Digital inkjet prints

genguskarn · Post by **genguskarn** » Mon 05 May, 2008 6:44 pm

Hi

Whats the preferred or best method of mounting and framing digital photo's printed on archival quality photo paper. I have some nice landscape photos I want to frame and hang in my office

.

Thanks in advance

Gengus

Moglet · Post by **Moglet** » Mon 05 May, 2008 6:52 pm

Hi Gengus (if I may be so informal!

)

Couple of thoughts:

If they're produced using dye inks, I'd recommend UV glass.

If you can print 'em again, dry mounting is definitely the way to go to keep them nice 'n' flat in the frame!

genguskarn · Post by **genguskarn** » Mon 05 May, 2008 7:01 pm

Hi Áine (me being informal)

Thanks for your reply. I have the images on my computer and will be printing them out myself on a HP9180Pro printer. I do not have access to any dry mounting equipment but would self-adhesive mountboard be ok.

Gengus

Moglet · Post by **Moglet** » Mon 05 May, 2008 7:07 pm

Certainly would, Gengus! I recommend Arqadia's Fastmount permanent - very high grab!. A good going over with a brayer roller should give a fairly good bond. (Use the release paper from the board to protect the photo when pressing!)

If you are close-framing the photos, you can use Econospace (from Lion) to create an air space between the glass and the surface of the photo.

genguskarn · Post by **genguskarn** » Mon 05 May, 2008 7:15 pm

Thanks again, even the simple straight forward questions get a really useful reply.

Gengus

Moglet · Post by **Moglet** » Mon 05 May, 2008 7:19 pm

More than welcome, Gengus. Bearing in mind that I'm not very long at this game meself, it's nice to be able to help another, instead of being on the learning end of the stick all the time!

The Crofter · Post by **The Crofter** » Mon 05 May, 2008 7:22 pm

I have printed and framed many epson prints up to A3+ and never had a problem with maintaining flatness without dry mounting. However I do leave a fairly generous border (20mm+) so the mountboard has something to work with. A lot depends on the paper weight as well, I think the epson premium semi gloss is around 250gsm so this will quite happily hang straight.

We have had some small (glazed) prints displayed in the gallery window for around 6 years and only the mountboard faded. Print colour is good but cannot compare as the original printer is no more.

Moglet · Post by **Moglet** » Mon 05 May, 2008 7:24 pm

Pat raises a good point there, Gengus: use a good, heavy photo paper for your prints.

genguskarn · Post by **genguskarn** » Mon 05 May, 2008 7:37 pm

Moglet wrote:More than welcome, Gengus. Bearing in mind that I'm not very long at this game meself, it's nice to be able to help another, instead of being on the learning end of the stick all the time!

Áine

I am new to the world of framing and its compares so differently to my proper job, (travelling the world commissioning HVAC systems onboard new drilling rigs

) but its a great learning experience and the members of this forum really help.

Gengus

The Crofter · Post by **The Crofter** » Mon 05 May, 2008 7:44 pm

Gengus, do you know your avatar is not displaying properly ?.

(this is where I get a hundred replies saying "oh yes it is...")

(or, "you hum it and I'll sing...")

Moglet · Post by **Moglet** » Mon 05 May, 2008 7:49 pm

Ohhhh no it isn't!!!

Seriously, I can't see it either.

genguskarn · Post by **genguskarn** » Mon 05 May, 2008 7:51 pm

oh yes it is

Gengus

Moglet · Post by **Moglet** » Mon 05 May, 2008 7:54 pm

Ohhhh no it isn't!!!!!!

(Kidding!

)

genguskarn · Post by **genguskarn** » Mon 05 May, 2008 8:18 pm

I was going to reply with " oh yes it is" but the panto season finished months ago thank heavens (we had the evergreen

Cannon & Ball in Jack in the beanstalk

).

If I use a heayweight printer paper that hangs straight is it ok just to hinge the print off the back of the mountboard.

Gengus

The Crofter · Post by **The Crofter** » Mon 05 May, 2008 8:40 pm

I do and use Artbak conservation for the backing. Board has a white surface that makes a difference to the way the print looks. If you use any other board then use a white barrier card for protection as well as a light background. I had to try a couple of different self adhesive tapes. First one I used (releasable by peeling) would stay on the print but not the mountboard. Can't remember which one I use now but wll check at work tomorrow. Current one is by Lion (Conservation Grade). Very important to use a burnisher or similar to ensure tape is properly fixed.

Merlin · Post by **Merlin** » Mon 05 May, 2008 8:51 pm

One technique I use and have no problems so far is to use
PVA (mixed 75 pva to 25 water) and a Woolies 4inch sponge roller. Then a hard roller to burnish down. If you use a 'fall out' of mountcard on top this will stop the excess glue coming into contact with the roller.

It gives you about 2 minutes of playing time.

I have not got on too well with any of the repositionable/ permanent 'tack' boards at all. Maybe it was just the way I was using them. Yet even those that we have had in for re-work show signs of the adhesive failing with a nice bubble beginning to erupt.

Thats my tuppence worth.

RobinC · Post by **RobinC** » Mon 05 May, 2008 9:48 pm

We also find fastmount a bit hit and miss and prefer either drymounting with our hard bed press or even spray mounting to using fastmount. On some items it is fine, on others it causes loads of problems with bubbles forming in the middle of the artwork.

Inkjet prints usually cause few problems, they are far better than those colour photocopies that were so popular a few years ago.

RobinC

rtwwpad2008 · Post by **rtwwpad2008** » Mon 05 May, 2008 9:50 pm

If you can track them down try printing on Ilford Galerie boards. Its a "conservation grade" 2-3mm board.

fineedge · Post by **fineedge** » Mon 05 May, 2008 10:52 pm

Hi Gengus
My 2 bits worth

dry mounting is definitely the way to go

I am not sure I agree totally with Áine. The archival papers I have had to work with are fibrous and I never drymount or sticky board them in any way. I hinge them on a board and mount over the top ( as per an etch which is also fibrous paper ) The main reason I do this is the inkjet surface is fairly delicate and doesn't want to be tampered with. The other reason is that being a matt surface, a slight bulge here or there is not really in your face. The more general gloss or semi-gloss pics I use sticky board because if a glossy pic wobbles it is very visible.

Roboframer · Post by **Roboframer** » Mon 05 May, 2008 11:48 pm

I've a basic rule.

If it is not easily reproduced - don't drymount it.

Regardless of what your default method is - and mine is artcare restore.

Artcare restore? Brilliant product - oh yeah! But it still requires you to subject HEAT to things that may not like having heat subjected to them.

Digital inkjet things don't like heat - my advice, if drymounting is the agreed way to go, is COLD drymounting. PMA or s/adhesive foam board.

I just don't like sticking things down in any way - wet/dry - cold/hot - but, for me, if that is what has to be done the solution is either artcare restore (for things that can take some heat) or PMA (for things that can't - and I've had bad experiences with inkjets+heat)