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Mounting and Matting Information Dry Mounting Instructions Edward Stapel Prints for your final portfolio are to be dry mounted. For dry mounting you will need: 4-ply mat board Dry mounting tissue for RC prints Your finished prints Metal ruler and X-acto knife Pencil Timer A print storage box 1. Plug in and turn on mounting press and set it to 225. Plug in tacking iron. Let both warm up to temperature for a few minutes. 2. Make sure you have a clean and clear workspace. 3. Make sure that the back of your print, and the dry-mounting tissue, are clean and dust-free. Using tacking iron tack two diagonal corners of tissue to the back of your print inside the image area. 4. Use a metal ruler and an X-acto knife OR a print trimmer to trim your print down to final size. 5. Place print right side up on mat board. Use ruler to position print with even borders. Offset print roughly above center (make the bottom border slightly larger than the top). 6. Tack the other two diagonal corners of tissue to the mat board. 7. CAREFULLY place the mat board and print inside the release paper in the press (the press will be VERY HOT!). Close the press and wait 1 - 2 minutes. 8. Open the press and CAREFULLY remove your mounted print. Gently flex the mat board to see if the print is properly adhered if the print pops up put it back into the press. When your print is done place it under the metal cooling plate for 1 2 minutes. 9. Remove print. Smile, its done. 10. IMPORTANT: When you are done turn off and unplug mounting press and tacking iron.

Matting and Presentation Mat Board: Windows: 100% acid-free mat board or archival buffered board, 4-ply Color: white or off-white (sometimes called ivory, natural, pearl) Typical sizes: 11x14, 14x18, 16x20, 20x24 Backing board: 4-ply mat board, 2-ply mat board or foam core Other materials: Acid-free paper tape, linen tape, or framing tape Archival photo corners Pencil Metal Ruler Mat cutter blades (Logan #270) X-acto knife Emery board White eraser Print storage box (strongly recommended) PVA archival glue (optional) Acid-free Scotch tape (optional) Window mats are to be cut on 4-ply board. Prints may be backed with 4-ply board, 2-ply board or foam core. Prints should be affixed to backing board with acid-free tape, archival photo corners, or archival glue. Any writing on mats, backing boards, or prints should be done in PENCIL or archival pigment ink pens. If you are using a pigment pen test it on your materials first ink has a tendency to leach into paper and mat board. Mat windows should have borders of at least 2-inches on 11x14 or smaller board and at least 3 inches on board larger than 11x14 (these basic are guidelines). A note on mat board: Not all mat board is created equally. Anything that is not specifically labeled 100% acid-free or similar type of fancy sounding name guaranteeing archival quality should be avoided. Placing prints under mats, or on backing board, of inferior quality will cause them to discolor and/or degrade. All conventional chromogenic, ink-jet and alternative/historical process prints should be matted with acid-free board. Black and white silver gelatin prints can be matted in archival buffered board OR acid-free board.

Matting instructions 1. Measure out your mat window on the back of a piece of 4-ply board. Be sure to slightly offset your print roughly above center (make the bottom border slightly larger than the top). 2. Install a new mat cutting blade into the mat cutter. After you have cut 6 windows, flip the blade around. After another 6, replace the blade. 3. Carefully align the board in the mat cutter and cut out your window. If the heart is still hanging to the window, carefully cut it away with an X-acto knife. Clean any rough edges with an emery board. Gently erase any marks on the front of the board with a white eraser. 4. Hinge your window to your backing board with paper, linen, or framing tape. 5. Close your mat and position the print under it. 6. Open your mat and affix the print to the backing board with photo corners, acid- free tape, or PVA glue. 7. Close your mat. Smile, you are done. 8. Store your matted prints in a print storage box.