Matting Photographs: I have entered a couple of my photos in the Oklahoma State Fair in Tulsa. One of the requirements to enter is that the photos must be matted according to their...

Chicflat Loc: Tulsa, Ok,

I have entered a couple of my photos in the Oklahoma State Fair in Tulsa. One of the requirements to enter is that the photos must be matted according to their specifications. My daughter has studied art on the college level and she says the recommendation is to use a white mat always. Frankly, I usually like me prints matted - even in a frame. I am also not convinced an unmatted photograph in a frame is preferable. I would really like to hear your thoughts.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

To do matting well, good tools and materials are expensive.

ricardo7 Loc: Washington, DC - Santiago, Chile

For temporary display it probably doesn't matter. For permanent display mountiing and matting with archival materials helps preserve the picture.

billwassmann Loc: Emerson, NJ

You seem to be asking two different questions. the sponsors said how they wanted the prints matted so why bring up unmatted photos? I think all photos should be matted, sometime with more than one mat. My son was a professional framer and he gave me some of his photos with as many as three mats. He has since sold his shop and his now a painter and photographer.

Chicflat Loc: Tulsa, Ok,

I have it done at Michael's. It is expensive. I don't have a lot os skill that way so I take the easy way out.

Chicflat Loc: Tulsa, Ok,

sorry about the confusion in my opening. The fair frames the reference for my question, but you have gotten the point right on.

Chicflat Loc: Tulsa, Ok,

thank you. I did not think it would makes a lot of difference other than taste.

Gifted One Loc: S. E. Idaho

Flying in face of reality. It sounds as if you have already entered the images. For me the point of my passion is get the best possible file in the field. In post we take that file and do to it what we can to render it in the best possible light. This may be with enlarger or digital. I have the same issue as those that have gone before me.

Juried shows are a different animal with differing standards. Your show has the specifications. Many are the same standard as exhibiting in a gallery. How important is it. If you have an opportunity to view a jurying process do so. Personal experience has shown me that with out benefit with proper matting/framing you can be significantly down graded. I live in a University town that has a craft shop associated with it. They have matting supplies and a cutter. I have had instruction in matting and have inproved with every cut. I seek out frames from budget sources. If I can hang an approved quality product I don't enter it.

This is my experience, just a gift!

J. R.

blackest Loc: Ireland

Chicflat wrote:

I have entered a couple of my photos in the Oklahoma State Fair in Tulsa. One of the requirements to enter is that the photos must be matted according to their specifications. My daughter has studied art on the college level and she says the recommendation is to use a white mat always. Frankly, I usually like me prints matted - even in a frame. I am also not convinced an unmatted photograph in a frame is preferable. I would really like to hear your thoughts.

I like a matted photograph if it does nothing else it stops the photo touching the glass and getting damaged.

Cutting Matts isn't easy without a good cutter. Without a good cutter I recommend a big G clamp to hold the guide in position.I bought 2 but found one was enough and i could lift the guide at one end to quickly move between cuts. You may need to do a little rework on a cheap cutter to allow it to slide smoothly up and down the groove. A little furniture polish can also help with sticking. White is a safe color for a matt but black, Uglyhedgehog yellow, and other colors can work depending on content the frame and possibly the wall it will hang from.

Yellow can look really good with black & white images. Frames matter too, I like black and fairly plain and preferably wood. It's personal taste really but plain and simple tends to compliment most photographs.

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

Chicflat wrote:

I have entered a couple of my photos in the Oklahoma State Fair in Tulsa. One of the requirements to enter is that the photos must be matted according to their specifications. My daughter has studied art on the college level and she says the recommendation is to use a white mat always. Frankly, I usually like me prints matted - even in a frame. I am also not convinced an unmatted photograph in a frame is preferable. I would really like to hear your thoughts.

Obviously because the competition has specified requirements for entries you're going to go ahead and follow those which means matting your print. Your daughter's advice is sound. Generally in competitions simple white matting is the best option. Quite often judges in competitions will mark down an entry on the basis of a color mat. When we use color, we run the risk that the judge will have personal preferences as to color matches that they may have used. That starts figuring in to their decisions either consciously or unconsciously. If you do stray from White, a black or neutral gray are generally the only other acceptable colors. BTW, you are lucky in that for a state level competition you are only being required to mat your print. Here in California entries into the state fair competition must be framed under glass, be an acrylic surface mount, or a metal print.

TexasBadger Loc: Wylie, TX

Chicflat wrote:

I have entered a couple of my photos in the Oklahoma State Fair in Tulsa. One of the requirements to enter is that the photos must be matted according to their specifications. My daughter has studied art on the college level and she says the recommendation is to use a white mat always. Frankly, I usually like me prints matted - even in a frame. I am also not convinced an unmatted photograph in a frame is preferable. I would really like to hear your thoughts.

White mat with black core. When the window is cut the bevel will be black and it will work with any Photo.

Gifted One Loc: S. E. Idaho

I like that, but some judges think that it is too trick! J. R.

TexasBadger wrote:

White mat with black core. When the window is cut the bevel will be black and it will work with any Photo.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Chicflat wrote:

I have entered a couple of my photos in the Oklahoma State Fair in Tulsa. One of the requirements to enter is that the photos must be matted according to their specifications. My daughter has studied art on the college level and she says the recommendation is to use a white mat always. Frankly, I usually like me prints matted - even in a frame. I am also not convinced an unmatted photograph in a frame is preferable. I would really like to hear your thoughts.

I do not agree that it has to be a white mat, I think it all depends on the picture! I do my own matting and I always choose colors that complement the images, and yes, sometimes they're white!

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

speters wrote:

I do not agree that it has to be a white mat, I think it all depends on the picture! I do my own matting and I always choose colors that complement the images, and yes, sometimes they're white!

The advice to use white mats was meant as advice for competitions where colored mats can and often do work against one. For my own work when I intend to hang it in my home I may very well use a primary colored mat as well as one or two complementary colored mats, but for any serious competition I go with white so as to avoid any biases a judge might have concerning my color choices.

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

Photographer Jim wrote:

Obviously because the competition has specified re... (show quote)

:thumbup: :thumbup: