Digital Prints

specific place (Paris, Hong Kong, Manhattan), and then he frames his traditional
Ilfochrome color prints in antique wood windows and doors from each respective culture.
He explains that “Each window or door represents a tangible portal combined with an
image transporting the viewer to that culture and period in time.”
Board-Mounted Prints: Mounting prints (using either cold or hot mounting techniques)
to thick composite boards with no borders and no framing is very popular. Board materials
include Foamcore, MDF, Sintra, Dibond, and Gatorfoam. These can be purchased
from art supply vendors, and they come in various thicknesses and even colors. Black
Gaterfoam in 3/4" is a common choice. (Gaterfoam has a polystyrene core and a woodfiber
laminate surface that resists denting. It’s very rigid and smooth, and it can be used
for dry or pressure-sensitive mounting.) The hanging is a bit tricky, but one solution is to
glue on blocks of wood with framing wire attached. The blocks offset the print from the
wall, creating a nice drop-shadow effect.
Landscape photographer Russ Davis has devised a practical and inexpensive alternative to
normal framing for his Epson 7600 inkjet prints (see Figure 9.10). Using MDF board
(Medium Density Fiberboard) as his backing, he covers the print/backing sandwich with
a matte-finish laminate (hot press). “The laminate is non-reflecting so you see the photograph
without glare,” Davis says. “The edge is finished with a beveled black border, and
the board-mounted prints are very durable with a surface that can be cleaned with window
cleaner and a soft cloth.” The MDF is not acid-free, but Davis inserts an acid-barrier
(mounting tissue) between the print and the MDF.
Chapter 9 ■ Finishing and Displaying Your Prints 299
Figure 9.10 Russ Davis uses MDF
board and a matte laminate for
displaying his prints.
Courtesy of Russ Davis Photography
www.russdavisphoto.com