Precut mattes smaller than advertised?

[larsrc]

I ordered a number of standard-size mattes with an advertised opening of 20x28 cm, but found when I got them that the actual opening was 18.5 x 26.5 cm, which cost me quite a bit of photo real estate (not enough to ruin the images, as I'm not yet accustomed to cropping as tightly as I could).  Is it normal that the advertised "inner size" is larger than the actual opening?  Are there any standards for how much?

Thanks,
-Lars

[madmanchan]

I ordered a number of standard-size mattes with an advertised opening of 20x28 cm, but found when I got them that the actual opening was 18.5 x 26.5 cm, which cost me quite a bit of photo real estate (not enough to ruin the images, as I'm not yet accustomed to cropping as tightly as I could).  Is it normal that the advertised "inner size" is larger than the actual opening?  Are there any standards for how much?

Thanks,
-Lars
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It all depends ...

Sometimes the advertised window opening reflects the image size, whereas the real window opening is a little smaller to cover up the border of the image (just to make sure all edges are covered). For example, if I have a 12" x 18" image I will usually cut a mat with a 11.75" x 17.75" window opening, so each of the four edges is covered by 1/8" of matboard.

In your specific case, the main thing to do is ask the merchant for the specifics: if they say X by Y cm, do they really mean X by Y opening or do they mean something smaller? In your case, you've determined that each dimension is smaller by 1.5 cm ...

[fdi]

There is no “official” standard in this regard. In general people expect the mat for an 8x10 print to be a little smaller than the 8x10 so that it holds the print down and because it will be impossible to perfectly center the image so that absolutely no backing board is revealed between the image and the mat. Most off the shelf pre-cut mats are cut 1/2 inch smaller. Most custom frame shops will cut them 1/4 inch smaller.

Cheers,
Mark
http://www.pbase.com/lila161
http://www.framedestination.com/
http://framedestination.blogspot.com/

[framah]

Yes, that is the standard in the industry. An 8x10 inch mat will be 7.75x9.75 or even 7.5x9.5 as in your case. As was said above, there is no way a mat opening would be cut to the exact same size as the image that is supposed to go in it. You would ALWAYS see a hair line of paper past the image. Another reason to have it smaller... remember long ago when we used to print our own in the darkroom?... few  of the easels blades were square to each other so you would need at least 1/4" overlap of the mat to cover the out of squareness of the easel.

If the image is extremely important all the way to the edge of the paper, then you should consider top mounting it so all of it is seen. I have do this in my shop when an artist signs right at the bottom edge of the paper and leaves me no room to catch the art under the mat.

[Kenneth Sky]

Is there a source for pre-cut mats for 13"x19"?

[fdi]

Is there a source for pre-cut mats for 13"x19"?
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You might try a google on 13x19 mat

[JerseyT]

Is there a source for pre-cut mats for 13"x19"?
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[JerseyT]

Is there a source for pre-cut mats for 13"x19"?
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Try Stu-Art Supplies [a href=\"http://stu-artsupplies.com/]http://stu-artsupplies.com/[/url]
They have a stock mat for 12" x 18", and will custom cut any size you want at a reasonable cost.

[larryg]

right about standard sizes are actually a little smaller than the print size.

I cut my own and have standard opening and then add about an eighth of an inch to the print size so that the image space is a little larger than the opening.

[fdi]

Yes, but note, I am biased since I am the owner:
http://www.framedestination.com/

I founded Frame Destination Inc. over three years ago because I was creating lots of great 13x19 photo's with my Epson 2200 but there were no frames.

Cheers,
Mark

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[Chipper]

You might try a google on 13x19 mat
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www.clearbags.com has them.

Do you have a good source for 20 X 24 mats?

Thanks,
 Chipper

[fdi]

My company sells 13x19 and 20x24 and over 80 other mat sizes and we sell clearbags from clearbags for less than clearbags sells them and we are the only one that sells the 13x38 clearbag because we had them make it for us custom to fit Red River pano paper.

Cheers,
Mark

www.clearbags.com has them.

Do you have a good source for 20 X 24 mats?

Thanks,
 Chipper
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