Question Flattening Photo mounted about 30 years ago

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k2500guy

CGF, Certified Grumble Framer
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Jan 16, 2008
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North Chesterfield, VA
I have a photo that is about 30 years old that was drymounted (I guess) on what looks to me like a 6 ply matboard. It has been in a cheapo frame for all that time, no mats and just a thin plastic glazing. The customer now wants it framed up nicely with a double mat.

The actual photo is in pretty good shape, but it doesn't lie flat and I'm wondering exactly what to do about it, if anything. I was wondering if it would work to dry mount the whole thing as it is to a foamboard? Seems to me that if I did that, once the mats and glass are on it, it should be fine. What do you think?

Thanks for your advice,

Bobby
 
Is the photo bowing, or the whole package? If the matboard backing is bowing along with the photo, i.e., the mounting is still good, then I'd use some cornerweld and weights and glue the whole thing to gatorboard. Then add mats and frame.
 
What do you mean that it doesn't lie flat? Is it the photo or the mat board that doesn't lie flat? How was it drymounted? Was it wet mounted or was a film used? What type of photo is it? Can the photo handle heat? There are a lot of questions that need to be answered to get a good response.
Generally, with something that was done by another place that long ago I would not try to remove it and remount - if it is valuable that should be a job of a conservator. Sometimes you can work with what you have, you just have to work around the problems - i.e. use another piece of mat board and cut it in to the exact size with wide enough boarders for the double mat, tape the boards together and frame it that way. Maybe the new board will straighten it out.
 
The whole thing is bowing. I don't know for sure how is was mounted, but the photo, which I believe is on RC paper, is solidly stuck to the backing, which looks like 6-ply matboard and it ain't coming off that!
 
Counter mount it. If the center is bowed away from you all you have to do is wet mount a piece of Kraft paper to the back side and it will straighten out. If the corners are bowing away from the front you will need to mount it to gator foam.
 
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