How to mount a triptych?

[Edward]

Hello. I am doing B&W fiber prints in panoramic triptychs. I want to mount them together, but not frame them. Instead, I'd like to put them on backing that would be folded, like a three-sided card you could open up. Any idea how to do this? I'm guessing dry-mounting would be the answer, but on what? Matte board seems too stiff to fold.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

You could also get some really heavy watercolor stock, like an Arches or Windsor-Newton 140# or heavier. I'd still use the scoring knife to make the folds between the panels. Another option would be to mount them onto three separate panels of (wood, aluminum, plexiglass, you name it), and hinge the panels so it works like one of those old religious icons.

 

[asp.artist]

Hinging is the best idea. Linen tape lasts a lot longer than paper. And it would be replaceable, should it wear out. Or your concept changes. With the tape, which is white, you could use 4 ply museum mount. And you'll be archival too!
Anne

 

[John Jarosz]

Wide linen tape is my vote as well. The stuff that Light Impressions sells (or used to - I haven't checked) has a really good adhesive(water soluble).

John

 

[Edward]

Thanks for the replies. Linen tape seems interesting, but would I have to use some kind of backing behind it? I don't mind a plain white back, like watercolor paper, but I don't think I'd want someone holding this to be looking at exposed linen tape.
As for a heavy watercolor paper, would there be any problem dry mounting to it?

 

[asp.artist]

I'm not sure I know what you want to do. Linen tape is used for the hinges. You will still need a support for the photos. Matte board or bristle board or whatever. Done well, linen hinges(no ripping, etc)will look good. But what are you trying to achieve? Are we talking menu type? Is this on the wall? Are people picking it up? are you carrying it around?
Anne

 

[jeroldharter]

Perhaps you could mount each print of the tryptich on its own piece of foam board and hinge them together with 2 1/4 inch wide Tyvek tape from Light Impressions to hinge the entire length of the joint between the boards. That would be durable and potentially self supporting if need be. You could use black or white foam board.

http://www.lightimpressionsdirect.com/item.action?itemId=75

 

[Edward]

Sorry, maybe in my attempt at brevity, I didn't explain this well enough. My idea is to have a box, and the box would contain perhaps 10 sets of triptychs. The viewer would open the box and take out the images and then, yes, unfold them. I'm inspired here by Japanese prints. I'm not sure I want to get too ornamental, like putting some print backing on each triptych. Too precious. Just a plain paper (or matt board) backing would be fine. But I don't want tape to be visible from the back.
I did a prototype a while back just gluing the images on watercolor paper and then using a bone folder to make a fold in the paper. That seemed to work okay, but the budget photo glue stick obviously won't last. I don't have experience with dry mounting, and I'm wondering if it would work on watercolor paper.
Thanks again for the answers.
E