Clear Background Or Black Background

I am looking to start a new used US Album but I have been debating between black background or clear background mounts. Does anyone have a side by side comparsion. Also which do you prefer? Black or Clear?

Having used both my personal preference is finally settled as clear. More forgiving to layout and affix and blends in so much better. The one thing that I still like about black is the contrast it provides in order to see perforations better and to make some colors show more dramatically.

I'd hinge used stamps. If you use a mount, clear works better with used as it comes closer to a hinged look (and clear works better with all printed albums, as it doesn't obscure text etc). I'd use black mounts for mint on white quadrille.

I prefer clear. As said, if you hinge, clear mounts mix well visually. Black is less forgiving in placement, cutting, etc. A black mount will also cover up any printing under the mount.

I prefer clear for all of the reasons stated above.

Clear for me. Forgiving if I cut or mount a bit crooked. Can still see design or denomination underneath in case I put mount on the wrong space.

I would hinge them since you don't need to worry about the gum.

Clear, for many of the same reasons stated. To expand: Black mounts that are cut incorrectly, not square, not lined up exactly on a page, don't cover the lined black box on the page or aren't centered exactly within the black box, are all very distracting to my eye and draws my sight away from the stamp. Clear mounts can mask many of these problems. My main goal, with mounts, or hinges, is to make sure the stamp looks centered within the stamp box. Clear mounts allow that to happen even with badly cut mounts or undersized/oversized mounts. The one drawback is the lack of contrast between the perforations and the album page But I'm ok with that.

One way to have the contrast AND still use clear mounts is to make your own pages using extra thick stamp boxes

I prefer black. The contrast makes the stamp "jump" in terms of appearance. If you do go black, get a guillotine cutter and take special care placing it. As others note, if you don't get it square relative to others, it'll show.

Clear is my clear favorite. I like to cut a strip for a whole row and this looks better with a clear mount. I sell on eBay and an album with a lot of empty black mounts is nearly worthless.

On the other hand I would like to buy a bulk lot of mounts from an auction but these are almost always predominantly black mounts.

I prefer black mounts and separate them with scissors, usually with the stamp or souvenir sheet already in. I've not lost a stamp in 30+ years of using back mounts. I've had no need for any sort of a cutter other than scissors as I can usually cut "straight."

As for hinging used stamps, as Geoff suggests, usually 'yes' for me. However, I do use mounts for any used stamps with a catalogue value above US $50 or 60, or stamps that are on really thin paper.

All my previously started albums have the black mounts for the reasons already mentioned. Exhibits get clear ones. And for my latest adventure with a new album, its clear mounts on black quadrille pages. Beauty being in the eye of the beholder, this presentation looks eye-poppingly incredible!

I use black split-back mounts for all my stamps. As previously stated, they are tricky at first. An incorrectly cut mount or a poor alignment on the page will really show. It takes some practice.

On the positive side, I like the way they frame the stamp. They also make light colored stamps "pop" and I think they show off the perforations better.

Dan

Black Showgard mounts only. Purely personal preference. Purportedly. :-)

Black Scott mounts. Clear mounts shows stuff under or near the stamps you may NOT want to see. Also most stamps have a white border that shows better in black mounts.

My personal preference: Black backed mounts split in the middle (Showgard). s others, I like how it provides contrast to the stamp it holds.

Purely personal preference though. Don't do what others do. Do what you want. Feel free to digest everybody's comments on why they do what they do. In the end, the plus and minuses for each balance out and you are left with only one thing that should decide it: personal preference.