TRIMMING PRINTS.
It will be readily seen that these sizes are only approximate, and that there must be after printing a trimming performed so as to get the precise size.
In the case of cartes, cabinets, and the other popular portrait sizes it is necessary to adhere exactly to the usual dimensions ; but in the case of other sizes, which are generally used for landscapes, the prints being either pasted into a book or mounted on large mounts with a very considerable margin, it is by no means essential to adhere precisely to any particular sizes, and indeed there is great advantage in not doing so. As a rule the photographer feels unwilling to curtail the size of his photograph by trimming a considerable portion off it, but in not doing so he often acts unwisely. Very frequently a photograph may be vastly improved by cutting an inch or two off either the length or the breadth of it. This especially applies to the prints from negatives of the sizes which somewhat approach a square, as, for example, the 12 x 10 and 10 x S. In the case of these it is seldom that an improvement cannot be made by cutting an inch or two, or at times even more, from the breadth, the foreground being as a rule the part which is best re moved.
The implements used in trimming prints are the following : Cutting shapes.
Scissors.
Cutting knives.
A trimming table.
A small drawing-board, and a The cutting shapes are pieces of thick plate-glass with edges ground accurately to the sizes which the prints are desired to be. The edges are sometimes bevelled away. For the reason given above it is desirable to have glass shapes only for the popular portrait sizes, marking out as appears best in the case of each print those which are from large landscape negatives.
In cutting with shapes either a pair of scissors or a trimming knife is used. Probably the amateur will find the scissors the most convenient. The length of the blades must be such that the print is cut with a single snip along the longer edge of the largest shape used.
The print is taken up in the left hand and is adjusted under the cutting shape, and is thus snipped round with the scissors.
In cutting with the trimming knife the trimming table is used. This has a revolving top. The print is laid on it, the glass shape being placed above, the left hand bearing on it, so that the print is nipped between the table top and the shape. The knife is now run along first one edge then another, the table being turned a quarter revolution after each is cut.
In trimming landscape pictures by whatever method it is necessary to observe one or two points. A vertical line, such as the corner of a house, must always be parallel to the ends or sides of the print. If the sea is introduced, no land being seen beyond it, the horizon line must be parallel to the top or bottom of the print.
When prints of the larger sizes are to be trimmed it is best to mark each one out with a, pencil, using the small drawing-board and T-square. In doing this it is necessary to observe what we have just said with regard to vertical lines and the horizon, and also what we said a little time ago about occasional trimming away of a portion of the photograph.
After the prints are marked they may be trimmed by the scissors, but it is best to use the trimming table and a ruler of plate-glass longer than the longer edge of the largest print to he trimmed, and two or three inches wide. This is used to clip the print down to the table and as a guide for the knife.
Prints may be trimmed either before or after they are toned. It is easier to do them before, as they lie flat, and, moreover, the clippings are valuable as they contain silver. If they are trimmed after toning, fixing, etc., it is necessary to flatten them out first with a paper cutter, as we described already when writing on the preparing of paper sensitised as required.