How large are the white borders usually used in 8x10 and 11x14 prints?

-- Ricardo Wildberger Lisboa (wildberger@svn.com.br), August 23, 2001

Answers

Generally, not large enough. I've seen too many prints with skimpy 1/4 inch borders. Photographs, like any other professionally/artistically produced prints, such as lithographs and etchings, should have a substantial border so they can be handled properly. The large border is protection for the image. So, at least an inch if not more. I regularly print a 4x5 inch image on 8x10 inch paper and 7x8 inch on 11x14 inch paper.

RICARDO

-- r (ricardospanks1@yahoo.com), August 24, 2001.

This really depends on your application and how the paper will be displayed/handled.

The old standard was just about 1/4 inch. As noted above, this is too small for a print that will be handled while not mounted. If you are going to mount, or frame, the print, you can go borderless if this works for your methods.

I don't usually worry about the size of the borders. I set my easel based on the cropping I want for the image. This does mean that I often print 6x9 inches on 8x10 paper. Sometimes less in either direction.

-- Ed Farmer (photography2k@hotmail.com), August 24, 2001.

If you are going to frame the print, a very small border say 1/16" or borderless is best otherwise the white border will show up inside most frames.

-- matt veld (mv@ezysurf.co.nz), August 24, 2001.

Print with borders that allow you the safety margin for inmigration of pollutants, fingerprints from handling around the edges & a nice white surround (if you like that) of paper white when you matt the print. This way you sign the print itself on the white border area rather than the matting material.

Use paper larger than the final print size. You get the advantage of the white border made on the printing paper so the reflectance values are maximum paper white...unless you are a sloppy darkroom worker & fog the paper.

This has the added advangage of protecting the prints image area by providing extra support around the edges for when clumsy handling dings or damages an edge. Print right to the edge & you damage the print as you handle it.

An 8x10 print done on 11x14 paper is not a waste of paper but is a way to assure careful handling, respect for the print in presentation and allows you to center the print in framing without worrying about perfect position & trimming as you matt and mount the prints.

-- Dan Smith (shooter@brigham.net), August 26, 2001.