Label for acrylic glazing that is easily removable?

logan2z · Dec 21, 2023

Here's a bit of a weird question:

I have to deliver a framed photograph for an upcoming exhibition and the photograph is supposed to be delivered with a removable sticker on the front containing artist name, title of the work, etc. My frame uses acrylic as the glazing material. I assumed it would be easy to find a label that would adhere to acrylic and that would be easily removable with no residue left behind, but I haven't been able to find one. I initially thought a static cling label might be a good choice but everything I've read said those will not stick to acrylic.

Does anyone have a suggestion for a label that meets my criteria and that can be printed on using a laser printer?

Thanks in advance.

Pieter12 · Dec 21, 2023

Maybe printing on regular bond paper, and then using a couple of strips of double-sided removable tape? And since it's going to be removed anyway, a hand-written post-it note would seem to do.

logan2z · Dec 21, 2023

Pieter12 said:
Maybe printing on regular bond paper, and then using a couple of strips of double-sided removable tape? And since it's going to be removed anyway, a hand-written post-it note would seem to do.

I thought about a post-it but was concerned that a) it wouldn't look that 'professional' and b) it might fall off before the photograph is hung. I'm not sure how long after delivery the photograph will be hung. Maybe the bond paper/double-sided tape might be good enough.

wiltw · Dec 21, 2023

You can get yourself some inkjet compatible Adhesive Name Badges...the adhesive is not designed to be really strongly adherent to things, but to peal off clothing readily....I just stuck one onto the plastic side of my printer, and easily peel it off.
Since it can be printed with the inkjet, one can print very nicely appearing label with containing artist name, title of the work, etc. in the typeface and size that you prefer.
You can get them in reasonable small quantities...the Ofice Depot pack that I have has 20 sheets with 8 labels per sheet.

Pieter12 · Dec 22, 2023

I know you're not asking this, but a forum is the breeding ground for unsolicited advice. In addition to whatever label you attach to the front of the frame, I would suggest more permanently mounting a label of sorts to the back. I securely tape a signed "certificate of authenticity" to the back when I send out a framed or matted photo.

DREW WILEY · Dec 22, 2023

Sounds like a hokey demand I've never heard of from a gallery before. Any adhesive residue left behind when the label is removed can be cleaned up with a film cleaner like PEC. But if someone uses a scraper or strong solvent, there would be damage issues to the acrylic.

You could use "removable" double-sided Scotch tape. But anything left on too long might get stubborn.

logan2z · Dec 22, 2023

Pieter12 said:
I know you're not asking this, but a forum is the breeding ground for unsolicited advice. In addition to whatever label you attach to the front of the frame, I would suggest more permanently mounting a label of sorts to the back. I securely tape a signed "certificate of authenticity" to the back when I send out a framed or matted photo.

View attachment 357605

I was planning on putting a label on the back too, but your example is great. I may just have to 'borrow' some ideas from it Thanks for the suggestion.

logan2z · Dec 22, 2023

DREW WILEY said:
Sounds like a hokey demand I've never heard of from a gallery before. Any adhesive residue left behind when the label is removed can be cleaned up with a film cleaner like PEC. But if someone uses a scraper or strong solvent, there would be damage issues to the acrylic.

You could use "removable" double-sided Scotch tape. But anything left on too long might get stubborn.

Sounded kind of odd to me as well, especially since they're also requiring a label on the back. But that's what they asked for

logan2z · Dec 22, 2023

I decided to try two different types of labels - I bought some clear static cling sheets that I can stick my label to before applying the static cling label to the acrylic glazing. If it sticks to acrylic then I'm good to go. I also bought some low stick name tag labels (thanks for the suggestion @wiltw) as a plan B if the static cling labels don't work. Both should arrive by tomorrow and hopefully one will work well enough.

DWThomas · Dec 22, 2023

Likely the reason for the request is to ease placing "official" title cards on the wall with exhibited pieces. In putting on shows through an art club I belong to, we ask artists to fill out a narrow form which includes a section at the bottom with just artist's name, artwork title, and medium. (If our show venue didn't think a price on the title cards was "tacky" we would probably also have that). The entire slip is to be attached to the back of the painting or to the hanging wire. That bottom segment which has, in fine print at the top, "Temporary Title Card" is snipped off at the receiving table and taped (with the blue low tack masking tape) to the back of the frame on one side, sticking out such that it can be read from the front. After hanging, one can walk around with a tray of title cards sorted by artist's last name (or whatever), pull out the card and place it on the wall. Then one need only move the artwork out enough to remove the temporary title. If one had to run around popping paintings off the wall to read the tags on the back it would take much longer and also increase the probability of damage to the work.

But all of this stuff gets to be tedious in one way or another (I'm glad after 30 years to no longer be deeply entangled with the "show mechanics!"

Pieter12 · Dec 22, 2023

DWThomas said:
If one had to run around popping paintings off the wall to read the tags on the back it would take much longer and also increase the probability of damage to the work.

One could also temporarily attach the wall tag to the piece, eliminating a few of the steps in-between.

DWThomas · Dec 22, 2023

Pieter12 said:
One could also temporarily attach the wall tag to the piece, eliminating a few of the steps in-between.

One could but the timing of our shows is such we don't have the wall cards ready because the work is only received a couple of days before we hang it and one of our annual shows is juried, so that's one day less to even know what pieces are in the show. We have been experimenting with online registration but so far that hasn't been quite the Grande Cure(tm) for the various problems either. Gilded frames are easily damaged by tape being tacked on and removed too.

I would add that in a typical hanging it's not unusual to end with a flurry of "oh that farm scene would look better next to that piece over there" or "oh the purple in that looks bad next to the orange in that one." (This is a committee process. ) Typical title card attachment isn't too happy with multiple use either.

Steve Goldstein · Dec 22, 2023

Could you write the information on index card stock and slip it in between the acrylic and the frame edge? I use Nielsen frames and have done this with temporary tags, it just takes a slight push against the acrylic to create enough space to slip in the card, and it's easy to remove. I usually put it in one corner.

MattKing · Dec 23, 2023

The shows that I have been involved with organizing are single day shows. They receive a lot of work from a lot of different people, many of whom ship their prints long distances. The participants vary greatly in how much show participation experience they have.
Having temporary labels on the front of prints is very helpful when trying to organize the affair!

DREW WILEY · Dec 23, 2023

Sounds like "rental galleries" around here. Someone will briefly rent an abandoned warehouse or retail space, hold a temporary advertised event, and interested artists will pay in advance by the square foot of wall space their work takes up, in lieu of a commission. Hundreds of them often participate. Most no doubt lose some money; but it gives them a taste of displaying.

Pieter12 · Dec 23, 2023

MattKing said:
The shows that I have been involved with organizing are single day shows. They receive a lot of work from a lot of different people, many of whom ship their prints long distances. The participants vary greatly in how much show participation experience they have.
Having temporary labels on the front of prints is very helpful when trying to organize the affair!

Wow. Single-day. Unless it's at a well-known museum or gallery (so it would look good on my resume and possibly be seen by someone with some influence to acquire) I don't think I would go to the expense of packing and shipping a print, framed or matted, for something like that.

DREW WILEY · Dec 23, 2023

Museums and serious galleries don't do those kinds of fly-by-night venues. It would be way too much fuss and expense for sake of a wild card. This is more like an indoor version of a weekend sidewalk fair, open to anyone until the space is filled up. Or, in some cases, a cumulative camera club membership might be involved.

Pieter12 · Dec 23, 2023

DREW WILEY said:
Museums and serious galleries don't do those kinds of fly-by-night venues. It would be way too much fuss and expense for sake of a wild card. This is more like an indoor version of a weekend sidewalk fair, open to anyone until the space is filled up. Or, in some cases, a cumulative camera club membership might be involved.

I didn't think so, but who knows? There is a museum here that holds an annual sale called "Incognito" featuring small works that are donated to the museum for that purpose, some by quite well-known, established artists. All the works are unsigned and go for $750--some collectors pay extra for preview day, a first-shot at the work, often bringing a consultant along. The artist's name is only revealed after the piece is sold. The whole shebang lasts 2 days.

Incognito - Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles

ICA LA

www.theicala.org

BrianShaw · Dec 23, 2023

The food service industry and home canning has water-soluble labels. Stick tight and release easily with water.

Pieter12 · Dec 23, 2023

BrianShaw said:
The food service industry and home canning has water-soluble labels. Stick tight and release easily with water.

How much water? I'm not sure I would want anyone having to use water to remove a label--there is always the possibility it could seep under the acrylic and get to the mat or photo.

BrianShaw · Dec 23, 2023

I call it “heavily damp” for easy scrapability and about 60 seconds under warm running faucet to get it to just roll off with a quick wipe.

As you say… Not a good idea to do it with the artwork in place. Removing acrylic/glass from frame would be best.

DREW WILEY · Dec 23, 2023

A postage stamp is water (or slobber) effective. It doesn't take much. Just dextrin glue. But something with a sticker atop it, or even on the acrylic glazing, is not going to attract a serious buyer. That's what was once so annoying about buying even a pair of cheap sunglasses.

DREW WILEY · Dec 23, 2023

Pieter - museums tend to be desperate for money and grants. Here too they sometimes hold rummage sales in their gift and book store area, or some other secondary space. But serious installations take a lot of work and money to set up, plus a lot of insurance and paperwork. Those are not weekend things, and tend to have years of planning behind them. Been there, done that. It can be exhausting. I also sold equipment and gave technical advice to museum display shops. Every venue was a big ordeal involving a whole specialized crew. But the crews often enjoyed the challenge too. I was invited to join them post-retirement, but no way I'm going down that rabbit-hole again. No more hellish freeway commuting for me!

Pieter12 · Dec 23, 2023

BrianShaw said:
I call it “heavily damp” for easy scrapability and about 60 seconds under warm running faucet to get it to just roll off with a quick wipe.

As you say… Not a good idea to do it with the artwork in place. Removing acrylic/glass from frame would be best.

I wouldn't scrape acrylic. And no one is going to remove the acrylic from the frame in order to remove the label.

BrianShaw · Dec 23, 2023

Scraping… as with a fingernail. Sorry I wasn’t more specific. Most will just rub off, though.

But if not taking the acrylic out it’s a moot point.

Label for acrylic glazing that is easily removable?

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