Do photos really need to be matted to be displayed in art shows? I see that one of the professional photo printing outfits in my area offers to mount prints on foamcore the same size as the print-- something that makes no sense if you intend to mat the photo, but would be useful if you intended to pop it into a minimalist frame.
Some do, some don't, depends on the show, who will specify what they will accept. And is often used just by itself in shows, no frame. But note that over time some foam cores can warp, and will strongly resist being unwarped. I have a couple that were fine in the shows they were made for, but after a couple of years knocking round the house have warped to an unusable extent.
I have a number of large prints mounted on foam cores 'hung' on the walls of my house using sets of four 3M Command strips. I've had no problems with warping but I have noticed the paper outer on the foam core starting to peel after a year or so.
I've used "self adhesive" foam core, but added 10x10mm pine moulding, mitre cut then glued to the back of the foam core. Hot melt glue seems to have been strong enough to hold the moulding. The edge of foam core is easily damaged. The prints need to be handled with care. I haven't seen the top layer of paper on the foam core delaminating, I live in an area with generally low relative humidity which may help.
Well, my plan was to pop the prints into some mass produced frames with foamcore backs to force them up against the glass, but no mats. I may even spring for some less-reflective glass, too.
It's not a good idea to have the print pressed up against the glass. I'm pretty sure that foamcore with the print attached would be fine as a backing in a frame (instead of heavy acid-free card backing), but you're either going to have to use a mat, or find a way to mount the print a mm or two back from the glass - perhaps using a shim around the edge of the glass, but hidden behind the edge of the frame. If they're pigment inkjet prints, either let them dry for a week or so before framing behind glass - or don't seal off the back with tape yet - so you can pull it apart after a few weeks to clean the glass. The coalescing solvent in the ink will fog the glass, and takes quite a long time to disperse.
Less reflective glass often cuts the contrast and shadow detail. You may want to consider that, and test before you mount.
: Do photos really need to be matted to be displayed in art shows? : I see that one of the professional photo printing outfits in my : area offers to mount prints on foamcore the same size as the print-- : something that makes no sense if you intend to mat the photo, but : would be useful if you intended to pop it into a minimalist frame. Different shows have different rules. Some are quite specific. Bob
: On 9/6/2012 3:24 PM, Paul Ciszek wrote: : > In article <>, : >> : >> I have a number of large prints mounted on foam cores 'hung' on the : >> walls of my house using sets of four 3M Command strips. I've had no : >> problems with warping but I have noticed the paper outer on the foam : >> core starting to peel after a year or so. : > : > Well, my plan was to pop the prints into some mass produced frames : > with foamcore backs to force them up against the glass, but no mats. : > I may even spring for some less-reflective glass, too. : > : > : Less reflective glass often cuts the contrast and shadow detail. You may : want to consider that, and test before you mount. I suspect that some cheap non-reflective glass achieves its objective by having a slightly ground surface. And such glass will likely reduce contrast and detail. "Museum quality" non-reflective glass will not, but it's very expensive. I had a moderate-sized prcture framed with museum-quality glass a few months ago, and it increased the framing cost by more than $100. Bob
Art shows should/may have a presentation guide. See that first or call them up. You should specify to the framers what you need/want and they should do that. If they're offering a narrower range of services and can't satisfy real requirements they won't be in business as photo framers for very long. Photos for framing should not be "mounted" to anything. Usually pressed between the passe-partout matte and the packing matt (stiff cardboard-paper over foamcore for example) is sufficient. With at most a couple pieces of photo tape to hold them in place while manipulating. Go to a framing business.
