Image Floating

[petercorb]

Hi Everyone,
I am new to this forum - to see what I am about see my introduction under petercorb posted recently.

I frame for my own clients when they buy a print of my own work.

Floating in a large box frame is very popular (see my website under Gallery for the styles I do http://petercorbett.com/gallery/ then scroll down.

I explain to customers, especially on large images (sometimes 1.5m on the long side) that the papers are hydroscopic and will move with the ambient humidity: here in Cape Town it can get very humid and change very quickly.

Some are OK with that and I can normally demonstrate the effect with framed images hanging in the Gallery.

Other clients want the image totally flat even though I explain that this method is not to "archival" standards.

If they insist on a flat image then I sub out the framing as I have never done this method.

My questions are the following:

What types of acid free adhesives are available and how are they applied?

Does one glue to an acid free barrier sheet, or direct to say, fome core?

Can the artwork be recovered?

Any other info would be useful as I would like to try it myself.

Thank you

Peter

[David McCormack]

Hi Peter, the artwork doesn't need to be recovered from mounting! If a framer glues/bonds a original to board that's altering the original state of the art but if you the artist does it then that's ok because the print and the board/substrate becomes the original art! Ansel Adams didn't have a problem with this idea as he mounted all his darkroom prints

Have you ever used or heard of Glamour 2 print varnish? Have a look here. I've used it to mount cotton paper matt prints very successfully. Just one way of doing it yourself

BTW the cross section drawings of your frames are very detailed

[petercorb]

Hi David,

I like your take on the concept of original Art in relation to the artist, I never thought of this!

I never had a problem dry mounting my images in the old days of the wet darkroom and they are still around (B&W) after 30 odd years without any signs of deterioration.

I had a look at the Breathing Color site and the product, very interesting.

My problem will be finding the stuff here in SA, there was an Agent here at one stage, I will investigate!

One point: for large prints is a vac bed required, or just some even pressure?

Peter

[prospero]

I second David's observations.

I would say mounting on foamcore is a good option. Given what you say about the climate the least hygroscopic material the better and if the mounted image is behind glass it will not be vulnerable to pokes. As far as mounting adhesive is concerned, there are heat mounting tissues/films that claim to be (cough) 'archival'. But if the print paper is of good quality I would go so far as to say any tissue is a good as any other.

You would need a huge vac press for 1500mm prints. The older type of hard bed press scores here because you can mount big stuff in 'bites'. A large hb press has a platen about 26" deep which means in theory you can mount prints 50" wide and as long as you like. Takes longer than doing it in one go and you have to manually screw down the press and tighten it. If you are doing a lot of prints it would be hard work.
But you may be able to pick up a second-hand press for not a lot of cash. A tiny fraction of the cost of a giant vacuum press anyway. The other option is a roller press - never used one so can't really comment on that method.
Just a thought anyway.....


Stunning images btw.

[petercorb]

Thank you for the complements prospero; I have found an Agent for Breathing Color here in SA, however they list "Timeless" print varnish and their main website claim its Archival!

I have sent them emails to ask specifications, in the meantime does anyone know if Timeless will serve the same purpose as Glamour 2?

A press is probably a long-shot at this stage.

I know this is probably deemed as an amateur piece of kit but has anyone ever used the Frameco Vacu Bag which will take sizes up to 100cm x 135cm which is available here in SA at a reasonable cost?

Peter

[petercorb]

Am I perhaps in the wrong section of the forum here ?

Would the HELP section be better?

[David McCormack]

When using glamour 2 as varnish they say to dilute it but timeless is ready to use. When using glamour 2 as an adhesive they say to use it straight from the tub and not to dilute it. If timeless is pre-diluted maybe it isn't suitable as an adhesive?

To be honest I've only ever wet mounted, albeit successfully, prints no bigger than A3+ so don't how you'd get on with your prints being over a metre? The trick is to roll out the glue evenly with a roller on the substrate and then plenty of weight on top of the print.... maybe heavy sheets of MDF?

Don't know about the vac bag thing sorry.

If you are going to do a lot of mounting then a roller press like the Jetmounter and pressure sensitive adhesives could be a consideration. They show up on here on the forum at good prices every so often.