Dry Mounting

norma

Anyone know of a place in Dublin that dry mounts large (24"x30") photographic prints? If so, what materials do they mount onto, and what are their prices like?
Norma.

FinoBlad

No idea who provides this service, but have you considered doing it yourself?

http://www.silverprint.co.uk/ sell tacking irons for about €60 and a full range of dry mounting tissue, mounting tapes, museum board and the lot. Most of it is archival.

If you have a fast web connection download their brochure as their website is not easy to browse.

DadaKopf

Dry mounting? Shouldn't this be in Personal Issues?

norma

FinoBlad,
Thanks for the information. I wouldn't mind doing it myself, but I think I'd need a mounting press to do larger prints. I've only done it myself once before, and as far as I remember, I only used the tacking iron to attach the corners, but I needed the press to do the whole thing. If I'm wrong and the tacking iron is all I need, then please correct me because I'd much rather do it myself if the equipment was reasonably priced.

Er, DadaKopf, is that supposed to be funny? (yawn)

DadaKopf

Where's your sense of humour? Jeez.

FinoBlad

yea, a press would be very useful, I have to admit I didn't take note of the size of print you wanted to mount.

So I'd be nervous saying a tacking iron would do you for that size. Can you say why you want to dry mount?

Many "archival"ists rant that dry mounting is not the thing to do. Maybe you are using fibre based paper, which I find to be a headache in trying to flatten it. I cant say for certain with 20*30, but a acid-free paper tape successfully holds my fb papers in 16*20 size when I go the extra mile to flatten them fully. I'll be moving up to 20*24 when I get a new enlarger so am interested to know your reasons for drymounting

BTW Kodak have a book Conservation of Photographs and also one called Permanence & Care of Colour Photos by Wilhelm which Silverprint stock. On the point of Silverprint, its owned and staffed by some very serious printers and photographers Martin Reed and Eddie Ephraums to name two [I'm sure you have readCreative Elements ]
So you can get really good advice from them and you could ask is this paper tape would work for 20*30


Silverprints description of ACID-FREE PAPER TAPE
A lightweight acid-free paper tape designed with water activated adhesive. Can be used for hinging artwork onto a matt, and for holding down With either folded or T-hinges, Paper Tape can be used for quick, additional support. Also works well as a dust seal for backs of frames. Tape is removable by remoistening with water. Various lengths available.

norma

I'd be nervous saying a tacking iron would do you for that size.

Yeah, that's what I expected. This hobby is such a money-sink.:(

The reason I wanted the print dry-mounted was just that it's the most secure way of mounting a print that I know of. I'm familiar with the linen tape you describe. Indeed, that's what I may end up using.

The print is an RC colour print I made. As we're heading back home to Ireland in a couple of weeks, this was going to be my souvenir of Oregon.

I know that book you mentioned. Interesting connection to Silverprint.

Norma.

FinoBlad

agree on the money sink, definitely !