What Is A Mounted Print And How To Make One

There are several ways to showcase your photographic prints. The most popular methods are mounted printing and canvas printing.

Here, you will learn what is a mounted print and how to make one yourself.

Mounted Printing

What is a mounted photo? It is a photograph printed on a paper and is attached to a backing board or hardboard. This way, mounted prints are preserved and protected from bending, creasing, or wrinkling.

Mounted printing offers you a lot of options for your photograph or art. It keeps pictures stiff when hanged on a wall as is. You may also mount your photos to prepare them for framing. Or, you can create a portfolio with your mounted prints.

Dry Mounted Printing

The dry mount process is the most common among the mounted printing techniques. It is less expensive, easy to do, and produces elegant outputs.

You can apply this process for fiber and digital prints. In dry mounting, you can bleed-mount the photograph, meaning it extends to the board’s edges. Or, you may let the photo sit within the borders of the backing board.

To do this process, you will need a dry mount paper, your photographic print, a backing board, and a clothing iron. Your iron should be dedicated to dry-mounting purposes. Do not use it for regular cloth ironing. Also, do not use with a steam attachment.

Steps To Dry-Mount Prints

To dry-mount your print, follow these steps:

1. Cut your print and dry mount paper to size. Your dry mount paper should be the exact size as your print or slightly smaller.
   
2. Heat up the iron to the temperature suggested on the instructions of your dry mount paper. It typically ranges from 160 to 200 °F (71–93 °C).
   
3. Layer your print over your dry mount paper and backing board. Make sure everything is centered. There should be no dry mount paper showing from under the print.
   
4. Keep your print in place before heating. Tape the edges with painters tape or masking to secure the materials together.
   
5. Put a piece of blotting paper on top of your print to protect it from the heat.
   
6. Then, place your iron at the center of the print and let it sit for three to five minutes.
   
7. Once the print is attached to the backing, move to other areas of the print.
   
8. To move iron to corners, start at the center and slide to the next area.
   
9. Once you’re done, gently remove the tapes. Make sure that the print is secured into the backing board.
   
10. Let your output cool for a few minutes before removing the blotting paper.

Once this process is done, your photograph is ready for framing, hanging, or for your portfolio.

Conclusion

You have learned what is a mounted print and how to make one. Be sure to use the appropriate materials and tools. Keep your photographs preserved and protected for your family to enjoy captured memories.