Mounting on Gatorboard

[PeterAit]

I have a large show scheduled for next January and will be mounting prints on Gatorboard. Given the large number of prints, I was wondering about doing it myself rather than paying a framing shop. What exactly is involved? Thx.

[dgberg]

I have a large show scheduled for next January and will be mounting prints on Gatorboard. Given the large number of prints, I was wondering about doing it myself rather than paying a framing shop. What exactly is involved? Thx.

Well if it is canvas (The easiest) you roll on Miracle Muck, brayer the canvas down. Flip it over and trim with a razor and done. We do hundreds of them.
With fine art papers we use Generals mounting adhesive. The Seal product is also good. If you want to mount rc papers it is not as easy.
It can be done but it will try your patience. We have a Keencutter and cut our own Gatorboard to size.
When the jobs are really big we just order them cut to size from our supplier Harbor Sales near Baltimore.
Back to the canvas. I know many of you do not like the look, all I can tell you is that it sells and people love it.
Our ratio of canvas sales vs. fine art print sales is about 95 to 5 and we have quite a few really nice papers here. Although metal print sales have really been on the rise.
We supply the largest hospital chain in Pa. with wall art and they only order 30x40" gallery wraps.
What I have seen the last 10 years is clients are getting away from framed with mats and glass with all the other available options.

[PeterAit]

Thanks all. I have discovered self-adhesive gator board and may give that a try.

[Dromano]

I use the self adhesive Gatorboard too. I trim my print to size, then attach it to the Gatorboard which is slightly undersized. This helps hide the cut edge of the board. The fragile unsupported edge of the print is protected by mounting it in a float frame.
I used to trim flush to the edge of the board but there's no margin for error when doing that.

[dgberg]

You can make that edge absolutely perfect with a correctly positioned knife blade. Either with adhesive covered Gator or Miracle Muck. After mounting flip it over and run that razor at and angle and it will find the spot to make a perfect cut just about every time. I may get a wandering blade in 1 out of 25. Must have a large flat cutting mat under the print. I have a large 1/4" thick acrylic cutting mat, works great for large and small prints. Most of the mid to large ones go into frames of some sort. Once the print is mounted and flipped over I can cut all four sides of a medium print in less than a minute.

[Dromano]

Yes that's what I used to do, and was successful at it too.