted, I'll sign the mat.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

If you print it edge to edge, then you want to mat it, you will have to lose a little of the image. I have a 13x19 printer, and I print 17 inches wide, which with a 2:3 image, gives me a little more than 11 inch height. I get mats made for them and frame them in a 16x20 frame. Alternatively, I could put them in a 13x19 frame without a mat. the borders are not equal, but that doesn't bother me. It's a good point to sign it on the border, which is more traditional for photographs than signing on the image.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

Ronsh wrote:

My question goes like this. I’m printing on 13x19 paper. Do I print edge to edge or do I put a border on it, if so how big. Are boxers equal on all sides ?Do you need to leave border to sign a print? Yes I want to sell prints. I’m printing on metallic paper as well as 100% cotton fine art paper. Printer is a Epson P 800.
Thank you
Ron

There are no "rules" on this, it's just a matter of what you want and what works for the print. However, as someone else said, printing edge to edge means you'll lose some of the image. Also, it's nice to have an edge to hold the image and work with it. You don't want fingerprints on the image itself. Sign it anyway you want to, original signatures and computer generated signatures vary from print to print and artist to artist.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

I practically never print edge to edge. One can always trim the border off later.

jim quist Loc: Missouri

Google art exhibits and see how photographs are displayed. See which style you like the best

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

Ronsh wrote:

My question goes like this. I’m printing on 13x19 paper. Do I print edge to edge or do I put a border on it, if so how big. Are boxers equal on all sides ?Do you need to leave border to sign a print? Yes I want to sell prints. I’m printing on metallic paper as well as 100% cotton fine art paper. Printer is a Epson P 800.
Thank you
Ron

I wouldn't mount a print till it's sold. Let the buyer decide. If you put a border, a certain type mat, print on a certain type paper....already you've cut down on the amount of people that may be interested in buying it due ones taste etc. If it's part of your style, or perhaps reflects your personal signature, then maybe.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Ronsh wrote:

My question goes like this. I’m printing on 13x19 paper. Do I print edge to edge or do I put a border on it, if so how big. Are boxers equal on all sides ?Do you need to leave border to sign a print? Yes I want to sell prints. I’m printing on metallic paper as well as 100% cotton fine art paper. Printer is a Epson P 800.
Thank you
Ron

I like to print FULL OUT (2X3). So my prints are 4X6, 8X12, 16X24, and 20X30. So, for me, my largest size on your paper would be 8X12.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

OnDSnap wrote:

I wouldn't mount a print till it's sold. Let the buyer decide. If you put a border, a certain type mat, print on a certain type paper....already you've cut down on the amount of people that may be interested in buying it due ones taste etc. If it's part of your style, or perhaps reflects your personal signature, then maybe.

Wow. I bought a couple of prints in mats because I like them.
Don't care what kind of paper they were printed on.
I liked the end result.
(I'd NEVER EVER ask what paper did you print this on, or what printer did you use, ....
IDGARA)

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

billnikon wrote:

I like to print FULL OUT (2X3). So my prints are 4X6, 8X12, 16X24, and 20X30. So, for me, my largest size on your paper would be 8X12.

Only if you insist on both dimensions being whole numbers. I regularly print 2:3 images 11.33x17 on 13x19 paper.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Unless it's for something specific, I print with a small border.

rplain1 Loc: Dayton, Oh.

Ronsh wrote:

My question goes like this. I’m printing on 13x19 paper. Do I print edge to edge or do I put a border on it, if so how big. Are boxers equal on all sides ?Do you need to leave border to sign a print? Yes I want to sell prints. I’m printing on metallic paper as well as 100% cotton fine art paper. Printer is a Epson P 800.
Thank you
Ron

I print 13x19 edge to edge with no border. I then mount either in a 13x19 frame unmatted or matted in an 18x24 frame. I just make sure nothing critical to the photo is right on the edge - so losing something when matted makes no difference.

BlueMorel Loc: Southwest Michigan

It depends. I like to leave a 1/4" border for matting. I tried edge to edge but then I lose part of the print in the matting. Many photographers use wider borders.
For selling, if you're doing it online I'd sell them unmatted, unframed. That is a standard way to sell prints, and doesn't limit the buyer to your choices, as well as saves you the extra time and expense, plus shipping is much easier. If in a gallery, then that's different.

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

Longshadow wrote:

Wow. I bought a couple of prints in mats because I like them.
Don't care what kind of paper they were printed on.
I liked the end result.
(I'd NEVER EVER ask what paper did you print this on, or what printer did you use, ....
IDGARA)

That's my point, you wouldn't have asked because there is no need if you liked it the way it is. Had it not been to you're likings, like being printed on a different paper like Metallic or glossy, matted in a color you despise, or a frame that's overly ornate for your home. You wouldn't have bought it OR you may have asked if it was available in a different frame, different color mat...and even a Mat Finish instead of Metallic or Glossy. BTW, when and if I outsource prints, The first thing I do is ask what printer they are using so I use the correct ICC printer profile for that printer. Secondly I tell them what paper I want it on from their inventory. I mount and make my own frames, so if it's for me, I make the choice, if for another party, they make the choice. With my suggestions if they are unsure. Some folk are satisfied with Walmart prints. Me not being one of them.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

OnDSnap wrote:

That's my point, you wouldn't have asked because t... (show quote)

You possibly missed my point. I don't care what medium it's printed on.