Dry Mounting FAQs - Chicago Printing On Canvas & Fine Art Prints, Custom Picture Framing, Plaque Mounting, Metal, Wood & Fabric Dye-sublimation

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q1 : What is Gatorboard/ Gatorfoam?
Lightweight and easy to use, Gatorfoam board is an extruded polystyrene foam mounting board encased between layers of a melamine and wood fiber veneer. Gatorfoam/Gatorboard has a harder outer surface than other foam core boards and resists warping. For miniature builders, Gatorboard is often used as a backing for wet materials like paperclay or stucco finishes which require a water resistant backing while the coating dries. Gatorboard is more durable than foam core boards and is a good choice for non archival applications, where strength and light weight are important. It is not suitable for archival applications. Gatorfoam or Gatorboard is most often sold for mounting photographs or short term mounting of art for displays and is Produced by Alcan Inc.

Gatorboard is available in the following thicknesses: 3/16 inch, 1/2 inch , 3/4 inch ,1 inch,1-1/2inch, and 2 inch. Order online: 1/2 inch Gatorboard 3/16 inch Gatorboard

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Q2 : What are the Dry Mounting Disadvantages?
Some of the downsides of dry mounting are:

There are limits to the size we can produce.

Dry mounted prints are hard to remove. The process is difficult to reverse, so it is not recommended for original artworks.

Conservators generally prefer prints not to be dry-mounted. The main issue is reversibility, and in general, not reversible = not archival, by definition.

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Q3 : What is the difference between wet mount and dry mount?
Wet mounting requires the image to be mounted on a foam board that is often the same size as the poster, or is centered within the poster board using either a glue stick or spray adhesive.

Dry mounting is a method of setting the image on a hard backing through the use of a heat-sensitive adhesive material.

A wet mount is freshly prepared, while a dry mount is pre-prepared and sealed.

Air bubbles can be trapped in a wet mount but not in a dry mount

Wet mounts are inexpensive to make and don't last as long

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Q4 : What is a Dry Mount Tissue?
Dry mount tissue is a permanent, heat activated tissue used to bond posters and other papers to foam board or other mounting boards. The tissue is placed between the paper and the mounting board and then placed in a dry mount press. The press applies heat and pressure, which binds the paper to the board.

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Q5 : What is a Heat Activated Foam Board?
Heat activated mounting boards (HAM boards) use a special adhesive that activates at 140 degrees Fahrenheit to bond your material to the foam core board in one step. Heat activated foam boards are available in black or white.

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