How to Position Art Work in a Heat Press

Dry Mounting Artwork

• 1

  Your two heavyweight cardboard pieces are used to protect the mat board and artwork from residue on the press. Put these cardboard pieces in the heat press as you turn the temperature up. Check the temperature of your press. Heat presses vary from 100 to 300 degrees.

• 2

  Iron the corners of the adhesive paper to the corners of the artwork. Crop the artwork with a utility blade and a T-square ruler. Cut away any adhesive edges that show around the artwork.

• 3

  The adhesive bond paper should be flat to the artwork, no wrinkles. Mark your mat board where the artwork will sit in pencil that will easily erase after mounting the artwork to the mat board. Position the mat board or back of a pre-cut frame on the bottom of the press with the artwork and adhesive on top.

• 4

  Your work should be sandwiched between the two cardboard pieces in the press. The adhesive paper, artwork, and mat board should be carefully positioned with the cardboard on top in the heat press. The three will composite into one piece as you press the top of the dry mounting press onto the artwork. Close the press and leave it heating less than a minute, depending on the type of medium used and the kind of adhesive paper.

• 5

  If your artwork does not attach, you may remove it and start over. Or you may try to reapply the press and hold it down for more time. Keep the press closed for at least 20 seconds.