Print mounting - Bespoke Option
Having (unexpectedly) got myself a little ahead of the game in terms of getting prints done, I then failed to address the issue of mounting the prints with the same efficiency. I had already ruled out framing the images, not only would the cost be unrealistic, but I had also wanted to hang the prints using bulldog clips, similar in style to the way that Marja Pirlä’s work when I saw it. This however highlighted a mistake I had made in my file preparation. To hang the images as I wanted, I needed to add a white border to the image, I had failed to take this into account which meant that I had trim marks (for cutting) on the image. The consequence of this was that the image would now need to be a full bleed. Ironically our Print Technician and one of my Tutors has suggested that the images would look good on either Diabond (an Aluminium (layered) composite) or a heavy card.
As the prints were printed 42 inches wide and 30 deep Diabond would be the obvious choice for it’s rigidity, but this choice would also be expensive. Foamex was a cheap option but felt like a bit of a cop out, and rigidity would (again) be a problem. Although Foamex could be ‘hung’ on a wall quite simply with Velcro, it would simply follow any contours of the surface, and there would be no shadow gap to bring the print ‘off’ the wall. Card would not be an option for the same reasons as the Foamex, and neither offered much in the way of sophistication (they look as cheap as they are). With this in mind I began to search bit wider, and visited my local B&Q for some inspiration.
I hoped that I would be able to find some sort of alternative to Diabond that I could work with myself. I didn’t expect to be able to find the actual material, but something that would remain rigid. The answer came in the form of Hardboard Ply. The sheets were good and straight, and the store would cut it to the size that I wanted. The print were all 42 inches wide but the depth varied a few 1/8th’s between them. I decided that I would get the board cut to 41.5 x 29.5 inches, that way I would have a ¼ inch cut off (all around) when I mounted the prints. I expected to mount the images simply with spray mount, and then cut to the board with a sharp knife. The board cost me £23 for a single sheet (big enough for all three mounts) and it was cut to size for free, but as soon as the board was cut it gained a small warp. I anticipated this and had also bought 6 meters of aluminium L-shaped angle (£24). This angle I would cut and screw to the back of the board, essentially creating another smaller frame. This served a number of purposes, firstly it would help the board to remain rigid, secondly it would give me the shadow gap that I wanted by holding the board off the wall, and thirdly it would give me fixing points with which to mount the work on the wall, I would do this by fixing hooks to the aluminium angle (Hooks - £1).
Working on the mounting boards in my back garden.
I measured and cut the angle to my required length, and marked the board for fixing. I drilled through both the board and the angle, countersunk the holes and screwed through to the angle from the front using self tapping screws. Once this had been done of all four sides I covered the (countersunk) screws with wood filler, and rubbed it smooth. Having rubbed the boards all over with some sand paper I now applied a coat of black paint (front and back) all around the edges of the mounts (paint £5).
The finished boards ready for the bus ride in to university.
The whole process went pretty smoothly overall. The mounts did not give me the dead flat surface the I would have got with Diabond, but they did look good, and they are hand-made. In retrospect I would have used more of the aluminium angle. I think that if I made my frame on the back a little bigger it would have given me a better finish, but when held up to the wall (without prints) the mounts look good, and the shadow gap is exactly what I wanted.The next step will be to get the boards into Uni (fun on the Bus) and to mount the images for the Gallery.