Has anyone done this? I'm entering photos in a competition in a couple weeks and I had them printed with mpix but now I'm wondering about the mounting that's required. Do I just glue them onto a mount board I get at a craft store or something? I looked online but I saw a lot of stuff about professional mounting kits, etc., and I'm not sure that's what I'm looking to do...anyone know how to do this on the cheap but professionally??
Spray glue and core-foam is a cheap and effective solution. I have seen some wonderful float-mounts done this way by mounting the photo first on core-foam of the same size, and then (using small spacers between) mounting it onto a second piece of sturdier core-foam so it looks like it is "floating" out from the background. I saw this done at last year's APPA awards.
The only experience I have with mounting is at school, so they have the heat presses for us to use. I know one of the labs i use does mounting as well. I dislike measuring and cutting so I almost always have to do it more than once. Once I got the hang of it, though it was easy and I sure like the look of a mounted print.
I actually just got home from the first exhibit of a regional photography competition. I had 4 photos entered myself. I had the mats and foam-core backing cut at a frame shop and spent about 10 bucks a piece on them. Seeing 150+ prints on the walls of the exhibit all hanging there together you could easily spot the "do-it-yourself" ones- I was so glad that I didn't try it on my own (it's simply not my area of expertise). The photography there was all so good and I was already scared to death that I was out of my league with skill level (but I wasn't- and the judge confirmed that for me!). I'd have hated to be embarassed by my matting. I wouldn't skimp, personally- go to the pros. I had the opportunity to walk the entire exhibit with one of the judges who not only gave me valuable critique on my work, but freely offered what she liked and disliked about others, including the matting. This competition had very specific rules regarding photo sizes and matting and she quickly pointed out those that chose to ignore the rules.
I agree with @girlincamo about having the pros do it if you are involving glue or floating mattes. www.americanframe.com has good deals on frames & matting if you go that route. Make sure to follow all the comp. rules. Nothing is worse than getting DQ'd for something you could have avoided.
The problem with dry mounting is that it is not archival and very permanent. If you can not afford to have a professional mount your photographs. Logan mat cutters make some very simple cutters that are very easy to use. You can create wonderful bevel cuts and if you put a border on your prints you can tape them to a backboard behind the beveled mats. I used to teach my students dry mounting for competition but I find mat cutting easier and I can reuse the mats. Good luck with your competition.
@jannkc@mssherwood@shadesofgrey@girlincamo@geniabeana@jinximages
Thanks so much everyone for all of this!! Luckily this is a little competition (county fair) so there aren't tons of rules. I'm still going to go to Staples to have the photos dry mounted for me. I know it's not archival but...at least it's not too expensive for my first attempt (and I have like 14 I'm submitting). I think this is a good practice for me...especially to see what others turned in after the judges come through. If I decide to enter a more "formal" contest I might look into buying a mounting kit and then practicing :)
@terek55 - if you get the opportunity to get critique from the judge(s) when it's all said and done- DO IT!!!! Like I said, I entered 4 in a regional competition which was also huge, so many impressive entries. That judge was terrific for walking me through, I learned so much from that. I have two more competitions coming up soon, and I've already tweaked what I think I'll enter for those based on the feedback that she gave me. She pointed out things that I already knew about my entries, but also stuff I hadn't considered. Amazing what all they take into consideration when judging, I was truely amazed at how detailed her critique was- especially of others work since I am sooo my own worst critic and tend to pick my stuff to pieces! Other photos that I saw and thought "OMGosh- is that an Ansel Adams?" and yet she still had critique for them. I am so glad I entered that contest- even thinking that the skill level of others would be so above my own- AND she did tell me that I had made it to the 4th-5th rounds of judging (dunno how many rounds there were) sounded good to me!!
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Thanks so much everyone for all of this!! Luckily this is a little competition (county fair) so there aren't tons of rules. I'm still going to go to Staples to have the photos dry mounted for me. I know it's not archival but...at least it's not too expensive for my first attempt (and I have like 14 I'm submitting). I think this is a good practice for me...especially to see what others turned in after the judges come through. If I decide to enter a more "formal" contest I might look into buying a mounting kit and then practicing :)