Art mounting is one of the fundamental processes in the picture framing and wall décor industries. Yet, the term is often confused or misinterpreted, mainly because there are plenty of ways to mount artwork. In simple words, to mount a painting, photograph, or fine print means to attach it to the surface on which it will be displayed. This guide is meant to clarify all the mounting nuances and present you with the most common ways of completing this task.

Typology of Mounting

The first point you should remember is that the mounting can be temporary and permanent. Temporary mounting is a method of framing the artwork or attaching it to some surface for the specific purpose of an exhibition or auction sale. After that, the artwork is unmounted.

Permanent mounting is divided into archival and non-archival methods. The former is a careful, safe process of long-lasting mounting that doesn’t damage the artwork and can be easily changed on demand. The latter is a method of permanently fixing the artwork to a surface, meaning that it can’t be unmounted without being damaged. One example of non-archival mounting is plaque mounting. This method is recommended only for art prints and shouldn’t be used for originals.

Versatile Methods of Art Mounting

Here are a couple of safe, professional mounting methods you can use for your artwork.

• Mounting in a frame. The painting may be placed in a frame with or without a mat. If a mat is used, the artwork should first be mounted to the back of the mat and then placed in the frame. If no mat is used, the adhesive corners or double-sided tape are used to attach the painting within the frame.
• Plexi-face mounting. This is a more modern way of displaying artwork, which presupposes a chemical reaction of the plexiglass layer with the art object. Since it’s a non-archival mounting method, it should be used only with copies of art, not originals. The process involves compressing the artwork between two sheets of plexiglass in a heat press for a couple of minutes, waiting for the whole structure to turn into one.

If you’re still undecided about the best way to go about art mounting, it makes sense to partner with experts to find the best solutions for your art pieces. A professional can consult you on all these aspects to guarantee safe and professional art handling with minimal risks of damage.