Dry Mounting  

Dry Mounting is a skill used to permanently affix an image to a stronger acid-free or ph neutral substrate. It is an important skill to keep images from bending or rippling during presentation or whilst in storage.

Flush Mounting is when the image and the board are the same size.

Float Mounting is when the image floats in the middle of the board allowing the board to be used in the presentation as well as for it's support.

How-To-Do-It

1.) Attach the Dry Mount Tissue to the back of the image using a tacking iron. Drag the end of the tacking iron a couple of inches at a diagonal.
Do not go all the way to the corners of the image.
Remember that you are "tacking" not "glueing".
Don't go too slow or you will melt the photo paper's surface, causing a shiny spot.

2.) Cut the image down using the rototrim.
Because both the image and the dry mount tissue are together, by cutting them at this stage, they will be exactly the same size.

3.) Flip the right-side-up. Use the image positioner (if you want to visually weight the image) or measure to align the image on the board.

4.) Without moving the image, grab a corner of the image (not the tissue) and pull up toward the center so you can see the tissue touching the mount board.
Use a tacking iron to adhere the tissue to the board.
Drag from the center outward, but don't drag onto the board or it will get the adhesive all over it.
Do the same for the opposing corner.

5.) Put the entire deal inside a mount press.
Make sure it is between the release sheets and at the correct temperature.
Close the press and let it cook for the right time (usually around a minute or so).

6.) Take the mounted image out and put it under a cold plate for a minute or two to let it cool off without bending.
If the image is lifting on the edges, throw it back in for another minute.