Mount your prints on Gatorboard

[@WedlerFineArt]

Watercolour artist Brienne Brown has a three-part video series on mounting prints to Gatorboard and protecting its surface. These may answer some questions posed here. Her first in the series is here kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3jEdZttocuZj80si=dLiEAUuaefsuy32u

[@MatthewRaifman]

Excellent! I’ll check out her work too. Ultimately this self-adhere gatorboard didn’t last more than six months and now has ripples so I wouldn’t rec this product.

[@WedlerFineArt]

Here's a link to her three videos for those interested; Brienne Brown Series Vol 1 kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3jEdZttocuZj80 Vol 2 kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKe0gJRujJWeeqM Vol 3 kzbin.info/www/bejne/bn7JYoJjrt2Wfqs

[@zzakk999]

Tanks for sowing te pasting method. I ave a question, what do you do or would like to suggest to protect the print. Is there some kind of laminate that you use or just leave the prints bare?

[@WedlerFineArt]

Question. Why didn't you use a Breyer to adhere the print to the board instead of using you hands?

[@MatthewRaifman]

Didn’t have one and trying to do it cheaper.

[@lakejindsay]

Place a sheet of glassine on top of the print before you press down on it. You now know, pressing directly onto the image is a no go.

[@fuwanna]

Hi, thank you for making this very helpful video. A couple questions: Are you are at all concerned that Gatorboard is not really acid-free, not considered achival, and will release gas(es) that could adversely affect your work over time? Do you by chance have any experience with using it on a print you've had for a long time? Or do you think that for the purposes for which you're using it there's no need to worry about things that might happen at some potentially rather distant point in the future? I'm trying to figure out if this is something I need to worry about. Thanks.

[@MatthewRaifman]

Hey, thanks for the comment. I should probably do a follow-up video on this approach to mounting. I do have concerns about gatorboard for long-term application. Firstly, I don't the adhesive on the self-adhesive version I used is good enough. I have noticed bubbling after long term use, albeit in a relatively humid place in Northern California. Second, I think there are long term issues with the acid and the exposed image in general. For my use, it was all ok. I mounted the images and use them for display, customers buy separate prints that I custom make. I'm not selling the mounted product. However, if you are thinking of selling a mounted product, I might consider an acid free approach and using your own adhesive. Hope that helps! If there are other things you'd like me to hit on, let me know.

[@busterbiloxi3833]

Elephant in the room: What the heck is Gatorboard?

[@MatthewRaifman]

it's a polystyrene foam, kind of like foam core or board, except it is sandwiched between two layers of something else (vinyl maybe?) that give it a more smooth exterior that is a bit stronger and more damage resistent.

[@lakejindsay]

@@MatthewRaifman It's sandwiched between manufactured wood chips - which is WAY better and more rigid than standard foam board which uses paper as the bread of the sandwich.

[@craigcarlson4022]

Total bummer on how that first print got marred by your ring. I’m considering using gator board mounting AND then getting a standardized size frame i can then plug different size photos (mounted) in and out of those frames for exhibitions that warrant the framing. All to keep exhibiting costs down. Are the edges of the gatorboard somewhat some or finished (i.e. not roughish foam looking)? And, very clever trick to put that foam strip on the bottom edge.

[@MatthewRaifman]

Yeah, it’s a silly way to lose $20 but I learned from the experience and that print is now hanging in my son‘s bedroom, so it’s not a total loss ha. Gotcha, sounds like you would use your own adhesive, right? So that you can use the same size gator board with different sized prints? Sounds like a good solution. The side finish is not professional grade looking. It isn’t super obvious, but it’s definitely an unfinished foam side, which is a bit of a shame. I also think they will get dinged up over time, moving them around and that’s also a little annoying. So it’s not a perfect solution for exhibitions, but I like the way it all turned out and it fit the level of exhibition that I was going for. I consider these to be demo works and not as finished products at the end of the day. But of course you want them to look good enough that somebody will go to your website or ask for a print… It would be no issue in frames though and I think that’s where these prints will end up eventually. I just need to find a low cost frame option.

[@DavidARosen]

Have you tried matte boards and frames?

[@tclausen1969]

Thanks!

[@mochaskys]

Where do you print your photos, or what kind of printer do you use

[@MatthewRaifman]

I print these myself. I use a canon pro 300 printer. You can see a more recent video where I walk through the printing process. I’d look at the pro 1000 or pro 1100 too.

[@calebplumleeoutdoors]

Large gatorboard is just so insanely expensive... a full 4x8 sheet is over $100 if you buy in bulk and then requires freight shipping rates. Still looking for an acceptable alternative for large prints (48"+)

[@MatthewRaifman]

It’s insane expensive. Long term doesn’t hold up as well as I had hoped either. Still looking for the perfect solution myself.

[@calebplumleeoutdoors]

@@MatthewRaifman def make a video if you find the perfect solution. I've been on the hunt for it myself!

[@wernerswannet]

Why not use a rubber roller to get the photograph on the board?

[@MatthewRaifman]

Just because I didn't have one. That would have been a good idea!

[@DavidARosen]

What size board is it?16x20?

[@MatthewRaifman]

13x19