Mounting prints to aluminum panels, or?

[onemoret1me]

Hello everyone

A guy I know does aluminum panel style wall art (uses a grinder to make a pattern in the panels, etc), and I've been looking into creative/ maybe not so traditional ways to mount fine art prints (fine art paper or photo paper, not canvas so much).

I've browsed the forums a little and am at a loss as to if what I'm looking to do is even possible...

http://blog.bumblejax.com/aluminum-photo-mounting/ offers an example of what I'm looking to accomplish.

Ideally, I would be able to roll on an adhesive to the aluminum (can't laminate), mount the print, and then roll on a varnish to protect the print. Would this be possible? I'm confused as to what type of adhesive I should be looking for?

Any advice or direction would be greatly appreciated.

John   

[Ken]

I use Filmoplast Gudy O for board mounting, and I don't know if it would work with aluminum, but you could ask. The Gudy O and Gudy V descriptions are at the bottom of this page.

If you cover the entire surface with an image, what advantage is aluminum over Dibond or acrylic?

[onemoret1me]

I'm interested in aluminum becasue I have access to it, basically. Acrylic is too expensive (what i've seen at least), and I'm just now looking into dibond...

[PatrickAllen]

At Ken Allen Studios, like most other printing and mounting studios, we use a pressure sensitive adhesive film to mount the print to aluminum. GBC, Seal, and Mactac are a few of the brands that make this mounting film which is also used for mounting to Sintra, Dibond, etc. Generally you need a mounting/laminating machine to apply the film to the back of the print evenly and without getting debris between the print and the film. I suppose smaller prints could be done by hand without a machine with a lot of practice, but there may also be some smaller less expensive machines. If we are coating the print with a laminate or varnish we generally do this before mounting to the aluminum.

Best,
Patrick Allen
www.KenAllenStudios.com
www.PatrickAllenPhotography.com

[Bob Smith]

but there may also be some smaller less expensive machines.

A year or so ago I acquired one the 34" Coda hand crank laminators from a friend who was moving out of his studio.  If all you use is cold mount materials, this thing works just as well as the motorized jobs for a whole lot less money.  I like the fact that it can handle very thick material with ease.  I've mounted on 3/4" gator with it.  They're way overbuilt.  Should easily last a lifetime.  I also have a slightly larger heated, powered laminator.  The Coda mounts just as well... and will probably do so more trouble free over a longer life... for a much lower cost.

Most of what I do with these things is mounting to Nudo PolyMetal (Dibond clone).  Its a very easy process to produce really nice looking mounted prints.

http://www.codamount.com/coldmount.htm

Bob Smith

[onemoret1me]

Thanks for the advice everyone..