On 26/06/2012, at 10:29 AM, Ed Keeney wrote: > Is there a simple step-by-step process you follow?
I am studying photography part-time at a local college and here is their preferred method: 1. Lay the mat on top of the backing board (foam core or an uncut sheet of mat board) in the same orientation as it would be when completed. 2. Now flip the mat upwards onto its back, as if you were changing months on a calendar. 3. Butt the mat and the backing board together along the top edge and then run a length of tape all the way along the top of the seam to join them. 4. Now flip the mat back again so that it is in the same state as in 1 - your tape join should now be inside. 5. Place your print inside and gently move it around until it is correctly located in the window of the mat. 6. Put something soft (so it doesn't scratch) but heavy on the print to prevent it moving. 7. Flip the mat back, as in step 2. 8a. If your print has a border: run a piece of tape along the top edge of the print to secure it to the backing board. You are done. 8b. if your print has no border: run a piece of tape along the back of the top edge of the print, then flip the mat back and press down on it to stick the tape to the back of the mat. Then carefully turn the whole assembly over so that the backing board is on tip and open it up again. Carefully push along the tape to properly secure it to the back of the mat. Close it up again, you are done. The idea of securing the print by a single piece of tape is so that any expansion or contraction of the mount or print doesn't cause buckling since the print is free to move. Making all the joins along the top edges allows the print to hang and thus have the best chance of remaining flat. Note that: All materials should be acid free The best tape to use is "framer's tape" I buy my mats and backing boards pre-cut in small batches from an on-line seller. It is cheaper and gives better results than trying to cut my own mats. If the print is to be handled (e.g. judging) then I usually stick the mat down as follows: 1. Flip back the mat as in step 2 & 7 above. 2. Run a strip of clear packaging tape along both sides of the mat and the backing board from the middle to the bottom so that when you close it back up the strips on the back of the mat will be in contact with the strips on the front of the backing board. 3. Attach a piece of double sided tape on the packing tape on each side of the backing board. If you have a large mount then use two pieces per side. 4. Close it up again and press on the edges so that the double sided tape adheres to the packing tape on the back of the mat. 5. You are done. The point of the packing tape is that you can separate the mount again at a later date without ruining it because the packing tape adheres much more strongly to the mat and backing board than the double sided tape adheres to the packing tape. Just run a metal ruler or slim blade in between the mat and the backing board and the double sided tape should just peel away from the packaging tape. regards, Paul -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
