We carry only the highest quality print media from names such as Hahnemhle, Harman & Breathing Color. Hi again Will, I did test out an old flat bit plate, and after some trial and error with pressure and inking managed to pull a decent print. Understanding A real press has a heavy metal bed that rolls back and forth between the drums to support a plate and paper, and several specialized felt blankets to cushion the work and spread the pressure evenly. February 2014 Did you happen to see my most recent blog post, called The Bionic Laminator? However, the process is messier and more time consuming, and some artwork may be affected by the adhesive. If you look here on my website it shows the construction of how I float/frame images. They work well for both dye and pigment inks and most microporous papers also use an RC or polyethylene layer behind the coating to eliminate waviness and wrinkles with heavy ink applications. If you like, I can send you some pictures by email--just let me know if that would be helpful. Dry Mounting Dry Mounting uses a heat activated adhesive to permanently affix a piece to a sturdy support, such as foamboard. Mountings are possible on nearly any type of media and flat backing board imaginable. Great read, and Im thinking of getting one! The sizing catcher is the thin white blanket, while the natural wool colored blanket is the cushion/pusher. Porous coatings consist of tiny particles glued together with air spaces or 'pores' between them. Photo 7: Water on Porous Resin Coated Paper I took some close up pictures of the handle modification I made to it, with captions (mouse over the pics) describing it a bit. You have given me hope and inspiration! I'm over the moon about it. November 2013 Large RC or polyester prints, or big inkjets, simply look like hell if they're not cold mounted with some kind of adhesive foil. Hi Wendy! Watercolor. Each sleeve Lineco's carefully purified, raw wheat starch makes an outstandingly smooth, archival, museum-quality wheat paste. Today's 21st century framer needs a more comprehensive understanding and working knowledge of the composition of printing papers, their coatings, and the behavior of inks printed on these papers in order to make the correct decisions about how to mount them. But its a good idea to put a few sheets of newsprint under your plate and on top of your paper as you run it through the press, just to catch any stray ink and spare your blankets. P 661-821-2188 Since inks interact directly with the raw paper, uncoated papers soak up the ink rather than being trapped by a coating, making colors generally less vivid and vibrant. For those who are producing long term prints for collections, the present thinking is that most conservators are against dry (or wet) mounting, as older prints were mounted with different methods, and many have turned out to be a problem, as the mounting materials often have fared worst then the prints themselves, and prints are difficult (or impossible) to remove when mounting materials need replacement (or start damaging the print) To mount or not to mount? There are two types of coating: swellable and porous, plus either may be applied to 100% paper base or resin-coated paper base. Strips are 100% archival Mylar. All of that gave me a base so that I could use C clamps to clamp the laminator to a tabletop so it won't move. I use three blankets, plus some newsprint, and dampened paper, and I make sure that the edges of my plate are well beveled and sanded so I don't tear or damage anything. During this transition, weare notaccepting any new online PrintingorFramingorders at this time. June 2020 "You have to be relatively intelligent to realize how stupid you are" John Cleese. As important as our skills, equipment and new space may be, it is our between-the-lines experience that sets us apart. We use industry standard conservation grade materials PH neutral pressure sensitive adhesives and a state of the art cold mount press as well as a range of available substrates to suit nearly every possible application and budget. Dry mounted? March 2019 Microporous papers differ from porous papers in that most have a receptor coating made up of highly uniform ceramic (glass or silica) particles. It requires no moisture, glue, heat, Made from polypropylene, Lineco Archival Mounting Corners are free of harmful chemicals that might damage photos and artwork, and feature a pressure-s Scotch's Positionable Mounting Adhesive is a special synthetic adhesive that allows material to be positioned and repositioned for accurate alignment, For easy, accurate mounting of photos, paper, cardstock, plastic, and more, choose Grafix Artist-tac the adhesive that goes only where you wan No adhesive or tape. I wish I had the equipment in my studio to get back into that, but the chemicals are hard to deal with. Really well! 3mm Sintra (aka PVC) is shockingly floppy when you handle your first 4 x 8 foot sheet. This wasn't really 'wet' mounting, since only a very thin coat was applied between a dry mount board and a dry print. Similar to the standard RC papers familiar with traditional photographs, the same concept is utilized in digital photos. Hi Aaron, The new heat sensitivity hypothesis is that swellable coatings are more sensitive to dry mount temperatures than porous ones. When a drop of water is placed on the surface it create a slippery film with the wet ink (photo 5). Until galleries start calling me about my prints I'm not too worried about the collectible or archival nature of mounting them. What I am concerned about is getting fiber prints flat, which is why I was hoping cold mounting would work. Laminate, dry mount, cold mount, and reinforce artwork and photographs with art and photo mounting supplies from Blick. We take the utmost care to offer you the highest quality materials, including acid-free mats, backing boards and mounting tissues, combined with an unrivaled level of personal service in order to ensure your mounted prints will boast the longevity they deserve. Requesting a blank or discarded image on the same photo paper will easily determine a heat sensitive swellable paper by adding a drop of water. Chris A Paschke, CPF GCF April 2014 But recent scientific and use tests have begun to show it is more likely a paper coating issue and not a technology issue after all. Thanks again! Create your own unique website with customizable templates. My issue is that I can never get fiber prints totally flat so I'd like to mount them before framing or otherwise displaying. During our most recent ISO meeting, September 2005, I was challenged by the group that it is not thermal vs. piezo inkjet technology but rather the paper coatings that may actually be heat sensitive. Ive tried monotypes on plexiglas, metal and Yupo paper; engravings on plexiglas and metal, collagraph plates made from mat board, found objects and TetraPak cutouts, mounted and unmounted linoleum blocks. Cheers, DJ. So, is 3mm PVC rigid enough for some 34x26" and maybe a 34x48"? Hi Alexia, sorry Im coming to this post a little late! I believe people typically use a vacuum press for this kind of thing. Someone near me is selling a commercial Neschen cold mounting/laminating press quite cheaply. The body of the laminator is metal, so its fairly heavy. In addition, we offer free local delivery of your finished, framed pieces. (Ill link to all the materials at the end of this article.) AFAIK, some potential issues with inexpensive forms of cold mounting are the possibility of air bubbles under the print and potential long term issues with the adhesive used. My hands are not up to that present handle. Please add your name to our email listwe never share or sell our customer info. May 2016 Indian Hill Music This allows for mounting without an expensive heat press. Having used a Hewlett-Packard 960c thermal inkjet printer as the control in my test I needed to repeat the same basic test but this time using an Epson c86 piezo inkjet printer. Interesting question. I dont generally make large editions, so I cant speak to wear and tear on the drums after hundreds of printsbut Ive had mine in frequent use for about three years now, and its going strong. November 2019 When mounting to substrates which are non-porous (such as DiBond or Acrylic) or when mounting items which are heat sensitive, we utilize Cold Mounting techniques. We tried a few different methods and eventually worked it out. I've been dry mounting type C photographs with a Seal 350 heat mount press using Colormount tissue. As scale has increased in the contemporary art and photography markets the demand for critical print mounting as part of the framing and presentation of finished work has as well. We're proud to announce that G-Collective Studios is moving into a bigger and better facility! And until recently my ISO scientists seemed to believe and agree with my hypothesis. January 2014 The important quality of the blankets is that theyre natural wool, which withstands the repeated pressure better than synthetic felt, and that the blanket thats closest to the paper does not have a weave that could transfer texture to the paper under pressure. However, we are stillaccepting online orders for PRINT SUPPLIES! Apply 4 or more transparent strips around picture to mount work. This issue is especially noticeable on prints made on gloss, semi-gloss and luster coated photo (RC) papers. We hate SPAM too! Ive fastened the laminator down to a piece of birch-faced plywood, which can in turn be clamped onto my work table so it doesnt slide during a print. I've been looking for a way to print at home since I no longer have access to the press at school since graduating. Also has a non-stick, coated base. If you are mounting photographs to be handled (as in a portfolio), Dry-Mount to matboard, which is lightweight and excellent for handling. But the laminator has been great for this. Luckily my husband is an engineer, and we have a little workshop in the barn with the tools to do this! Some kind of star handle idea or a regal crank handle? Hot mounting (aka dry mounting) is very unlikely to produce any air bubbles under the print, it is absolutely permanent, and it has withstood the test of time. Swellable coatings encapsulate the ink, while porous coatings spread the ink out evenly over the entire surface within the coating. The Mounting and Laminating Handbook, Second Edition, 2002, This method works especially well when a bleed-mount is desired, that is, mounting a print which extends all the way to the boards edges. Monotype doesnt require the same level of pressure that intaglio does, since youre not trying to push dampened paper into incised areas of the plate. And it worked! There are various manufacturers of, As per Kodak Technical Data Sheet/Black and White Paper June 2005 G5 "Kodak Professional Azo Paper. Check out my most recent blog post for pictures and info! Oil Painting [QUOTE=adelorenzo;1276478]To mount or not to mount? The Sealector III Tacking Iron features a pre-set, self-regulating temperature control for safety and long life. I would like to use a cold laminator for drypoint, so it would be really helpful to know a little bit more about your experiences printing drypoint engravings. What kind of etching do you do? Though it looks like it is swelling it is merely soaking in. Below, select which favorite lists you would like to save this product into. The sizing may have been added either internally during production or as a surface sealer to control absorption of moisture, such as traditional watercolor papers. Is your laminator the same model as mine, from Pacific Mount? We also carryArtcare Restore&RagMountadhesives which both boast 100% acid free, lignin-free rag tissue carrier, Artcare Restore being the only adhesive on the market today that is not onlyremovablebut alsoreversibleand therefore considered of true Long-Term preservation standard, or"Archival". Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. At least the back is sealed from atmospheric contaminants. I've got my share of mucilage-glued albumens and cyanotypes well over a hundred years old on plain bad cardboard. Photo 2: DFA and Photo Papers Photo 5: Water on Swellable Coating How much detail will you get? If you havent tried it yet, I hope youll give it a shot! At least you're handling the board and not the print itself. About a year ago I came across a device called a cold mount laminator (there are electric hot laminators too), designed to adhere photographic prints or other artwork to backing boards of various types. For more articles on mounting basics look under the mounting section in Articles by Subject. Bill said pretty much everything I would say and more. Printmaking is a very malleable process, that rewards you for experimentation and for thinking through your process before you start. I'm sure it's not the only solution, but it's working well for me, and preserves the portability of the unit if I ever need to travel with it (I have taken it along to one workshop). When a drop of water is placed on the surface it is absorbed resulting in no major change to the paper (photo 6). But Epson promises 150 years with the K3 Ink? Browse through a full selection of our available MEDIA to read descriptions and see detailed photos of all the substrates we currently carry. If you like to print LARGE, you know that your prints can be quite expensive and cumbersome to frame. These pores suck the ink droplets into the open spaces as the water in the ink evaporates (diagram 2). You can also consider whether viewers will see the backing, and if so, you can choose the appropriate color for your design. Mounting is an economical and aesthetically appealing alternative to presenting or displaying any size prints, large or small, matted or framed, or to stand alone with the backing. my guess is one would be restricted to pieces that fit under the press in one pass - is that correct? Do you think this could also be used for woodblock printing? View Full Version : Adhesive for cold mounting fiber prints. Thanks very much. To achieve a perfect bond we use the Bienfang 4468h vacuum press along with select heat-activated (HA) adhesive, depending on the the substrate used. Water droplets have a tendency to sit on the coating surface until the air evaporates it, with no resulting change to the paper once dry (photo 7). Whether you are looking to face-mount your artwork so as to present it in an ultra-contemporary frameless design, or simply back mount to any of our variety of substrates to prepare it for framing, we can help you achieve the look you are seeking, while also making sure it is the right choice to ensure your artwork lasts a lifetime. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Swellable media (papers) include: HP Premium Plus Colorfast Paper, Epson Colorlife Photo Paper, and Ilford Classic Pearl and Gloss Paper. My oldest original print dates from around 1920. Resin-coated is not really a coating at all, but rather a way in which the paper is constructed. The cost of matboard, mounting board, moulding and glazing can quickly add up and traditional framing doesn't always offer the desired aesthetic for your larger work. Prints can be run through the press multiple times with different colors, disparate methods can be combined for a single print, and prints can be overpainted with watercolor, acrylic, pastel, ink or many other mediums. June 2014 But I'm willing to try! One of the limitations to printmaking in a home studio is the high cost of a printing press. Then in 2000 (Basic Heat Tolerance Test #2) and 2001 (HP Heat Tolerance Test #3) I ran tests using an HPdeskjet 960c printer with assorted papers in an attempt to determine the tolerances of thermal desktop printers with the same mounting adhesives and equipment ("Handling Digital Photos: Heat Testing Part Two", June 2002). Pigment inks are more light stable, are more insoluble in water, and there is a larger variety of paper choices. I highly recommend trying it if youre looking for an alternative to a hand baren! They are more high resolution than swellable coatings, and are marketed as quick or instant dry. It's even more floppy than typical matboard. Thank you so much!!! To spare stress on the crank handle, I also push on the bed a bit as I crank. Who knew? Even when properly framed and secured behind matboard and glazing, oversized prints have a tendancy to curl or buckle over time due to changes in environmental conditions, causing an undesirable and visible ripple and occasionally the need for re-framing. Darko - what year was that published?, the adhesives made a major change and are continuing to change. Coated papers may be fine art or photo papers that have been treated with a receptor coating for inkjet printing. What are your thoughts on that? When a drip of water is placed on the surface , it does not absorb and when rubbed it creates a slippery film removing the ink from the coating. I'll try to post some pictures and maybe video of the press in use in the next week or so; I have a student here who will be doing some printmaking so that may be a good opportunity to get some pictures. I would say that a 50 variable from the center of a platen to the edges is unacceptable after it has had time to equalize. So, here's my prediction: I suspect that if you ink an etched plate on the inkier side, and use some good padding like a thick felt cushion blanket, the laminator will handle it pretty well. I found a company in Washington State called Pacific Mount, which specializes in this kind of mounting and sells all the products you need: adhesives, boards of all sizes, and laminating machines. Though it is true most any image may be preservationally mounted using hinges, corner pockets, or edge strips, more times than not, a digital photo or canvas may actually look better when mounted to a rigid substrate. When it works, the texture of a print is totally unique to the medium. Though the results of this Epson test on assorted swellable, porous, microporous, and resin coated papers is somewhat inconclusive, all indicators point toward swellable photo papers being heat sensitive at most dry mount temperatures, even as low as F150. I'd love to hear how it goes for you if you give the laminator a try. Don't worry, your email is safe with us! Michael. The water is puddled on the paper but will dry flat. Photo 8: Water on Microporous RC Paper This is only visible to you because you are logged in and are authorized to manage this website. I'll check out the Printhackers FB page, and maybe link to it there as well since there seems to be interest. Inkwell uniformity makes for quick ink absorption and drying, and unlike the clay coated surface receptors they have better water resistance and less loss of gloss after ink application. July 2020 The hydrolic(sp)press you see in the background of my hot mounting video www.bobcarnieprintmaking.ca. It has two knobs to adjust the pressure, and enough space for a flat bed to support the work, plus some cushioning material. The prints themselves have not suffered, and due to careful technique they are still attached. I'll post as soon as I do a test, hopefully in the next few days. Im by no means an expert printmaker, but if you have questions please leave them below, and Ill try my best to answer. Up until now, heat sensitivities of digital inks have been linked to thermal dye base inkjet printers. Ive used it for a Speedball mounted linoleum block, which is 3/4 plus the depth of the lino. Hi Pam! As in photo 7 water drop will evaporate rather than soaking into the coating, but dyes are water soluble and can run or bleed while evaporating. Tips And Tricks May 2015 Do you think the rollers would apply enough pressure for etching prints? Swellable DFA papers, however, mount at all temperatures and even tolerate laminating with no color shift. Photo 3: Swellable Coated vs. Uncoated DFA These papers easily replicate the look and feel of traditional RC photos. Mount photos, prints, drawings, crafts, fabric, wood, metal, and ceramics with Grafix Double Tack Mounting Film. Almost all of our FIne-Art & Photo papers and Canvas are archival certified for 100-200+ years and many are OBA Free. Choose a seal mounting adhesive that is appropriate in a particular application, based on the material that is being laminated. By bringing together mounting and framing in house we are able to deftly control both quality and scheduling, while also offering competitive pricing. [QUOTE=bob carnie;1276954]Darko - what year was that published?, the adhesives made a major change and are continuing to change. You can never tell around here. All the texture that you create is on the surface of the plate, and can only be printed once or maybe twice (the ghost print) before the ink is used up. I have used the laminator to print drypoint engravings on plexiglas plates. Good luck! So in Test #4, I tested each 8x10" image at multiple temperatures of 150F, 170F, 185F, 200F, and 225F with a strip of vinyl laminate (photo 1). The biggest challenge was going to be identifying the inkjet papers (photo 2). And I have seen an ancient book press adapted to electricity, complete with the quaint old fabric wrapped power cable. Peeling the paper away from the plate is like opening presents on Christmasanticipation, some trepidation, sometimes glee and sometimes disappointment. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. August 2015 The bed folds up for storage or transport, and I use a very small bungee to hold it closed when not in use. The coating swells two to three times its original thickness as it absorbs and spreads the applied ink. Your first attempts will not be a walk in the park, and the results may not be pretty. Post update: Ive gotten many questions about how the laminator performs with various kinds of plates. Porous coatings are fast drying, moisture resistant, more light sensitive and prone to gas fading, but generally adapt well to printing of both dye and pigment inks. December 2015 It is basically a paper substrate sandwiched between two layers of polyethylene, with either a swellable or porous receptor coating applied to the top (Diagram 3). In order to select the proper mounting technique for any given digital image you must first get to know up close and personal. Back in school, I was always taught that the blankets are not washable, and any student who got ink on them would be drawn and quartered and then have to buy replacement blankets and a round of drinks for the entire art department. My issue is that I can never get fiber prints totally flat so I'd like to mount them before framing or otherwise displaying. Since inks interact directly with the raw paper, uncoated papers soak up the ink rather than being trapped by a coating, making colors generally less vivid and vibrant (photo 3). It becomes even less perceptible under regular glass (but is more noticeable with AR glass). There have been no separations, bubbles, or discoloration in any of my prints stored or displayed since that time. Coated papers are classified by assorted designations and categories. Pacific Mount's 25" cold mount laminator. I see the 3mm black PVC also comes with the self stick adhesive. It costs more in labor as well as materials, it is invasive, and it isn't usually necessary. There are quite a few options for printing by hand, from Japanese style barens to rolling pins to spoons! Landscape Most dye inks are paired with gloss or satin photographs, while pigment inks are used with coated DFA papers. Left Jetprint Premium Photo, a coated swellable paper. Swellable coatings react differently to dye or pigment and in turn colors may vary a great deal in final printed images (photo 4). Plein Air Painting Photo 4: Color Variations It also means that buyers can trust that they are buying from a legitimate business. If it's a really complex plate with overlapping etched areas, how will it fare? The laminator has pulled great prints from all of them! It was my job to do the copy work, but some of the old mounted works would send a chill down my spine!!! Dry mounting should be used only for reproductions and commercial artwork, where conservation is not a priority. Instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your web browser. I use both a Dremel tool with engraving points and an old fashioned manual engraver; oddly I get deeper cuts and better burrs with the old fashioned graver than with the power tools, but the Dremel can give some lovely soft shading. We offer both back and face mounting services, as well as film overlaminates. Epson Premium Luster, porous, RC paper. Can I get a refund from Epson in 2165, if my colors fade? I use a sheet of plexi as a press bed now, rather than foam core as I used to. I wanted to try it for adhering sanded pastel paper to foam core before starting a painting, since its really tricky to mount a finished pastel to a backing board during framing, without being able to touch the surface or flip the painting over. I do think this could be used for woodblocks, depending on the size and thickness of the block. Does edge mounting hold 16"x24" or 27"x27" size RC prints flat under changing conditions of heat/humidity? April 2015 I have heard of, but never seen anyone use an iron Used this (http://www.drytac.com/substrates/canvas/lamin-all-adhesive.html) to cold mount fiber and RC prints in a cold vacuum press for years up until roughly 25 years ago when I sold off the lab. Anybody who smells even faintly of acetic acid and sodium thiosulfate has my respect. I have also replaced the laminator's original handle with a drill press handle, which has three spokes to grip and allows smoother and more continuous cranking. Why permanently mount a photo in good condition? It ain't nohow permanent! Some parts of the monotype process are uncontrollable, which is actually great if youre looking for a way to loosen up your work! Throughout my five year affiliation with the photo and digital International Standards Committees (ISO) we have been working towards developing tests and comparisons to better understand the world of digital imagery. Porous media include: HP Photo Paper, Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper, Hahnemuhle Photo Rag, and Crescent Digital Papers. Creative Mounting, Wrapping, And Laminating, 2000 will teach you everything you need to know about getting the most from your dry mount equipment and materials as an innovative frame designer. Art Classes So Ive found the pressure of the rubber drums to be quite adequate. Anyway I understand that you and your husband came up with a solution for a different handle arrangement. Uncoated papers have two components: the base and the sizing. I took the plunge and purchased a 14" cold laminator today. Photographers, such as Ansel Adams, know that when it comes to mounting large format prints,Dry-Mounting & Cold-Mountingwill keep your prints perfectly flat and secure for many years to come, without breaking the bank.