Why is this cockling?

[WannabeFramer]

I'm confuddled. And sad. This photo has been brought back twice now. Each time it has left my workshop flat.

The first time it came back I thought it must have been too tight in the frame. I took everything apart, re-hinged, made doubly-sure nothing is too tight. It came back the next week the same

You can see the bulge that has appeared between the T-hinges, but I can't see what is causing it. The hinges are no different to usual and how I was taught. Weighted when drying etc.

The customer is open to the idea of dry mounting, but I am wary of creating an eggshell effect as the print is so glossy. It is a holiday souvenir so not easily replaceable.

It is hung alongside two other prints I framed which have had no issues, and I am sure there is no damp etc.

What am I doing wrong, and how would you all approach it? The customer is very relaxed but I am mortified!

[Rainbow]

The cockling is appearing between the two hinges. So instead of hinges, I'd try using V-strips all round to hold the poster in place. Just make sure that the V-strips aren't tight up against the poster and there's a bit of room to let the poster expand. I don't know whether this will solve the problem, but it's what I would try.

How long is it before the customer comes back with it cockled?

[Justintime]

Any chance it's being hung above a radiator/near a wood burner?
What backing board are you using? If Corrí is there any sign of extra bowing outwards towards the wall?

[WannabeFramer]

Any chance it's being hung above a radiator/near a wood burner?
What backing board are you using? If Corrí is there any sign of extra bowing outwards towards the wall?

Definitely not a woodburner but it could be above a radiator I suppose. I used tawnyboard so flat, and no sign of any bowing when it came back.

The cockling is appearing between the two hinges. So instead of hinges, I'd try using V-strips all round to hold the poster in place. Just make sure that the V-strips aren't tight up against the poster and there's a bit of room to let the poster expand. I don't know whether this will solve the problem, but it's what I would try.

How long is it before the customer comes back with it cockled?

I could try v-strips thanks, I hadn't thought of that. I would rather do that than drymount at the moment. (I mounted some glossy photos yesterday as a trial on various boards, on the jet mount and hot press, but each time got orange peel. I don't think that would be acceptable.)

Each time it came back after a week. My workshop is cold so I did wonder if it was to do with moving into a warmer room. Last time I I took it home for a couple of days to see if anything changed in my house but I couldn't see a difference.

I re-hinged and loosely refitted it yesterday, so I will see if it has cockled overnight. If so I will try strips.

[JKX]

It could he paper and coatings that you have nothing to do with - reacting differently to each other to a certain condition which you have no control over, in which case nothing but sticking it down will work really. With glossy things the slightest wave is emphasised.

I’d try a platform mount first.


Dry mounting to something other than foam board without heat may prevent orange peel effect.

It’s hard to see from the photo but it looks like both hinges are tight; one should be loose.

[WannabeFramer]

Platform is also an option, thanks.

I jet-mounted a photo to display board and it was slightly better, but still a bit ‘peely’ for my liking. I will show him the samples so he can make that choice I think. He has told me not to have nightmares, so at least he isn’t cross!

The right hinge is loose. It has remained perfectly flat overnight so

[IFGL]

Both of your hinges appear to be tight to the picture and quite wide, the point of T hinges is so the picture can expand and contract freely.
One hinge is supposed to be tight to the image as an anchor and the other is supposed to be loose to allow movement.

[WannabeFramer]

Thank you, although that is I think the angle of the photo. One hinge is an anchor, the other is loose.

[IFGL]

I see that the right hand hinge is slightly higher than the left, that is still a tight hinge, it needs to be considerably longer, I also use narrower strips to allow free movement.
We also often use foam board between the under mount and the backing board, this helps with rigidity and also insulates from heat and moisture changes.

[Justintime]

That's interesting, the first time I've heard someone use the word insulation in a framing context but it makes sense. I have Correx in stock for the same purpose.

[Steve Goodall]

I think you meant "orange peel" - not "egg shell".