Plate 4:  Materials for the construction of a removable black setting for small displays
(This plate added FEB 2004)

HE accompanying photo shows two items of "raw material" which will be used to construct the photographer's removable black setting for small displays:
1.  Black matting board In the background, standing upright upon the cabinet-top, is a large piece of black matting board. The board was purchased at the same art-supply store from which the roll of black paper was purchased (see Plate 3). The matting board is 40 inches long by 32 inches wide. 2.  Black acrylic paint In the foreground, standing upon the cabinet-top, is a small jar of black acrylic paint. According to the label, the actual color of the paint is lamp black or ebony black. The paint was purchased at the same store from which the matting board was purchased. The purpose of the paint is to color the exposed edges of matting board in the removable black setting for small displays. What do we mean by "exposed edges"? --more--
Exposed edges, which are white, will appear because the matting board must be cut into many pieces. The matting board will be cut up to provide a floor, a back, a left side, and several plinths. What is a plinth? Originally, plinth, from the Greek word plinthos (meaning brick), referred to the square base upon which a temple-column stands. In our case, plinth simply means a square base upon which a toy will stand. Since the black matting board must be cut up to construct the back, the side, and the plinths, the exposed edges of the cut board will be white, not black. The purpose of the black paint is to hide the exposed edges by making them the same color as the board's black surface, resulting in an uninterrupted black setting for the items to be photographed. Go to top of page