dry mounting prints

I'm getting back into photography in my retirement. Back 30 or so years ago when I last did darkroom work, I would typically dry mount prints using heat sensitive paper and a large dry mount press that I had access to. That usually worked great. For prints that were larger than the press, I sometimes used double sticky tape to mixed success. So, what's the preferred method now? Are dry mount presses still the best thing to use? Unfortunately I don't have access to one nor the room to acquire a big one. Thanks for any suggestions!

I haven't got a press anymore, but not too long ago I put together a collage as a gift for a friend using 3 M mounting spray. Came out well, easy, spray the board then the back of the prints, let it partly set up, then position the images & roll. No idea if it is archival, kind of doubt it, but very workable. I have done the same with 13X19, the largest prints I make.

Locate a framing service which has a vacuum press. That will hold everything flat and apply the right heat to get the job done without warping or bubbling. Until they closed their local store, I used a chain called "The Great Frame-Up." They have other stores, but I've not used them in several years. On their recommendation, I used archival foam core mounting board. I had no problem with curvature of the mounted prints.

Sandy, yes, I forgot that I also used mounting spray but I found it difficult to use. It was rather messy and not forgiving if the print accidentally touched the board at the wrong place.

My experiences with spray mounting were not good ones--prints didn't stay perfectly attached for that long. It is possible to dry mount in sections, so a smaller press might work for you. Ed Ingold's suggestion of using a frame shop is a good one if you aren't doing this very often, since you won't have to commit the money and the space to a press that you might not use very often.

Are dry mount presses still the best thing to use? Unfortunately I don't have access to one nor the room to acquire a big one.

 

Personally I still prefer traditional dry mounting, but if you don't have one, etc., using a service to mount may be your best option. If you're concerned about long print life, a pro-level photo lab may be your best bet, as they will likely have specialized industry support - less chance of something dumb going on.

 

Probably the best printed information I've ever seen, related to mounting of traditional photo materials, is in Henry Wilhelm's book, available for free download from his website. Two chapters, as I recall, are devoted to mounting and the selection of mount board. Note that Wilhelm's thrust is with regard to long print life, as opposed to convenience. Although his book is ~25 years old now, I doubt that too much has changed since then, at least with regard to the conventional silver halide materials. A couple of possibly pertinent things - I believe that 3M now has a photo-grade spray adhesive, and I think there were advances in the room-temp pressure-sensitive adhesives (applied by a machine squeezing between rollers).

I think dry mounting is the best way to go, but have used the adhesive sprays successfully. The spray I use gives you a second chance to reposition the photo if an error is made the first time. Art supply stores are the best places to buy this stuff, Pretty sure mine was 3M. I don't have any issues w/ the photo peeling from the backing (I use an old fashioned rolling pin to get good contact), but DO have trouble with the mounting board warping over time from hanging on the wall. I finally devised a way to reinforce the back to address this. This was the first one I tried so it looks a little rough.Things look better now that I've refined it, but the basic idea is the same. I had to add three braces to the center in order to make it strong enough to prevent warping over time. Everything is glued to the backing board.

 

Edited July 11, 2018 by steve_mareno|1