How to Make a Portfolio Mount
A portfolio is a collection of work that showcases the artist's talent. Graphic artists, writers and photographers use portfolios to show potential clients and employers what they've done. A professionally mounted portfolio is particularly important when it comes to a photography or graphic art portfolio. The manner in which the pictures are presented communicates the professionalism of the artist. Portfolio mounts also segment your work into relevant categories. Fill your portfolio with samples that most closely resemble the potential client's business.
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Things You'll Need
- Portfolio case
- Photo and work samples
- 10 to 20 black presentation mounting boards measuring 15-by-20 inches
- Spray mount
- Photo mat
- Utility knife
- Straight edge
- Black foam core board
- White bond paper
- Double-sided tape
- Description labels
Instructions
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Select samples of photographs and projects that you consider your best work. Choose a variety of projects, photos or graphics for your portfolio unless you have enough work to create separate portfolios for large amounts of work. Separate food photographs, for example, from senior pictures. Divide logo designs into a separate portfolio case from the rest of your work if you have enough samples to fill a separate portfolio.
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Purchase a professional portfolio case with a clasped flap that opens and which is capable of securing 10 to 20 black presentation boards measuring 15-by-20 inches.
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Using a utility knife and straight edge, cut photo mats or black foam core board that is 1/4-inch larger than the photographs you want to include in your portfolio. Coat the back of the photographs with spray mount adhesive and press them onto the foam core board or photo mats.
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Organize the photos by date or category and visualize how you will lay them out on your presentation boards. Plan for one to four photos on each presentation board. Leave enough space between the mounted photos so that the presentation board doesn't appear crowded or cluttered. Allow a 2-by-4-inch space in the bottom right hand corner of the presentation board for a descriptive label. The label includes information explaining the date and subject or company that the work featured represents. Attach a piece of double-sided tape to the back of the mounted photographs and press the mounts onto your presentation boards.
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Print off other samples of your work such as T-shirt designs, logo designs, website artwork, magazine layouts or book covers. Print the work on high quality white bond paper in full color. Organize the samples by date or category, as you did with the photographs. Plan how you will lay them out on the presentation boards so they don't appear crowded or cluttered. Spray the back of the paper with spray mount adhesive and press the papers onto your presentation boards.
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Create descriptive labels for every page of your portfolio and print them on pieces of white bond paper cut to measure 2 inches tall by 4 inches wide. Add the year created, company and medium or materials used on the labels. Affix the labels to the bottom right corner of every presentation board with double-sided tape.
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Slide the presentation boards into the portfolio case. Take the case with you on appointments with prospective clients and employers.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Zedcor Wholly Owned/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
