P3D Cardboard mount issues

[Paul Talbot <ptww@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Sell-3D E R Swanson wrote:

> I need to pick up 150 black 7p paper mounts-- anyone know
> who's selling them?

I was curious why Elliott specifically wanted black mounts
and he told me:

> I wanted the black mounts for appearance in a project. Actually,
> for viewers, black seems a preferable color in any case...

Would anyone else choose black cardboard mounts if they were
available?  Black may be better for hand-viewing, but would
be a disadvantage for projection.  Would you make black mounts
your first choice, or just use them for special purposes?

When Elliott gave up the hunt for the black mounts and sought
info on white 7P mounts, Lincoln wrote:

> www.rmm3d.com
> They sell the
> spicer mounts.  I have been very happy with them, and
> they are priced cheaper than any other mounts that I know of.

I looked on Reel-3D's web site and could not find any 7P
cardboard mounts except slip-ins.  Are there no 7P heat-
seal mounts on the market?

Gabriel added to Lincoln's comment:

> Yeap, that's true! I got a two hundred 7perf Spicer mounts in the mail
> today and they're excellent! The edges are nice and sharp! 

Now I'm curious as to the factors that stereo shooters use
to select among cardboard mount options, and what features
they would like to see that are not available in the market.
What features of the various mounts do you like or dislike?
I'll exclude slip-ins from this discussion, as I see them as
dedicated to a special-purpose (fast previewing), and not
suitable for general mounting.  (Not trying to start a debate,
let's just take that as a parameter of this discussion.)

Some differences I'm aware of:
  - Sealing method:  heat vs tape/glue
      I've never had any interest in putting an iron near
      my slides, so my only experience with heat-seal mounts
      is from Kodak mounting.
      Which do you prefer and why?

  - Window edges
      The "precision cut cardboard mounts" (aka "Spicer")
      are said to have cleaner edges than most cardboard
      mounts.  Have you specifically compared them to other
      cardboard mounts?  Do you agree?  How much does that
      impact your choice of mount?

  - Mounting aids
      The heat-seal mounts have "tabs" to help the chips land
      in the right place, but at the possible trade-off of
      less flexibility cropping and setting the stereo window.
      How important are the "tabs" in your choice of mount?

  - Alternate sizes
      The "Spicer" mounts come in 8 sizes (and some customers
      want even more choices!)  Is this a significant factor
      in your selection of which type of mount to use?

  - Cost
      Heat-seal 5P mounts are the most economical.  How much
      does that affect your choice of mount (comparing just
      to other cardboard mounts, not to RBTs!)

  - Physical dimensions
      I've seen a cardboard stereo mount that is as tall as
      normal 2x2 mounts (instead of the 101mm of most other
      stereo cardboard mounts).  These work fine in a red
      button viewer (and are easier to get out of the viewer),
      but might not work in most stereo projectors.  Would you
      even consider using such a mount?  Could other desirable
      features from your "wish list" draw you to such a mount?
      Would a lower price attract you to them?  Or would you
      exclude such a mount regardless of its other attributes?

  - Feature combinations
      Do you prefer heat seal but hate the tabs?  Do you
      dislike heat seal but use those mounts because of the
      tabs?  What would be your ideal feature set combination
      for cardboard mounts?  (And I hope there aren't as many
      "ideal combinations" as there are potential responders
      to the question!)

Feedback will be much appreciated.

Paul Talbot
  - delving deep into the nitty gritty of cardboard mounts!