DAY 321

PHOTOGRAPHY 101

Mounting

GETTING A BACKBONE

Mounting adds stability and a finished look to a print, especially if it’s enlarged to 8 × 10 or greater. Before deciding on a mount type, you must decide if you are going to frame your photograph or not.

For framed photographs, a thinner mounting is the most practical and convenient. (Thicker mountings may keep the print from fitting properly in the frame.) The most common form is mat board, which is available in single or double weight. I recommend single weight for prints 11 × 14 and smaller, and double weight for larger print sizes. These thinner mounting substrates also work beautifully for displaying a print on an easel.

Some popular thicker mountings, specifically designed for photographs that are to remain unframed, are canvas gallery wraps and standouts. Gallery wrapped prints are printed on canvas and then secured across stretcher bars. The printed area wraps around the side of the canvas, eliminating the need for a frame. Standouts are photographs mounted on a heavy-duty foam board (like Gatorfoam), for a contemporary finished look.

As you explore your printing lab options, take note of their mounting selections. Most labs have a website with photographs of the types of mountings they offer and what types and sizes of photographs they are suitable for. —CWN

Photo © Christine Walsh-Newton.