The Framers Forum

I've been asked to re-frame a photograph. I can't mount it in the normal way because the image goes right to the edge. It's an aircraft, so it wouldn't look right if part of the nose was covered by the mount. Previously it's been framed loose on a sheet of paper (no mount), but the customer wants to have it re-framed properly, with a mount. The size is about 10" x 7". Any suggestions as to how to best mount it without losing the edges would be much appreciated.

Is it a vintage print? Can it easily be reprinted? You could start off by recommending it could be copied and printed for framing and safely store the original. Good copies and good prints are indistinguishable from the originals when framed.

If you have to mount the original then pass through hinges or the hedgehog method with a windowmount larger than the print by say 10mm all round or no windowmount and glass spacers.

Adhering paper hinges to the back of photos can be tricky particularly with C type modern prints but I have success with wheat paste but not too wet. Another way, if it is a vintage B&W and as it is fairly small, is to use photo corners!

I would agree with David.

Mount to mat board. I cut a window smaller the photograph, hinge the dropout to the back of the photo, then put the drop out back into its window and tape it from behind. Quicker and easy then pass through hinges. Then cut a top matboard 5-10mm bigger then photograph. Probably just float the matboard either the thickness of another mat or with 3mm foam board.

At least that is what i would do.

Thanks, David and i-framer. The photo isn't vintage but it's not digital and there's only one original. The method you've both described sounds as if it will do the trick, many thanks.

I would scan it, add a little more image using Photoshop and then reprint... Usually only a 10 minute job... (if you have Photoshop of course!)

I would go along with glimpse on that one.If, of course, you know someone who is fairly good with Photoshop...

Thanks for the Photoshop suggestions. The nose is there, but the tip would be slightly covered by the mount if mounted in the normal way. So it would be the background that would have to be extended in order to give a bit more space around the nose to go under the mount. I'm not bad with Photoshop so I'll bear that suggestion in mind if something like this crops up again, but probably "hedgehogging" will do the trick in this instance. (Why is it call the hedgehog method?)

Rainbow wrote:. (Why is it call the hedgehog method?)

It was a method taught by Roy Rowlands GCF who ran Hedgehog Art and Framing http://www.hedgehog-art.co.uk/

I was going to say that Jo, been using that method since late 80's don't want to think about how many times I have used it

Thanks for the info about the Hedgehog method