2 Ply Mat Board -- Does Anybody Use It?

[dancqu]

I've read that 4 ply accounts for over 90%
of the mat board sold. Where would one
put 2 ply to good use? Dan

 

[climbabout]

2 ply

I have always mounted my photographs on 4 ply with a 4 ply window hinged to it. Occasionaly, if the corner gets dinged on the 4 ply mount and it's ruined unless you cut it down. Recently I have begun mounting my photos on 2 ply and attaching that to a 2 ply backer of a larger size with clear photo corners, with a 4 ply window hinged to it. The whole package is now still only 8 ply thick, but since the photograph and its mount is sandwiched inside, the corners will not get damaged as easily.
Tim

 

[Fotoguy20d]

Where do you get your matboard?

Thanks,
Dan

 

[climbabout]

I have been dealing with University Products in MA for many years.
Tim

 

[Bob Carnie]

We use 2ply for back slips,
We use 2ply for mounting small prints
We use 2ply for presentation Matt for the back

I would say 20 % of our framing involves 2ply
Bulk would be 4ply
Occasional 8ply for clients willing to put money into the frames.

I've read that 4 ply accounts for over 90%
of the mat board sold. Where would one
put 2 ply to good use? Dan

 

[dpurdy]

8ply was all the rage for awhile. I have a problem with 2 play backs taking on a curl. Could be my humidity in Portland.
Dennis

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

I mount my prints with photo corners to a 2ply back, and then overmat with a 4ply window mat. I then put the prints in clear plastic sleeves and stack them. There isn't a print that curls, and my humidity varies from 10-15% in the winter to as high as 90-95% in the summer.

 

[PVia]

We use 2ply for back slips,
We use 2ply for mounting small prints
We use 2ply for presentation Matt for the back

Bob...

Excuse my ignorance...what's a back slip? The backing/mounting board?

And you use 2 ply for the back of a presentation mat?

So you never do 4 ply back with 4 ply mat?

Thanks!

 

[Bob Carnie]

back slip, spacer between art care foam and print no mount just 2ply
2 ply for back of presentation matt when lightness is critical or budget of client
Yes 4ply with 4ply all the time for personal work and clients with larger budgets.

Bob...

Excuse my ignorance...what's a back slip? The backing/mounting board?

And you use 2 ply for the back of a presentation mat?

So you never do 4 ply back with 4 ply mat?

Thanks!

 

[PVia]

Thanks, Bob!

 

[Travis Nunn]

when I print small enough to mount my prints to 8x10 boards I will use 2 ply and then overmat with 4 ply

 

[dancqu]

Attachment Methods

when I print small enough to mount my prints to 8x10
boards I will use 2 ply and then overmat with 4 ply

I was thinking 2 ply mount and window mats might do
well up to 8x10. What methods of window mat-mount mat
attachments are suitable? Hinges? One post mentioned
corners. I've some mat board to order and will likely
include some 4 ply. Dan

 

[Dan Henderson]

I dry mount prints for framing or my portfolio on 2 ply, and float matt with matching 4 ply board. I cannot see a reason to use 4 ply mount board when framing, and 2 ply takes up less space in a portfolio case. So 50% of my board is 2 ply and 50% 4 ply.

 

[climbabout]

hinging

I fasten my mat to the backer board with filmoplast sh linen tape.
Tim

 

[Travis Nunn]

I use a piece of linen tape to hinge the mat boards together.

I'm one of those that doesn't like to drymount prints. I prefer mylar corners. Especially for prints that small, they work really well. Although, I have done the T-Hinge mount with linen tape and that works perfectly fine, too.

I was thinking 2 ply mount and window mats might do
well up to 8x10. What methods of window mat-mount mat
attachments are suitable? Hinges? One post mentioned
corners. I've some mat board to order and will likely
include some 4 ply. Dan

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

This is my method too. Mostly photo corners, but sometimes I use t-hinges too.

The person that mounts and displays photographs at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts once told me these words: "Use linen tape to t-hinge, or archival photo corners to mount your prints. But, whatever you do, don't ever dry mount them".
I always took that advice at face value, and added the reasoning that you can't ever re-mount the print if you have to. And that is something you will want to do, when the buffer in your mounting board has been eradicated by the acids and pollutants in the atmosphere. It will, at that point, no longer protect your print.
And, if something happens to the mount board, which is there to protect the back of the print, you're stuck again by not being able to replace it.

But I digress. Many people dry mount, and 2ply works fine for that. If your prints are very large, you may wish to consider a stiffer material, such as 4ply.

- Thomas

I use a piece of linen tape to hinge the mat boards together.

I'm one of those that doesn't like to drymount prints. I prefer mylar corners. Especially for prints that small, they work really well. Although, I have done the T-Hinge mount with linen tape and that works perfectly fine, too.

 

[PVia]

I've been T-hinging prints and adding photo corners to the bottom two corners, with an overmat.

Linen tape for the hinges as well as hinging the two mat pieces together.

 

[dancqu]

If Framed?

I fasten my mat to the backer board with filmoplast
sh linen tape. Tim

I must have missed a stop. Why would one fasten
by any means the window mat to the mount?
Framing should hold all together. Dan

 

[PVia]

Dan, this is the way I was taught. It holds the two pieces together and prevents them from misaligning and putting your well-cut mat out of whack. It also helps out if prints aren't framed and displayed matted in a portfolio box or in a prints rack at a show.

 

[climbabout]

When showing prints from a portfolio box, it looks better when the mat is aligned with the print.
Tim