Tape for hinges

[Weldon]

I am interested in learning more about mounting FB prints without drymounting. I don't want to start a discussion on "to drymount or not" but to hear from those who use tape for mounting prints. What type of tape? Any tips?
Thanks in advance.

[panchromatic]

i've never personally done it, in fact i've just started experimenting with FB paper, and haven't mounted anything. A good friend of mine used "archival" tape... i assume its tape with and PVC, or acids in it. He used that before he had a dry mount and taped all of the edges on matt board. He did this years ago before he went to the dark side (digital) I don't know what the long term storage/display of this would yield, i only imagine at some point the adhesive would break down and the print would shift? Just a thought.

[rogueish]

Acid free linen tape. Make sure it says "Acid Free , Archival, or Conservation" on the box. Sorry can't remember the name of the company. If you find this at an art store, be carefull you don't end up with the tape that needs water to activate.
There are also clear poly-something or other (plastic) adhesive corner pockets that are considered conservation (means print can be removed without any damage and is still in it's original state). They stick to the mat and the print slips into the pocket. The ones I saw in class were made by a European company, name also forgotten. I have notes at home, will post if someone else doesn't beat me to it.

[Claire Senft]

The main firm selling these supplies is Light Impressions.

[Ole]

All the prints I send out in the various exchanges are temporarily stuck to ratty cardboard using Hama photo corners. I have learned that dry mounted prints are often cracked, while unmounted ones survive intercontinental shipping far better. The cardboard may crack, but the print will only bend. But if the print is mounted, the whole thing may crack...

There are various tapes made among others by Gudy and Hama - both wet and dry, corners by Hama, Lineco, 3L and others.

There is no need to fear wet tape; it is supposed to be so dry when used that fiber prints will not buckle. Even my cyanotypes on thin sketch paper didn't buckle!

[jnanian]

hey weldon

i don't ever dry mount, but use window mounts and linen tape.
there are a few ways to do it ...

you can use the linen tape and to hinge mount the photo on the board or you can buy folding corner mounts.

i use linen tape to hinge my window, and while i used to make my own "corners" i only use the folding corner mounts. they are cheep, archival, and work really well.

http://www.lineco.com/item.cfm?itemnum=L533-1010 ( linen tape )
http://www.lineco.com/item.cfm?itemnum=L545-2336 ( folding corner mounts )

university products is the parent company of lineco and you can buy directly from them, or a retailer that carries their line of 'stuff'
( http://www.universityproducts.com )

[jp80874]

I couldn’t get the first link to function. The second worked well. That is an interesting product. I normally don’t like the white corners I’ve seen available in the Art stores, but the clear one looks good. One person’s opinion.

Every school term I mount 20+ 11x14 prints. Last year about this time Light Impressions was back ordering what they recommended, Clear Mounting Strips, 4” , product # 7265. Since I’m taking one course after another I left the order open and it took eight months for them to deliver. We had a change in my planned project and I needed to order different mats NOW. Light Impressions are out of the mat I need. I gather they corner the school market and life gets rather hectic there near the end of a term.

In place of product # 7265 the local Art store suggested Lineco Self Adhesive Hinging Tissue, Item # L533-0125, size 1” x 400”. Both have worked well.

John Powers

[Monophoto]

The traditional tape for hinging prints is linen tape. It does not have an adhesive incorporated into the tape, so you have to use an archival paste with it. Light Impressions sell both the tape and the paste.

A newer alternative is Tyvek tape. Tyvek is a non-woven fabric made from artificial fibers - commonly used for house wrap (to prevent drafts) and for mailing envelopes. Light Impressions has a Tyvek tape with a pressure-sensitive adhesive that works well.

[Weldon]

Thank you all for your ideas. Do you mount to mounting board or foamcore?

[jnanian]

Thank you all for your ideas. Do you mount to mounting board or foamcore?

4ply mat board ..