Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Clayton Jones" <cj@...> wrote:

> I use two pieces of acid free linen hinge tape at the top of the
> print, taped to the back of the window mat.  Then I hinge the back
> board (another piece of mat board) to the top of the window mat.
> 
> So the print is basically hanging by it's top edge while being
> sandwiched between the boards.  Quick, easy, stable, and not permanent.
> 
> As for positioning the print and mat, I lay the print face up on a
> table with the top edge (the edge that will be taped) extending over
> the table edge about two inches.  Then lay the window mat over it and
> carefully position it for even reveal all around the image.  When it's
> in position I place two small pieces of photographers tape over the
> upper corners of the print (the part extending from the table) to hold
> it in position against underside of the mat.  Then I lift them up for
> final inspection to ensure the positioning is correct, then lay it
> face down and apply the hinge tape along the top edge of the print
> (two pieces, each about 2" long [tape is 1.25" wide]), then remove the
> photographers tape from the corners. 

Clayton,
  I've used a method similar to yours (tightly affixing the print to the back of the mat with 
two short pieces of archival tape) until recently. Then two people returned prints to me for 
remounting because they had developed waviness, visible along the top edge of the print. 
I'm using Ilford GSF, so this problem is likely more obvious then it would be with a less 
reflective mat paper.

   Now I'm leaving some "play" in the mounting tape (as recommended for mounting art 
work by Linco & others) by using two 2-inch pieces of tape applied vertically to the back 
of the print and not stuck to the mat; then two additional, horizontal pieces of tape, 
spaced 3/4 inch above the print, are used to anchor the vertical pieces of tape to the 
backing board. So far (but after only 2 months of observation) the new method seems to 
avoid the waviness problem.

   Possibly the problem is caused by slight swelling or contraction of the paper related to 
changes in humidity (the prints cure for, usually, several months before framing). Or 
possibly the Ilford paper is more susceptible to dimensional changes than rag papers?
Best,
Jim C