mounting material

[adrian tyler]

i've had a look round the archives, and not really found definitive responses to the problem of mounting large prints, in this case 60x60". obviously with a print of that size to keep the thing flat it needs some sort of rigid support, i'm not too interested in laminating the print or siliconing it to plexi glass, i'd prefer to put a traditional glass box frame over the print and the mount, but want the best archival and stablity conditions, the big dilema is what to mount to.

aluminium seems to be the best as far as stablility and neutrality goes, but it is heavy and expensive.

i've seen prints mounted to medium density fibre panel (i don't know what it's called in english, but a lot of furniture and doors and stuff are made of this material, "mdf" in spain), i seems stable and is cheap and not too heavy.

i don't trust foam board too much, i've seen it buckling wildly in humid conditions.

any experince would be appreciated...

adrian

[Dan Dozer]

Adrian,

I have an interior designer friend who works with a print mounting shop in Phoenix, Arizona that does extremely good work in mounting poster type art prints to MDF board. As you say, the material is very dimensionally stable and very flat, and might be a good mounting board for large photos as well. I have posed the question to my friend to see if this shop will work with photographs as well, but haven't heard back as of yet.

One thing that I would be a little concerned with is the archival capabilities of MDF board (or any type of particle board material). Some types use certain chemicals like formaldhyde in the binders/glues in the production of material, and I don't know what the long term effects might be on photographs.

[John Cook]

There are many brands and levels of (inferior) quality of foam board. They are soft (dent with a fingernail) and too flexible and whippy.

One brand, GATORFOAM, stands apart from all of these. It is completely rigid and waterproof. Used extensively in outdoor signage. It is available in white, black (including core) and kraftpaper brown in thicknesses from 3/16 to at least one full inch. Available in 4' x 8' sheets, it can be easily cut on a table saw or vertical panel saw.

We have squeezed it inside a hot Seal drymount press and wet-mounted murals on it with sloppy wallpaper paste. It is absolutely bulletproof. You can even stand on it if you're careful.

To get you started in your search for a supplier, here is a web page from Dick Blick which has a few popular sizes. I would suggest a local commercial sign company for a greater selection.


http://www.dickblick.com/zz132/01/products.asp?param=0&ig_id=1011

[adrian tyler]

yes dan

from what i can find out "mdf" board is slightly acidic. which is not too attractive for a long term photogaph mounting.

john, gartorfoam looks interesting, i have seen a material here in spain called "forex" which look similar, i wonder if it is gatorfoam with a different trade name?

thanks

[paulr]

MDF is used a lot to mount big prints. It works well. I can't imagine it's an archival material, though.

I have a big (50" x40") print mounted on gatorfoam, and it's survived brilliantly for 10 years so far, including 2 moves. It's not in a frame.
No idea about the archival qualities of this material either; the print I have is on RC so i didn't bother asking.

[adrian tyler]

yes, i'll be printing to "rc" too, but i am putting my faith in kodak and fuji to come up with the goods on the "cristal archive" and "endura" spec. sheets... i've bought a chrismas lottery ticket too!

[Stan. Laurenson-Batten]

Hello Adrian.
Until this year I used 3/8 MDF for mounting up to 40X30 inch prints. Far too heavy.

This year at photokina, 'Kapa' of Alcan Composites, exhibited a foamboard that fits the bill for all photographic purposes.

It is foamboard with a polyurethene core, very light but ridged, can withstand all ambient temperatures and humidities.

The edges can be cut without crumbling. It is easy to work. It is flame resistant. Acid free and archival.

Website is: www.alcancomposites.com
You may even be able to get a free sample pack!

[tim atherton]

There are also some lightweight but rigid honycomb core aluminium sheets that work well - I had a big pritn mounted on one - can't find the details right now (might also have been from Alcan)

[adrian tyler]

thanks for the link stan, i can seenow that "forex" is from alcan too...

[tim atherton]

Okay - you'll have to hunt down the details - Dibond which is two thin sheets of aluminium with a polyethelen core - about half the weight of straight aluminium, or Alucobond, somewhat thicker or Alucore which is a honeycomb type material.

Dibond is the most commonly used