The Framers Forum

Hi.
I have a chinese paper cutting to frame, wondering what is the best way fix the cutting.

Thanks Keith

Newspaper cutting?

Something like this?
It's probably a touristy-type thing that didn't cost much and probably comes in a see-through sleeve?

Slide it out of its sleeve and you've got something that can just blow away or fold if you have a bit of a draught - not that easy to handle.

You could apply tiny/strategic dabs of adhesive, but no matter what type you use, evo-stick or starch paste, some can ooze out on to the front, or even seep through - it's a tricky operation, plus expansion/contraction could shred it as it's so flimsy.

If you peeled the protective sheet from a piece of acrylic and laid this thing on it, the static would probably hold it for eternity. If you laid it on top of a piece of felt and turned it upside down, it probably would not fall off.

So, I'd use that combination of static and grab, an overlay of acrylic and a mount covered in light wadding and then with a fabric with some 'tooth' like velvet, velour, suedette. The overlay could be under a window mount (mat) with glazing over that, or not, but (ideally) that acrylic would be AR (abrasion resistant) - or, if it's not a big thing, a Melinex overlay might work, as long as the shape is a regular one.

Failing all that you could just mount it in the plastic wallet that it came in, but that will probably yellow and/or go brittle quite quickly.

We’ve done quite a few of these. One of the problems is that people often use very cheap paper and often color them with Sharpies or Magic Markers. Even with the best conservation framing, they will often fade in a few years.

Although encapsulation is probably preferred, we most frequently simply “sandwich” the cut out between two sheets of glass. Even something like wheat or rice paste may pucker the delicate cut out. We place a contrasting mat behind the the glass sandwich which not only shows off the piece pretty well but appears to “float” above the background and give it a sense of depth.

Hi
Thank you all for the replies, I think I will go with Bill's idea, It seems the most straight forward.

Keith