Tips for mounting long/skinny photo w/pressure-sensitive adhesive

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Natalya Murphy

Natalya Murphy

CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
Joined
Nov 4, 2006
Posts
478
Loc
Nebraska
We've got a panoramic 52" x 10" photo that needs to be mounted. I've got some sample rolls of gudy 870 & 831 adhesive I'd like to work with, but have never mounted a picture this long & skinny before using pressure-sensitives. After taking Chris Pashke's digital photo class at PPFA, I'm hesitant to stick it in a heat press for fear of damaging the print. Any tips for the best way to make this go smoothly? Of course, I'll be practicing on some scrap items before I attack the real thing, but just wondering what words of wisdom you might have for rolling the adhesive on smoothly and then getting it smoothly onto the mounting board. This stuff is very tacky and unforgiving, so I basically have one shot to get it onto the board without wrinkles or bubbles.

Or should I just invest in some PerfectMount so I have more than one chance to make it pretty?
 
Not sure...

Check on perfect mount size - my local vendor only has it in 32 x 40 but I don't know if it comes any larger. Would like to know if it does

Elaine
 
This 52" x 10" print - what is it?

Ask the client - if the client doesn't know ask where is was printed and then ask the printer. If the printer doesn't know how to mount them ask for some sample prints and do some tests.

There's prints and there's prints these days and the way to approach mounting them is with knowledge of what they are.

For example I print on 2 different digital papers that I have specifically chosen because they can be dry mounted with no problems.

I know they can be dry mounted because I tested them at the outset and we mount them every day.
 
Elaine said:
Check on perfect mount size - my local vendor only has it in 32 x 40 but I don't know if it comes any larger. Would like to know if it does

Elaine
Click to expand...

According to my 2006 Crescent Art & Mounting Boards catalog, PerfectMount foam does come in 40x60, both white and black. Item numbers: PSFC4060C (white) & PBFC4060C (black)

P.S. The mounting gods must be with me today. Just did a double-check in our back room to look through some inventory we got from a gone-out-of-business print shop, and whaddaya know, a 40x60 sheet of PerfectMount is sitting there just waiting to be used.
 
you can do it!

Hi Natalya!

I have mounted both c prints and digital images that size on 40 x 60 perfect mount. What is nice is that you have plenty of space you can cut off of the perfect mout afterwards so you don't have to mount it on straight.

What I do in this situation is cut the perfect mount board 2" larger than the print size. I fold over one edge of the release film and start mounting. I found that working from the short edge and mounting as I go (working down horizontally) works best. Sorry, it's hard to describe and easy to show.

If you are worried about the ink: you can use the other side of the release film when squeeging.

Good luck; I'm sure you'll do great!

-Sarah
 
PM can ALSO be very unforgiving------give yourself at least 3" to get it 'wrong'......be very precise in the final positioning(may call for 2 sets of hands) then peel some(4-6" or so) from an end, work toward the 'other' end and get rid of bubbles,etc as you go...I put mine in heatpress after its all down(@110-120*) for about 10 min(with new coversheet-NO wrinkles) and youre good to go
 
I have found that the easiest way is to remove all of the release paper at once, then reposition release paper about an 1" from one end. Attach photo/print and lightly adhere and then begin sliding release paper out as you smooth the print. Put release paper back on top of print and burnish.
 
I would also recommend jPaul's method using PerfectMount. The only time I don't remove the release paper all at once and then reposition it is when using Hi-Tack self-adhesive foam board, which has an adhesive much more aggressive than PerfectMount.
Just take your time and work carefully and deliberatively. Be sure to burnish well and place the mounted piece (covered with release paper) under weight for a while to let the bond cure before framing. Also, don't let it bend or flex.
Should work fine.
:kaffeetrinker_2: Rick
 
So far so good...

Thanks for the advice everyone! I used a method similar to j Paul's, but instead of removing the entire release paper and repositioning, I just peeled back about 4" of it, applied the left part of the print to the sticky stuff, then peeled back the remaining release paper while simultaneously smoothing down the photo. It looked pretty good when I was done. We'll see how it looks tomorrow after bonding under weight overnight.
 
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