The mounting equipment
A number of systems are available on the market, including cleat-style and patented methods; one must research to find a hanging system that best fits their needs.
In addition to the materials outlined above, it is essential to have the correct mounting equipment, which includes: a laminator, a dust removal system (DRS) roller, a cutting mat, and cutting knives. The laminator should have silicon-based rollers with a smooth RA. Similar to the media used for printing, the roughness of a roller determines the print’s finish.
A unit with a heat-assisted top roller can help with face mounting. The larger the diameter of the roller, the less deflection there will be when processing. Less deflection means there will be more direct, even pressure across the piece; if it is uneven, it will cause wrinkling and/or drifting. The durometer rating of the roller must be considered, too. While a higher-rated roller is harder and provides direct pressure, it does not give to any variances in the substrate like a softer durometer would. A softer durometer will flatten out to a wider footprint of pressure, so the downward force will cover a larger surface area.
A DRS roller is used to remove dust and debris from laminator rollers, tables, work surface, prints, and acrylic. Anything that comes in contact with the final work should be cleaned with a roller. This will limit the number of particles that can get into the adhesive and ruin the print. Note: There are two different rollers available—one blue, one red.
The blue one must be used on Epson prints, as the red roller will peel the inks off the paper, which will not come off the roller. This will ruin the roller along with the print. A self-healing cutting mat is always a good choice as it can be used for a long period of time. It should be clean and large enough to work on. Knife blades must be replaced regularly as a dull blade will cause a less than desirable
cut. Some knives have snap-off segmented blades, so one can get several sharp edges from one replaceable blade. With the right kit, one can create results worthy of a fine art gallery.
With almost 10 years of experience with Drytac, Steve Yarbrough currently serves as a product support specialist. With his excellent technical knowledge and thorough understanding of the market, Yarborough provides Drytac’s customers sound advice on both products and applications. His background in art and graphic design also allows him to offer insight into the graphic and print industry. He can be reached via e-mail at steveyarbrough@drytac.com.
