Today photographers have a number of choices when it comes to mounting and matting your finished work. I’m not going to debate the merits of each approach, but will simply tell you what I do. The important thing is that you mount your prints so they are in a proper state for safe storage and for you and others to look at. Why go to all the bother if you’re going to store your prints in an old empty photographic paper box, probably never to be seen again?

Here is what I do:

1. Using my old Seal tacking iron, I place a piece of dry mount tissue the same size as my print (8×10) on top of the unprinted side of the paper and attach it by pressing down and making an “X” on the middle of the tissue sheet.I recommend using something that is pretty archival like Seal MT5, Colormount  or Beinfang, that while discontinued or not available in boxes can be found in boxes on ebay and elsewhere.
2. Next I trim my print with the attached dry mount tissue using my RotaTrim paper trimmer.In my opinion they are the best out there.
3. Now I measure and pre-mount my print onto a piece of mounting board using an old Falcon Print Mounting Positioner that looks something like a T Square and helps you position the print with more space on the bottom of the mat. Most people seem to be centering their prints on their mat boards these days, but have been doing it this way since the beginning and I think it looks better. I prefer 4-ply acid free conservation board that is bright white in color. I purchase my boards pre-cut into a 14 X 17 inch sizes, but some people choose to buy large pieces of board and do their own cutting to size, which saves some money. When I get the print into position I place a leather shot bag on top to hold it in place on the mat. Then I take my tacking iron adhere each corner of the tissue to the mat below. Now the print is securely in place so that it can be transferred to the dry mount press for permanent mounting.
4. I have a Seal Commercial 210 dry mount press I purchased used over 30 years ago, so I have no idea how old it really is. It needs a little babying but it still works well enough. I pre-heat the press to 170 degrees, which is the right temperature for the tissue I use. Then I use an anti-static brush to make sure there isn’t any dust or other particles on the print surface. I then place the print between a “sandwich” of two large 4-ply conservation boards like I mount my prints on and close the press. Depending upon the humidity level in my basement it takes about 3 minutes or so for the print with its tissue to fully adhere to the board. But just to be sure all is well I lightly bend each corner of the board to make sure there are’nt any gaps in the seal.
5. I then place the mounted print(s) underneath a large heavy metal plate so that they will cool flat.
6. I let things sit for a while. When I am satisfied the mounted prints are nice and flat I place them in an archival box for storage.

Note: If prints are good enough to make the cut, they will receive a 4-ply over-mat I will cut and permanently attach using archival tape if they are to be framed for a show or to be sold.

Stay tuned for more … we’re almost done!

Stay safe,

Michael