Digital BW, The Print

Hello All,

For over 5 years I've been mounting prints (conventional and inkjet) using a 
cold-mounting tissue called 3M Positionable Mounting Adhesive.  It's dirt 
simple to use... place a sheet of the tissue on the mounting board, squeegee 
it down with the included tool, and peel off the release paper.  This leaves 
a perfectly uniform coating of adhesive on the mount board.  Position the 
print (I have it pre-positioned and hinged with tape by this stage), and 
protect the print with the release paper.  (I use the same sheet I peeled 
off in the previous step.)  Squeegee again.  Done!

I've seen no bond failures, bubbling, discoloration, or other problems in 
the hundreds of prints I've bonded this way.  There is no odor.  It works 
for glossy and matte papers.  (With matte, I'm careful not to let the 
release paper slip around when squeegeeing.)  PMA comes in rolls 50 feet 
long by either 11, 16, or 24" wide.  I use the 11" rolls... perfect for 
letter-size prints or 11 by 14's.  For 13 by 19 prints, I use a small PMA 
filler strip butted up against a larger sheet of PMA on the mounting board, 
and squeegee both together.  I've never noticed any trace of a seam through 
the print... the adhesive layer is very thin, and there's no gap or overlap 
in the adhesive layer anyway, if you're careful.

There is also an expensive hand-cranked "roller machine" available (instead 
of a simple squeegee), but I've never tried it.  (No need for it, in my 
mind.)

See the product at:

http://www.3m.com/us/mfg_industrial/adhesives/framing/html/scotch568.jhtml

I buy mine from Freestyle Photo in Los Angeles.  They have good prices and 
service.  Current price is $35 for the 11" by 50 foot roll.

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/sc_prod.php?cat_id=2314&pid=1963

I hope this helps!

John B.