Mounting a Print onto Board (no need for a glass frame!)

Welcome to my home printmaking studio where I show you how-to print by hand and create beautiful monoprint art.
This week I'm showing you how I mount large prints onto board (in this case a monoprint on Japanese paper). This is one way to avoid heavy, expensive, reflective, glazed frames as this technique complete seals the paper from the atmosphere.
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[@PaulMacklinAmazing]

Great video, I often wonder why more people don't present their works on paper this way. I really love your treatment of the surface, much more interesting than varnish. I've been experimenting with this excellent process now for a couple of years. I mount my acrylic on paper paintings onto 3mm ply with a backing frame, then mount them in a shadow mount frame - it's about 1/3 the cost of mounting behind glass. A few things you might want to consider (or not I don't mind). A very clean printing roller is a great way to smooth out the air bubbles if they are trapped. You can put another clean sheet of paper on top and then working from the middle to the edges, gradually move the bubbles towards the edge until they ease out. I put a layer of 'baking paper' what used to be called grease proof paper, between the artwork and the pressing board when I'm trying to press dry the work, that way any glue that might have made it's way onto the print surface won't get stuck to the board - then I put weights all over, to get an even press and leave it for 24 hours. By that time mose bubbles have 'shurnk' out. If not, you can very carefully cut a tiny small hole with a sharp kinve and ease the air out, then very carefully touch up the cut with some Matt Acrylic Medium. Also a super sharp cutting blade is a good way to trim the edges. Finally as to the glue you're using. In my experience gloss medium is a much much better binder than Matt, but obviously not for the top finish. However, my wife is a book binder and she recently introduced me to book binding glue, it's much stickier than traditional pva or medium, but once it's on, it's on - so you have to work fast and get it pretty much right first time. It's an acid free, ph neutral form of PVA. The big difference I've found is that it's stickier, and thicker and probably contains less water than Matt Medium, so it probably doesn't expand the paper as much either, so less wrinkles and bubbles to content with. If you know a book binder you might want to borrow some and do an experiement. As I said, great video, perhaps now more people will present their works on paper this way. Thanks again.

[@printingathomewithruthande1868]

Thanks for all the tips! I think I've used bookbinding glue for other things, but didn't think to use it for this. I think anything with less water content is probably good for it. Glad to hear you do this too- it saves so much on glazed framing!

[@madeleinelajambe2053]

Absolutely gorgeous print -- love that blue and all those delicate textures!!!

[@printingathomewithruthande1868]

Thank you!

[@rosemaryrayner5897]

Stunning print and thanks for the clear steps you took.

[@sphinxtheeminx]

To decrease wrinkles try sealing the work first, then stick down when it's dry.

[@printingathomewithruthande1868]

OK thanks, what do you seal it with?

[@FloatingOurBoat]

Fabulous print Ruth. A bit of a daunting process when you've spent so long printing. Hope you enjoyed your trip to Japan.

[@printingathomewithruthande1868]

Thanks- yes, it is daunting. Japanese paper is much easier than thinner paper though. And Japan was great thanks- just trying to figure out a way to a do a video of it. We'll see.

[@apple369]

Gosh, your print is gorgeous! I adore your artwork. Thanks for sharing these mounting tips; I've been wondering how to do this and am a bit nervous but you give me confidence. I like the wax finish very much.

[@printingathomewithruthande1868]

Glad it's been useful. It took me quite a while to figure this out and I was also a bit wary, but it's so helpful not to have to put large pieces behind glass (not to mention money saving).

[@carolynmullet1726]

Beautiful print!

[@printingathomewithruthande1868]

Thank you!

[@gardeniainbloom812]

Do you prime your tissue and Japanese paper as you use oils?

[@printingathomewithruthande1868]

Hi- no I don't. The Japanese paper absorbs the paint nicely. The paint seems to sit 'on top' of the tissue paper more. However, I use very thin layers of paint so the oil doesn't seem to be a problem.

[@gardeniainbloom812]

@@printingathomewithruthande1868 Thank you for replying. I was wondering whether the oil paint would destroy the tissue paper over time. Is tissue paper impervious to this?

[@dianneeagle4686]

That print is gorgeous! Are your printing inks water-based? For some reason I thought they were oil-based and putting acrylic medium over the top might eventually be problematic.

[@printingathomewithruthande1868]

Hi Dianne, I do indeed use oil paints. However, they seem to absorb into the Japanese paper fairly well and the medium goes over the paper fine. I haven't had any problems so far. But do let me know if you've heard differently.

[@rosemaryrayner5897]

What Japanese paper are you using?

[@printingathomewithruthande1868]

I honestly can't remember, but it's always something fairly thin (under 30gms) and not too textured. There are lots to choose from at intaglioprintmaker.com and store.bookbinding.co.uk/95/Japanese-Art-%26-Repair-Paper/

[@blueschiz]

How do you hang that on a wall?

[@printingathomewithruthande1868]

I ask a framer to make a 'tray' frame for it and hang it like that. If your wood is thick enough, you might be able to put fixings in the back without a frame too.

[@monkeybearmax]

Is this process archival?

[@printingathomewithruthande1868]

As far as I know. Other artists also do it. Essentially, the two different mediums seal the paper and board from the air and moisture. Cold wax medium would essentially be like the surface of an oil painting when dry. However, I have just started doing this technique, so can't say from experience what will happen in decades time. It certainly shouldn't yellow.

[@monkeybearmax]

@@printingathomewithruthande1868 cool thank you! I’ve been wanting to try with some of my prints but was worried about the wood underneath but either way gesso shoukd be fine!!! Thanks!😊

[@persimmonpuddin]

Really nice. Could you then put the work in a float frame?

[@printingathomewithruthande1868]

Yes, I expect you could. I am putting it in a 'tray frame', but perhaps that's the same thing by another name?