Luminous Landscape Forum
Raw & Post Processing, Printing => Printing: Printers, Papers and Inks => Topic started by: rwbehan on May 05, 2013, 04:22:44 am
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This seems to be the place to ask this...hope so, anyway.
Does anyone know where dry mount tissue and mounting boards can be found in digital-standard sizes of 13x19 and 17x22? I've googled all over the bloomin' Internet and can't seem to find them. The old film-standard sizes of 11x14 and 16x20 are readily available, but not the digital-standard sizes.
TIA
Dick Behan
Lopez Island, WA
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Archival Methods (http://www.archivalmethods.com/) have mat board in the sizes you note (4 ply minimum for dry mounting). Don't know about mounting tissue but you probably are best served by purchasing a roll and cutting it since that's an easy job compared to cutting mat board. If you are doing a lot of mounting getting a decent mat cutter (Logan 450 or better) and large sheets is more economical. I find cutting mat board to be quite therapeutic. :-)
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Finding such materials that will be an exact fit to your print will be difficult, since both media and board will show manufacturing variations. Skill #1 for mounting prints is the ability to trim boards and media to size, and skill #2 is learning how to hold a cutting knife perfectly vertical.
Unless you want to flush mount, a 13x19 will mount symmetrically on a standard 22x28 mounting board, and a 17x22 print will mount almost symmetrically on a standard 24x30 mounting board. Which gives you the classic presentation of a print mounted on a larger board without a front matte, the way Ansel Adams liked to do it. Tack the tissue to the back of print, trim the edges with a sharp knife and a good straight edge, center on board, press. Of course that's after driving the moisture out of the print and board with pre-presses. Trimming the print/tissue package prior to mounting is one place where a classic Alvin steel straight edge and a #11 Xacto knife still beats a rotary trimmer.
If you want to flush mount, there are various boards available with pre-applied adhesive or dry mount tissue. Mount the image with a little slop all around, then trim.
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I haven't printed my own work at a "standard" size in with either analog or digital processes for years. That said, I learned early on how to cut matts, windows, etc. both with dedicated cutters and a straight edge and razor blade, even bevels. It's a skill that still serves me well.
If you are looking only to flush mount and foamboard will work, get the board with heat-activated (drymount tissue) already coated on the board. In the past two years, especially with my canvas projects, the ease and efficiency of the workflow has been marvelous and as a bonus, there's been no issues with a chad of tissue making its way between the print and the board.
I don't think that there's coated 2, 4, & 8 ply boards, though I could be wrong, but the foamboard is available in many sizes, thicknesses and colors. Costs a little more than uncoated, I think, but well worth it.
Once mounted, you can easily cut it to size and I'll bet if you find a good supplier, they can cut it to your specs for a nominal charge.
For my 4-ply boards, I have the windows custom laser cut to my specs. I'll bet the same company will sell you pre-cut boards to your spec, though it will be more expensive than doing it on your own, but a lot easier, more consistently in size and cut, etc.
That company is framedestinations.com in Texas and they ship quickly once ordered. Used them for 6-8 years now and they make presentation a snap for me.
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Thank you, gentlemen, for your fine suggestions. Lots to learn, and then to work on.
Best,
RWB
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My company carries foamcore and rag mounting board in those sizes:
http://www.framedestination.com/Mount_Board.html
Our current offering does not include foamboard with heat activated adhesive already applied but we hope to offer that in the next few months.