Two questions - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

09/12/2002 02:02:08 PM · #1

Sorry if I'm being thick here.

1) With regard to printing (and in particular people who sell them) pictures I often see the term "matted". What does this mean?

2) Looking around photography sites I often see images displayed with a kind of border, almost like they are mounted, with details such as title or signature at the bottom. What's the easiest way of doing this? Is it some kind of standard image that is then added to photo's in another layer? I have PS Elements but have very little idea of how to use it. Note to self - go buy a book :-)

Konador

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

09/12/2002 02:06:58 PM · #2

Matte is non-shiney. Opposite to glossy

To create a border, simple resize the canvas (not the photo, just the canvas) and that way it creates a border with the image in the center. Then simply add text around using the text tool. Even paint has that so I'm sure elements does :)

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

09/12/2002 02:12:54 PM · #3

Lamedos, I use PS Elements also and I have created a couple of template MAT/MOUNT images that I paste my photos into... I'll be happy to share them with you if you want them...

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

09/12/2002 02:14:35 PM · #4

DOH - I knew it was simple. So when people descibe images as being sold at a certain size & matted, they simply mean the photo is printed matt instead of glossy? I thought it was some fandagled way of mounting it. All technical stuff ;-)

jmsetzler - that would be great, even if just to give me an idea of what to do to create my own - thanks! roy@lamedos.com

Cheers

* This message has been edited by the author on 9/12/2002 2:15:12 PM.

Konador

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

09/12/2002 02:18:31 PM · #5

yeh, matted and glossed :)

aelith

Olympus C-3020Z

09/12/2002 02:26:49 PM · #6

Oops Matted is different that Matte. Matted means the picture has a cardboard frame over the picture and usually comes with a cardboad back to support the picture. It means it's ready to be in a real frame or hung on the wall as is (unprotected). Cost goes up when matted.

I think these are usually in non standard sizes so that if you want it framed you have to do it yourself or pay for custom cuts. Posters are that way.

BTW remember borders are not allowed here.

ClubJuggle

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

09/12/2002 02:30:09 PM · #7

Originally posted by jmsetzler:
Lamedos, I use PS Elements also and I have created a couple of template MAT/MOUNT images that I paste my photos into... I'll be happy to share them with you if you want them...

John would you mind sharing those with me as well? I'll ICQ you this evening.... thanks.

-Terry

09/12/2002 02:30:30 PM · #8

Aha - now that sounds more like what I thought it meant.

Thanks!!!!!

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

09/12/2002 02:38:53 PM · #9

When people refer to a "matted" print they mean one which is mounted behind a piece of material (usually thick paperboard) which has an opening cut for the picture to show through.

I border (and usually caption) my prints to give a similar look, to avoid resampling images up to a bigger size, to avoid unexpected cropping by the photolab, and to document the image.
A Gallery of bordered images is here.

09/12/2002 02:43:00 PM · #10

I border (and usually caption) my prints to give a similar look, to avoid resampling images up to a bigger size, to avoid unexpected cropping by the photolab, and to document the image.
A Gallery of bordered images is here.

Thats exactly what I meant - so is there an easy way to do this en-masse? or do you have to create the boder individually for each shot? maybe a stupid question I know.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

09/12/2002 02:49:18 PM · #11

I don't have an easy way to do it in bulk, because I individualize each border depending on the size, color, and subject (see samples), although I also often just use black too. The type is all set individually as well.

If you just want to fill all the photos out to the same size (image centered) with a single color, you can script Photoshop to do it, or you can use AppleScript (Mac) to script another program.

goodtimecharlee

Olympus E-10

09/12/2002 03:46:09 PM · #12

Matted refers to having a cut matte over the photo which usually includes maybe a 1/4 inch or so around the image so if the photographer wants to write in the title and sign and date it it can be seen. Usually signed in graphite(pencil). I took a landscape photography class and at the end we had a show. All our images were dry mounted onto usually hot press or cold press board. I had an 8x10 and dry mounted it onto a 16x20 board and then cut the matte for it and framed it. I prefer huge matte space around the images especially for b&w. I think it looks really nice. Most prints you buy from a photographer, as far as art prints go, when they say matted means a real matte and not a digitally added one. I think people mostly do that to present thier images on a web site.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

09/12/2002 04:05:49 PM · #13

Originally posted by goodtimecharlee:
...Most prints you buy from a photographer, as far as art prints go, when they say matted means a real matte and not a digitally added one. I think people mostly do that to present thier images on a web site.

I agree...I do "digital matting" for web presentation, but also because I have many small, inexpensive frames/mounts and make a lot of small prints, and that way nothing else is needed...and sometimes the border becomes part of the art too, like this one.

goodtimecharlee

Olympus E-10

09/12/2002 04:29:30 PM · #14

there is also something called floating. you take your image and mount it on matte board without the the cut matte over the top. it just gives the appearance of having a matte. I did this with some art pieces i framed for my house. it was acutally sheet music. i mounted it on 11x14 matte board and put it in a frame. looks great. it especially easier if you are dealing with non-standard size pieces. having mattes cut can be expensive and it is hard to do on your own with out the right equipment.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

09/12/2002 04:45:37 PM · #15

You're right -- I have some friends who have a business mounting/framing smaller images just that way.

09/12/2002 05:24:00 PM · #16

So, in fact both questions were related? A digital matte would be the frame aound a picture that I asked about in Q#2.

And a physical matte means printing the image, mounting it on some sort of backing board to give it ridgidity and then 'framing' it with a cut out piece of board (in the loosest term)? When framing a picture, I would put a sort of cardboard 'inner frame' made from a thick board and cut at an angle with a scaple (or similar). Is this what we are talking about here?

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

09/12/2002 07:03:15 PM · #17

Actually, I think there's 3 things right here -- matte also means a non-glossy finish on a printing paper. I just ordered some...

Plus, in movie work, "matting" also refers to compositing several (usually masked) images together to form a final image (c.f. Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey), a process similar to using alpha channels and merging layers in Photoshop.

goodtimecharlee

Olympus E-10

09/12/2002 07:04:06 PM · #18

if you are talking about cutting the opening in the matte by hand with a exacto knife or hobby knife, i wouldnt suggest that. matte cuts are at an angle about 45 degrees. doing it by hand would require some major hand skills. matte board is pretty thick and would be tough to get a consistant cut by hand. the best bet is to use a matte cutter. matte cutters have the angled blade mounted to a track system with a straight edge to keep everything square and a ruler so you know where to make your cuts. you can pick these up at most art supply stores or Hobby Lobby or Michaels. they vary in price and quality.
if you are dealing with standard sizes you can usually pick up precut mattes at the above mentioned stores.