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by MPC on Mon Jan 23, 2012 9:54 am
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Been wanting to get some prints mounted on boards. Been looking at Adorama, has anybody have and experience with their mounting boards? I have always used MPIX before for prints but Adorama prices seem like they can't be beat. Even smugmug is high along with MPIX compared to Adorama.

Thanks for any insight!
[color=#000040][b]Michael P. Centanni[/b][/color]
[url]http://www.mpcentanni.com/[/url]
 

by Randy Mehoves on Mon Jan 23, 2012 2:37 pm
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Are you talking about mounting your prints on boards as in foam core or Gator Board or something else? I would think that if you are talking about foam core or Gator Board or the like that your local frame shop can do that. If you are supplying the prints and are mailing them (both ways) off to be mounted I don't see much of a price savings. Then you also have to deal with shipping losses/damages versus having them done locally.
I think any photographer who does any printing and framing should have a working relationship with a local framer, I have had the same with several in several different places I've lived and it works out well for both of us.
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by Les Voorhis on Mon Jan 23, 2012 4:19 pm
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Randy has a good point. What kind of board are you are talking about. You will also want to compare the mounting process. There are many different ways to mount prints, some better than others and some more expensive. I personally ONLY want prints to be vaccuum mounted. They stay the flatest and give the best presentation, particularly on glossy or lustre paper. Mounting with a traditional dry mount press opens up more avenues for bubbles and ripples than a vaccuum pres does and is not nearly as nice a presentation. Second question is wether they are heat or cold mounting. Personally I prefer sprays and a cold vaccuum press or sheet mounting PMA in a cold press over a heat press. Heat can damage certain types of inkjet media and I've even seen it shift colors slightly. Most good vaccuum presses can go both ways (hot or cold) but traditional drymount presses can't. My guess is that cheaper mounting methods will go with an adhesive tissue system in a hot press for their less expensive options and cold mounting a vaccuum press for more expensive. Owning a custom frame shop I also agree with Randy that it is sure nice to have a personal relationship with one as it ultimately will give better results for the few more $$ spent. Most of my clients don't come for price (although that is always a factor) they come for service and flexibility. It is also nice to shop local! :-)
Les Voorhis
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by HelenOster on Tue Jan 24, 2012 10:52 am
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AdoramaPix offers quality, heat presses for mounting.
There are three different options - single weight mat boards (1/16"), foam core boads (3/16") or styrene mounting boards (1/8"). Choosing which mounting board, really depends on how you plan to display it or frame it -- or what you want the final result to be.
Some professionals prefer the styrene because of its rigidity , some prefer the mat boards (the thinnest) for when they are going to put matts on top of their images and then put it behind glass, and some prefer the foam core because it is not as heavy as the mat or styrene but just as durable.

What are your plans for your images?

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador
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by MPC on Tue Jan 24, 2012 12:05 pm
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Thanks for the info!

Helen , I am looking to hang these directly on my walls, no glass or frame. With that being said, I would like the board to be black.
Is this something Adorama has? If so, what type of board do you recommend?

Thanks
[color=#000040][b]Michael P. Centanni[/b][/color]
[url]http://www.mpcentanni.com/[/url]
 

by signgrap on Tue Jan 24, 2012 2:13 pm
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MPC wrote:Thanks for the info!

Helen , I am looking to hang these directly on my walls, no glass or frame. With that being said, I would like the board to be black.
Is this something Adorama has? If so, what type of board do you recommend?

Thanks
I don't know what Adorama carries but when doing mounts like you're talking about we usually use Gatorfoam, Black face with Black foam
Dick Ludwig
 

by Dan Berg on Tue Jan 24, 2012 3:50 pm
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You've got to compare apples to apples.
The boards mentioned by the Adorama rep are all somewhat low cost mounts.
Although good for smaller mounts they are not really for larger print sizes except the styrene.
We use foam board for small prints no larger then 11 x 17
For larger prints we use 5/16" , 3/8" and 1/2" Gatorboard
Also 2mm,3mm and 4mm Dibond for high end mounts like panos.
Dan Berg
http://www.bergscanvasgallery.com http://www.bergscanvasgallery.blogspot.com
 

by Les Voorhis on Tue Jan 24, 2012 5:45 pm
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I am with Dan, if you plan to have them hang free on the wall I would really only choose one option and that is the 1/2 inch thick gatorboard. It can come in black or white. Anything thinner has a tendency to warp (1/2' will a little too, but not too bad) back into postion giving your print a definite curve on the wall. 1/8 and 3/16 foam core work well for framed prints and again, like Dan, we believe the smaller prints can handle 1/8" but anything larger than about 11x16 needs to 3/16". Gatorboard is unnecessary for framed pieces unless you are going glassless in an area where they may get bumped or hit. Styrene is a great substance for mounting prints that may get bumped with no glass since it is basically a solid plastic but hanging free, it curls BADLY. It really needs a frame to support it.
Les Voorhis
Focus West Gallery, Framing and Gifts
http://www.focuswestgallery.com
http://www.outdoorphotoworkshops.com
 

by Khoe on Wed Jan 25, 2012 11:42 am
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Hi all,
to add to this, I live in western Canada (Sask) and wanted to know of some places that put prints on mounting boards. Where I live my closest (local shop) may be 4 1/2 hours away, and not even sure if there is a shop there. I will be looking at a high shipping cost no matter what. I look forward to any insight.
 

by HelenOster on Wed Jan 25, 2012 12:05 pm
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MPC wrote:Thanks for the info!

Helen , I am looking to hang these directly on my walls, no glass or frame. With that being said, I would like the board to be black.
Is this something Adorama has? If so, what type of board do you recommend?

Thanks
Unfortunately, all of our boards are white. But when you do source black boards, we'd say the best for wall hanging would be a foam board as it is the thickest - and you could stick a hook in it (or use strong sticky fixing tape) for hanging.
Helen Oster       
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Helen@adorama.com
 

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