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Photograph Mounting Techniques

Before you frame your favorite picture or print, mounting it to mat board will keep the picture flat and prevent it from warping due to humidity. There are a few different ways you can mount a picture. If you are planning on mounting a large number of prints you may want to contact a supplier to see if you can buy the material in bulk.

Dry Mounting
- Dry mounting is the most common method for mounting a photograph. This process uses a mounting press, mat board and a special dry mount tissue that forms the adhesive. You position the picture on the board with the piece of tissue between the photo and board. Once you have tacked the picture in place with a small tacking iron, you place a protective board on the front of the picture, place it in the press and close the press for 30 to 40 seconds. This secures the print on the mat board.
Adhesive Spray
- Adhesive spray is an easy way to mount pictures to mat board. Other than the spray and mat board, you do not need any special materials or equipment. The spray is designed so that you have few seconds to reposition the picture if it is not placed in the correct position when you first place it on the mat board. Work in a well ventilated room. Decide on the size and orientation of the mat board. Place the picture onto the board and use pencil to mark where the corners will be. Lift the picture off of the mat board, turn it over and apply a liberal amount of the adhesive spray to the back of the picture. Place the picture back onto the mat board within the pencil marks. Place a blank sheet of paper over the entire picture and place a heavier object on the paper to keep the picture in place. Allow the spray to dry, remove the object and the paper and use an eraser to remove the pencil marks from the mat board.
Corner Tabs
- If you have looked in old photo albums, you have probably observed the pictures were held in place using corner tabs. These triangular shaped tabs are self-adhering and are placed on the mat board or album page. Once the four tabs are secured in place the pictures are inserted into the tabs. This system has some advantages in that the picture can easily be changed, provided the replacement picture is the same size.
Adhesive Page
- Adhesive pages were used in older photo albums, where you would peel back a plastic sheet and place the pictures directly on an album page that was treated with an adhesive. These pages can be used for mounting pictures directly then placing them in a frame. The pages are easy to use and give you the flexibility to change the pictures when needed.

Photography