Hinging a mat to remove art

Create a Post
J

Jason M

Grumbler
Joined
Jan 14, 2025
Posts
37
Loc
Ocean Springs, Mississippi
Business
Ethotera Art Studio
I have 10 - 30x30 prints to mat for a museum show with no frames. what would be the best wat to permanently hinge the mat to the foamboard so they can open and remove and store when shows are over? i am also using mylar corners with no tape or glue for complete removal and assembly as they need. or if anybody has any other ideas on a technique that is removable to be used multiple times.

Thanks in advance for any tips
 
Hinge the window mat to a backing board along the 'long' side.
Then hinge the art to the backer. This is a time-honored method of mounting
paper art so it can be removed from a frame and stored. It makes a convenient
package whereby the art can be seen and handled without touching it. The entire
mounted paper can be inspected by simply flipping back the window mat. Again,
without touching the art. 🙂
 
Use a platform mount. There’s plenty on it here - this is how it works.



To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.






..
 
If you're worried about the mat sagging when hung, you could use Lineco mounting strips to make a sort of French cleat at the top of the backing board. Put one strip on the back of the mat with the flap facing down and one on the backboard with the flap facing up. I think that will keep the mat from drooping.
 
The Mylar corners will fail at some point. Either the seams will separate or the adhesive will fail.
They also provide support at only the outside corners, and all of the weight is borne by the lower two.
The photo, depending on the weight of the paper, can slump in the frame with no support at the top.

The platform mount is an excellent option as are either Mylar or thin ragboard folded sills and ledgers.

I'm a bit surprised that a museum would want foamboard mounts.
Hinging the mat to foamboard is a bit problematic as the paper facing is very thin and peals relatively easily making the hinge weak.
Book mats are usually backed with 4-ply rag board, or something of an equivalent grade to the mat.
The hinges should be made from gummed (water activated) linen or Cambric tape.
 
Jason M said:
I have 10 - 30x30 prints to mat for a museum show with no frames. what would be the best wat to permanently hinge the mat to the foamboard so they can open and remove and store when shows are over? i am also using mylar corners with no tape or glue for complete removal and assembly as they need. or if anybody has any other ideas on a technique that is removable to be used multiple times.

Thanks in advance for any tips
Click to expand...
For storage of paper artworks in museums, a common method is to hinge a long side of the mat to the backing board using gummed linen tape. The art may be attached to the backing using a Japanese paper with starch paste, methyl cellulose, or Klucel G. Or, you may use full-length edge supports that would be hidden under the mat margins. Or you may use something like a Platform Mount. You may be tempted to use corner pockets, but they have issues, such as failed adhesive bonds, visibility within the mat window, and the care needed for proper placement. Insufficient support for some items could be a problem, too, since the paper rests on its bottom corners.
 
Jim Miller said:
For storage of paper artworks in museums, a common method is to hinge a long side of the mat to the backing board using gummed linen tape. The art may be attached to the backing using a Japanese paper with starch paste, methyl cellulose, or Klucel G. Or, you may use full-length edge supports that would be hidden under the mat margins. Or you may use something like a Platform Mount. You may be tempted to use corner pockets, but they have issues, such as failed adhesive bonds, visibility within the mat window, and the care needed for proper placement. Insufficient support for some items could be a problem, too, since the paper rests on its bottom corners.
Click to expand...
I had to fix a project last week where the photo corners did not allow the art to expand, and caused the art to distort pretty badly. Not a common problem.
 
Create a Post
Back
Top