Mounting Digital Prints

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DTWDSM

DTWDSM

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
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Feb 19, 2002
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While I am in Atlanta I want to find something that will help us in mounting digital and other types of prints that can not be dry mounted in a heat press.

We have been told to look at Hot Press because they have a (don't know ifthis is the correct name) Manual Laminater that can be used with a pressure sensative tissue that can be used with items that don't agree with heat.

We currently spray mount items like this or use some photo corners or mounting strips. I would like to get away from spray mounting but at the current time this is the safest way to do it with out taking the risk of melting something.

What are you using for items that can not or should not be put in a heat press? Does anyone know anything about this "Manual Laminating Machine" that uses a pressure sensative tissue?

Would like to get a idea of what people are using and what you like/dislike before I look in Atlanta.

Thanks for your help!
 
Tim, any of the combination heat/vacuum presses should do what you need. You can use them hot with mounting tissue or cold with pressure sensitive adhesives, mounting pastes or sprays (last choice.)

If you have the space and budget, I recommend a 40x60 press, since you can't mount oversize pieces in "bites" like you can with a traditional press. You'll need a special 240v outlet, so plan ahead.

Everyone seems to love the particular brand they use. I've had a Vacuseal for 18 years with minimal problems (except for those involving person stupidity.) People seem to also love other brands.
An intriguing option with some is a clear glass top, which may have prevented some of the stupid things I've done with my Vacuseal. (Bean bag weights left in the press with the mounting package, overlapping prints, etc.)

A serach on this forum under "press" or "Vacuseal" or a few other terms should yield a weekend-worth of valuable reading material. You could search under "vacuum" except that there are some very creative spellings for that word.
 
Actually, Ron, it sounds like they have a dry mount press but are looking for an alternative method of mounting digital prints that doesn't involve heat. They are concerned, quite rightly, about the effects of heat on certain digital printing methods. The piece of equipment they are asking about is a laminator that uses only pressure to be used with pressure sensitive adhasives. Chris Paschke just had a series of articles about this problem in Picture Framing Magazine.
 
Hmmm. My short vegetarian friend from Wautoma might be right.

Okay, forget about the combination press. You didn't wanna spend $6,000 anyway, did you?

I used to use a roller device from 3M with their PMA adhesive sheets. It worked kinda like the old ringer clothes "dryer." I think it worked just fine and I know some photographers that are using them now. The size limit was, I believe, about 24" wide, which wouldn't normally be a big limitation for regualr photos.

If you're going to Atlanta, see as many demos as you can and get some samples. The 3M PMA adhesive and the Crescent Perfect Mount are both pretty decent cold mount sheet adhesives.
 
Check out Daige: http://www.daige.com/permwide.htm ; they have some adhesive applicators and rollers that seem to be appropriate for the picture framing trade. I've been tempted myself but would like to hear from someone who has used them extensively before pouring my hard earned money into a setup. I did buy one of their hand applicators just to try it out and it seemed to work quite well. My problem is I might not do mounts for weeks at a time and I'm afraid the machine would get mucked up between uses. It's worth a look anyway.
 
Yes what I am looking for is a roller like machine, at least that is what I have been told would be the best solution.

Thanks for the replies, if anyone else has a suggestion I will still be looking.
 
There is a good article on mounting digital prints in one of the latest issues of Picture Framing Magazine. I'll try to find it and let you know which issue.
 
Originally posted by Ron_Eggers:
Hmmm. My short vegetarian friend from Wautoma might be right.
Click to expand...
Hey, I resemble that remark!!!
 
Don't go overboard on machinery purchases for doing this sort of work, we now have very few ink-jet prints as a result of the photographic printers (silver halide) becoming more common in pro-labs.
 
Tim--I use a Seal 400d roller laminator and pressure sensitive adhesive for cold mounting. Works fine once you get a feeling for the adhesives and how the machine deals with different types/thicknesses of media. My machine will work with roll laminates up to 38 inches wide. Seal makes several machines. I've considered getting the 60" model but I don't want to give up the additional space. Length of goods that can be mounted is limited only by operator skill.
 
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