Mounting Prints

By Marty Kesselman
11-17-06

All prints must be mounted for submission to competition. This protects your print
while handled, and when properly mounted protects other prints in the pile from
scratches and glue smears.
1- Tape on the back of prints that could stick to adjacent prints should not be used.
2- Care must be used to assure that excess glue is not present to avoid contaminating
adjacent prints.

Use a mounting board that fits your print. Small prints can be mounted on small
mounting boards. Use 11x14 boards for 8x10 prints, 16x20 boards for up to 16x20
prints.
Many methods can be used to stick a print to a mounting board.
1- Double sided sticky paper is available that matches the size of your print. This
double sided material is available as large as 16x20, and can be cut to size.
Available from photography stores.
2- Prepared mat board is also available. This has glue already on the board with a
peal-off protector.
3- Spay glue is available for print mounting. This material should be used in a
ventilated area. It tends to be messy and care must be exercised to keep prints and
boards clean.
4- A dry mounting press. Excellent but expensive.

Spray Glue:
This is a method presented by Charles “Chip” Levy a number of years ago at one of
our meetings.
Prepare your mounting board by marking the corners of where your print should
lay with pencil dots. You can do this by measuring the print and centering it on the
board, or by employing a tool designed to position your print on the board with a
slightly larger space at the bottom for visual appeal. This tool is available in
photography stores “FALCON Print Mounting Positioner”. Just follow the 3 steps
to set your print in the most desirable place on your mounting board.
I use a 3M spray glue product called “Super 77”. It is available at art supply stores
like AC Moore and Michaels. Arrange some newspaper to cover the table and bend
it somewhat to allow the print to sit higher above the paper so that you can handle it
from the edges. Spray the back of your print in both directions, covering the entire
surface. Lift it from the paper support and turn it over to position it at the dots
previously marked on your mounting board. Try not to let the print down on the
board prematurely. Let the photo bend down and touch the board for positioning
almost at right angles. Once you have positioned the photo over the top corner dots,
slowly allow it to angle down and touch the board. Once it touches it pretty much
sticks and you are committed to that position. Tab down on the photo with a soft
cloth from one corner with the opposite corner still not set down, slowly tabbing the
photo to lay smoothly on the board until the entire photo is flat on the board. Press
the photo firmly to assure it is in contact over the entire surface (use a roller if you
like). Carefully, wipe any excess glue with the soft cloth from the surface of the
board.
Do not forget to throw away the newspapers you used to cover your table. They are
covered with glue and will get on your prints when you try to mount another print.
Recover your table with clean newspaper.