FAQ - Mounted Prints

What is mounting?

Mounting is a substrate/material to which your print is adhered for support, hanging, and/or framing purposes. We currently have 7 mounting options available: Styrene, Single-Weight Matboard, Double-Weight Matboard, 3/16" thick Gatorboard, 1/2" thick Gatorboard, 3/16" thick Foamcore, and .75" thick Standouts.

Styrene

Styrene is a 2mm thick plastic composite that is only available in black. Styrene is extremely resistant to warping due to its rigid nature. Hanging hardware is not included.

Single Weight Matboard

Single-Weight Matboard is a cardboard material bonded together to create a 14-ply board (1/16" thick). Single Weight Matboard is extremely lightweight, but we recommend framing mat board mounted prints. Single Weight Matboard is only available in white. Hanging hardware is not included.

Double Weight Matboard

Double Weight Matboard is a cardboard material bonded together to create a 28-ply board (1/8" thick). Double Weight Matboard is extremely lightweight and durable with minimal bending, but we recommend framing mat board mounted prints. Double Weight Matboard is only available in white. Hanging hardware is not included.

 

Gatorboard

Gatorboard is an extremely rigid foam composite mounting material. Gatorboard is available in two thicknesses- 3/16" and 1/2". Gatorboard is only available in black.

3/16" thick Gatorboard:

1/2" thick Gatorboard:

All Gatorboard-mounted prints are supplied with Gator hooks for direct wall hanging. The Gator hooks are not affixed to the print before shipment- they must be applied once received.

*To apply the Gator hooks, lay the print face down on a soft micro-fiber cloth to prevent damage to the print surface. Press the short, triangular-shaped end of the hook up and into the back of the Gatorboard with firm pressure. Gently lift the sawtooth portion away from the back of the Gatorboard to fully engage and position the hook. The sawtooth portion of the gator hook slides over a nail or screw head. Screws and anchors for wall hanging are not included*

3/16" thick Foamcore

3/16" thick Foamcore is made from extremely lightweight yet durable polystyrene with white foam edging. We recommend all Foamcore mounted prints to be framed. All Framed Prints we produce are also mounted on the 3/16" thick white Foamcore. Foamcore is only available in white. Hanging hardware is not included.

Standouts

Standouts are ready-to-hang mounting solutions made of a hard and medium-density composite foam material. Standouts are extremely lightweight, with four grooved holes in the back for easy hanging in portrait or landscape orientation. Screws and anchors for wall hanging are not included. All four sides are finished with a high-grade textured edge in your choice of black or white. Standouts are available in one thickness: 0.75". 

 
FAQ's

Q: What mounting material should I get?

A: There are a lot of considerations to make. You will want a Standout or Gatorboard-mounted print if you are free-hanging the print on a wall. If you are framing a print once received, it is advised to get the print mounted on Foamcore at the very least. If you are in the 20x30" or larger size range, it will not hurt to go with the 3/16" thick Gatorboard or Black Styrene for added rigidity on the soon-to-be framed print. If you are unsure which option to select and have further questions, let us know by filling out a Contact Form. 

Q: Why is mounting suggested for prints I want to frame?

A: Over time, un-mounted prints can collapse on themselves in the frame due to the weight of the print itself or can begin rippling. Giving the print a support backbone by adding mounting will prevent this and extend the lifespan of the prints. 

Q: Do mounted prints experience trim?

A: Yes, after the print is affixed to the mounting material, both the print and mount are trimmed together to create a flushed edge. For this reason, we advise keeping important information in the image away from the edge of the print. Up to 1/8" will be trimmed from each side in the mounting process.

Q: Can I have a print mounted on a larger size mounting material (e.g., 8x10 print on 11x14 mounting)?

A: No- The mounting material and print will always be the same size.

Q: Are borders recommended for Mounted Prints?
A: We highly recommend ordering Mounted Prints without borders. Mounted Prints are hand-trimmed to fit our customized mounting options. We cannot guarantee even borders at this time.

Q: Are all size prints able to be mounted?

A: Unfortunately, not all print sizes can be mounted on all materials. Print sizes with a dimension of 26" or 45" are the most limited in terms of available mounting.

Q: Are the mounting materials acid-free?

A: They are not acid-free or archival.

Q: Can I hang my mounted print with adhesive hanging hardware?

A: A Standout mounted print will arrive with four grooved holes on the backside for easy hanging using a nail (nails are not included). A Gatorboard-mounted print will arrive with sawtooth gator hooks for easy hanging; all you need are nails!

For the other mounting substrates, we recommend framing the mounted print or displaying it on an easel. We do not provide any type of hanging hardware and have not tested adhesive hanging hardware options.