150 8 x 10 photos to mount

[JBergelin]

Our local University and the local merchants are having a 30 day arts festival to light up the cold winter days of February. All forms of art are being presented from fine arts to dance, instrumentals and poetry readings, pottery classes... you name it. All free to the general public.

Our gallery is going to feature the photo contest. We are advertising the contest on the radio and through the newspaper. There are prizes for the winners and all the entries will be hung in our gallery for a week. We estimate that we will receive between 50 and 150 entries.

I have offered to mount the 8 x 10s on 11 x 14 foamcore... initially I planned to dry mount the photos using speedmount but I think I spoke too quickly. Originally the University was going to process the images in their lab so there would be controls as to the final product.

Yesterday they changed the program and each artist will get his/her own image processed...with all the ink jet printers out there I am concerned about using my seal press on the photos...

Anyone have a suggestion as to a "quick and dirty" way to mount these images? I have about 7 days to get them mounted and hung in the gallery.

 

[Rob Markoff]

I still vote for speedmount- even if they are inkjets. We have had excellent results with few problems.

The only drawback is you said 8 x 10 on 11 x 14. The remaining board will have adhesive on it. Are you matting? Cutting down? Otherwise it isn't very attractive.

When is the last time you confirmed your temperature settings with indicator strips? It might be good insurance to know you really are at the temperature you want to be.

Maybe you would feel safer with a disclaimer/limit of liability?

 

[framah]

PMA. 3m makes it.

 

[Cliff Wilson]

I'm with Rob, I use the low heat and dwell time of Bainbridge Speedmount and/or Bienfang Singlestep all the time.

Unless their using REALLY CHEAP HOME based inks with no light fastness at all, you should be fine.

If they do that, they deserve it! So don't feel bad.

I think using PMA would just take too darn long!

 

[Richard Darling]

How about cutting white mats on your cmc and hinge the photos with tape? They're all 8 x 10, so you simply repeat the same mat. Cut matching foamcore & ATG them together. In cases like this, I find it easiest & quickest to hinge the photo to the backside of the mat. For the little bit it would cost in materials, you won't have the anxiety or risk of trying to mount them.

 

[JBergelin]

... and then there is the hanging aspect.

I really appreciate the ideas - the other shoe to drop is how to hang all the pics

I am thinking that I will get furring strips, paint them black and drop them from my gallery hanging strips -

Other ideas would be welcome - 50 will be do-able - 100 is pushing it and if there are more I don't know what I will do - this is a small town that is bored in the winter so there is no telling how many photographers will come out of the woodwork.