Question Salon Mount?

Create a Post
M

Mikbaja

MGF, Master Grumble Framer
Joined
Aug 19, 2007
Posts
539
Loc
Tennessee
Business
Mikki’s Frame Shop
Not often that I am compleatly stumped....even less often that I can't find the answer in 5 phone calls.... but I was today!

State 4-H competition called for a "Salon Mount" of the photograph. The directions said "available at most photography or art supply stores with or without hole. No need to mat. Cover with plastic"

Anybody got a clue on this one?

Just got to know what this is now.
 
Ok that was clear as MUD! I think someone lifted the instructions directly from one of the answers. Still dosen't tell you what the substrait (mount) is. I think I will go to the PMA website and try this question there too since they are all photo and a little framer. thanks!
 
mikki said:
State 4-H competition called for a "Salon Mount" of the photograph. The directions said "available at most photography or art supply stores with or without hole. No need to mat. Cover with plastic"
Click to expand...

Have you tried calling the 4-H office themselves and finding out just what exactly it is they're looking for? If they can't answer that, then ask them what would DISqualify an entry... that might give you some clues :)
 
I've done about a hundred of these in the last few days. Let me know what you need to know and I'll help.
 
When Professional Photographers get together and compete the competition is called a "Salon". Prints entered in a Salon are required to be mounted on a 16x20 board - no frame. The print doesn't have to be 16 x 20 but it must be mounted on a 16 x 20 board - foamcore, Sintra, 8 ply. The prints are displayed under specific lighting designed to this size. Usually any part of the board showing around the print is black but doesn't have to be. The print and board are often sprayed or laminated with a very deep high gloss finish - the lighting is such that there are no reflections and this finish shows well. The prints themselves are printed deeper than normal to suit this bright lighting. Perhaps this or a variation is what is being refered to. No signature - display and judging requires strict anonymity.

The pros seem to be moving away from this standard as more and more the competitions are viewed on computer monitors.
 
Thanks Bandsaw that was the clearest explination I got from any one on any site. I am still amazed that this is the first i have run across that term.
 
mikki said:
Thanks Bandsaw that was the clearest explination I got from any one on any site. I am still amazed that this is the first i have run across that term.
Click to expand...

Don't feel bad. I'd never heard the term either. :confused:
 
As in most high level competitions there are tricks of the trade. I worked with a photographer that competed at the upper levels of print competition eventually winning at the National level.

We were always looking for a better mount board - flatter, deeper black (or even deeper red), and more shiney. I spent time in a spray booth at an auto body shop spraying these mounted prints with many coats of lacquer trying to build thickness and polishing them. A surface finish almost 1/16th thick and perfectly flat with more shine than glass. Trying to make the actual image appear to float above the board when under the lights by mounting a suitable color paper under the print and giving it a fine line of color around the image. I'm sure there are new tricks these days.

The mounted prints are submitted to an officer of the competition before entering. They are assigned a number only. The officer keeps the record of who created the prints secret and the prints are taken in to the salon where a jury decides which are up to standard to be "hung". Then one at a time the prints are hung in the specific lighted spot and the judge, one or more respected photographers with expertise suitable to the subject matter of the competition (corporate portraiture - small product photography - sports - etc) judges the prints live and in front of all. Then the awards are presented. If you like photography it's a lot of fun.

Long ago I competed in my area and as photographers like to say "I was well hung."

But then I became a Framer.
 
The description of the “Salon Mount” is, indeed, a bit confusing, but it boils down to rather simple math.

SalonMount.jpg


The print should be aligned in the horizontal center, but the bottom is weighted according to the equation:

X = (mount height – print height) / 2

Y = (mount width – print width) / 2

Bottom Weight = ((X * Y) / mount width ) + X

This works very nicely with horizontally and vertically placed prints on a vertical mount.
 
How about a 4" x 20" image mounted on a 16 x 20 inch board. Perhaps the photographer feels it has more power mounted across the bottom with lots of black above - or right across the middle with deep blue above and below. In Salon competition every shape, aspect ratio, and board position is seen.

There are no standard size photos. We'll order a 60" inch print from the lab indicating we want the whole image printed with a width of 60 inches - don't care about the height as long as it's all printed. Then after mounting we lay strips of black matboard on it and decide where to cut. Might end up 29 5/8 high by 60 inches. Whatever looks best to the photographer.
 
Create a Post
Back
Top