Re: [photo-3d] heat seal vs spicer vs RBT, now vs alum/glass!

["Dr. George A. Themelis" <drt-3d@xxxxxxx>]

>Thanks for your thought-provoking questions, George.  
>What are you using mostly?
>
>Mike Galazin


Hi Mike,

As usual, my questions/comments are stretched to provoke
interesting discussions.  I enjoy using RBTs like you do,
but I noticed a discrepancy in your logic.  On one hand
you stress convenience and things like reusability, and
on the other hand you mention works of art.  Usually these 
two are incompatible... The reusable plastic snap-together 
frames would not appear to be the best material to frame 
everlasting works of art.  I wanted to get some discussion
going on this...

As for myself, I started with what I consider to be the
best mount for a beginner, the now discontinued EMDE mount,
later forced to switch to Albions which I loved for their
channels and ability to adjust the window. I used Albions
and glass for my best slides and Albion and cardboard for
the rest.  But I gradually shifted away from glass, like
most stereo photographers these days.  Today I am using
three mounts:

- RBT mounts:  In about 20% of my (very best) slides.  Slides
that I project, enter in PSA Salon, etc.

- Spicer mounts:  After the NSA convention I started using
"DrDave's RBT -> Spicer Transfer" method and have been
very happy.  The rest of my slides will go there.

- Albion mounts:  I continue to use Albion mounts, mainly for
preview.  I cut and mount the entire roll in these mounts
very quickly and then I transfer the chips to RBT or Spicer
mount.  

I will still use Albion and glass to (re)mount some very
good slides from the 1950s-60s.  Somehow I feel that this
presentation is very appropriate for that time period.

The RBT mounts have all the advantages that you mentioned
however they are not IMO the best through-the-viewer
presentation of the images.  This title goes to aluminum
for the nice & clean edges.  The thing that bothers me
about RBTs is that the black and white pieces do not
match perfectly and sometimes I am wondering if I am
mounting for the black or white half.  Also, there
is a reflection in the edges but I've gotten used to
it.  Plus, the perpetual argument if the white should
be in the front or the back (the "correct" answer is
the front, especially if the slide will be projected,
but a quite a few people feel that the black in front
gives better view through the viewer).

George Themelis

PS. This coming Tuesday I am conducting a slide mounting
workshop and I will show how to mount in Albion, RBT and
Spicer mounts.  The emphasis will be on the RBT to Spicer
transfer method.  Handouts and sample mounts will be 
available.  The workshop will be held one hour before our 
regular club meeting (first of the season) in Cleveland,
Ohio.  Practical slide mounting will be the subject
of my next Tutorial in the Stereogram.  For more details
please contact me at:  mailto:DrT-3d@xxxxxxx