The Framers Forum

Can anyone suggest the best way to fix photos(all different sizes-some pretty big)without a mount.
I am using spacers(econospace),barrier board and an MDF backing.
Thanks,Johnny.

Depends what you mean by 'best', the most fuss-free and effective regards flatness would be to dry or wet mount them. If they are valuable/irreplaceable - IOW if conservation is an issue then you've chosen a method that is problematic.

Spacers are not a substitute for a mount. They will restrict the edges and the photo will go wavy. If it's glossy it will look terrible. As Robo says, close-framed photos should be stuck to a board. Done properly, it could be done to 'conservation' standards, but not 'preservation' as you have effectively altered it's state.

It's like asking if you can run your car without tyres. You can. But it will knacker it.

If they are valuable, you can't really do away with the mat. If they can be easily reproduced, then you could mount them onto a self adhesive foam board and use a spacer. I never place glass on anything except mats, spacers and rebates.

If a customer insists on framing without a mount and the photos are replaceable I usually dry mount onto white display board, laminate with hotpress laminating film and then frame without glass

Tyto, would this be a technique that's also called block mounting? (Or partial block mounting?) Wouldn't you make more money on glass?
Not criticising, merely curious. (From Australia)

What I call bock mounting is when you stick the print to a thickish block of wood (or arcylic or MDF) and either laminate or paint over with texture medium. The edges are usually painted black. There is no frame as such.

Painted edges - sooooooooooo old fashioned

all my blocks are edgebanded!!!

stcstc wrote:
all my blocks are edgebanded!!!

You poor soul. Have you tried rubbing some liniment on them?

no but might have a go at morso vaulting, guess that might fix it