Ordering Custom Frames or Mats Has Never Been Easier!

Wednesday, March 10, 2010


VIEW OUR ALL-NEW CUSTOM MAT AND FRAME CENTER! Click Here

Light Impressions - 1-800-828-6216
OUR NEW CUSTOM MAT AND FRAME CENTER MAKES CUSTOM ORDERING EASY!
Find Your Pot Of Gold At The End Of The Rainbow March 17th! Watch For Our Email.
Light Impressions  |  PO Box 2100 Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670  |  800.828.6216  |  info@lightimpressionsdirect.com
– We are not responsible for typographical errors or omissions.

Light Impressions News: History of Dry Mounting

Thursday, March 4, 2010


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Light Impressions - 1-800-828-6216
Light Impressions Newsletter

Dry mounting techniques have changed significantly since the first method was employed in the 1900's, but the concept remains the same: dry mounting is used primarily to mount photographs and water-sensitive artwork to a flat surface, thus making them easier to display and at the same time reducing the amount of damage that may be caused to an unprotected piece over time.

A History of Dry Mounting

The dry mounting technique typically utilizes a heat-activated adhesive tissue that bonds a photograph or other document to the mounting material. The method first gained considerable notice commercially in 1901, when shellac-based dry mounting was patented. It was particularly effective for keeping photographs from curling without causing them damage or being too messy to work with, and was widely accepted. In 1905, several recipes for dry mounting began to emerge in various publications, but it was M. Briand's recipe that appeared in The British Journal of Photography that would become the standard.

In 1907, the Adhesive Dry Mounting Company, Limited began offering self-adhesive papers alongside its dry mount adhesive product, and Medine, Limited advertised classy boards suitable for dry mounting. The Adhesive Dry Mounting Company also introduced the first commercial dry mount presses in 1904, and the design has changed very little from the modern presses utilized today.

Several legal battles were waged between the Adhesive Dry Mounting Company and competitors who sought to introduce their own dry mount adhesive products. These were mainly patent infringement cases, and the Adhesive Dry Mounting Company's own patent was overturned in 1910, as it was proven that their method for shellac-based dry mounting had actually existed beforehand in France and throughout other areas of Europe. The overturning of the patent resulted in a flood of dry mounting adhesives and products entering the market, produced by other companies.

In 1915, the Adhesive Dry Mounting Company, Limited added the anagram "ADEMCO" to their products and promoted themselves as the original pioneers of dry mounting in an effort to remain competitive. The process has changed very little to this day, though new advances in materials and adhesives throughout the years have resulted in the availability of many types of dry mount products.

Benefits of Dry Mounting

Utilized to mount not just photographs, but also artwork and posters, dry mounting is touted as an easier, cleaner, and faster method of mounting than wet mounting methods. While dry mounting is typically not reversible, (and can cause bubbling or scorching of the photographs if not done correctly), the process is highly effective for keeping photographs flat and protecting them from harm. It also makes the photo easier to display and handle.

Choosing quality dry mount materials is of course an important element for successful dry mounting. Low quality materials can eventually cause a decrease in stability, and mounting boards can become brittle. Additionally, if they are not acid-free, they can damage photographs and artwork over time.

Light Impressions, the leading resource for archival and presentation supplies, maintains a selection of quality dry mounting adhesives, presses, mounting boards, and additional dry mounting tools and accessories.

Our inventory of Dry Mount Adhesives includes both cold-mounting adhesives and heat activated mounting adhesive rolls, Colormount tissue rolls, and HeatTec Low Temperature Mounting Tissue. Our Mounting Boards include Gatorfoam sheets and ArtCare 100% Cotton Rag Foam Board, among others.

Please browse through our Dry Mounting Products, tools and accessories to find the items that best suit your needs for mounting your own photographs and artwork.

click here to shop our site

Jet Mount Fome-Cor Board, 20/pkg

Item# 9490
$154.44 each
buy now

Pres-On Premiere, 16 x 20 - 12/pkg

Item# 7859
$82.35 each
buy now

Burnishing Roller

Item# 7535
$13.80 each
buy now

Light Impressions  |  PO Box 2100 Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670  |  800.828.6216  |  info@lightimpressionsdirect.com

10% Off AND Free Shipping All Week Long!

Monday, February 22, 2010


10% OFF AND FREE SHIPPING ALL WEEK LONG! Click Here To Start Shopping »

Light Impressions - 1-800-828-6216
10% OFF AND FREE SHIPPING  - Enter promo code LN22 at checkout - Shop Now!
Light Impressions  |  PO Box 2100 Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670  |  800.828.6216  |  info@lightimpressionsdirect.com
- 10% off and Free Shipping is only available on orders of $199 or more.
- Enter key code LN22 at checkout. One key code per order.
- Offer expires Sunday 2/28/10 at midnight PST.
- Offer does not apply toward the purchase of gift certificates.
- Cannot be combined with any other offer and offer does not apply on previous purchases.
- Valid only within the contiguous US.
- Additional shipping surcharges may apply to oversized orders.
- We are not responsible for typographical errors/omissions.

Archival Protective Envelopes are 15% Off!

Wednesday, February 17, 2010


SAVE 15% ON OUR ARCHIVAL PROTECTIVE ENVELOPES! See Our Selection

Light Impressions - 1-800-828-6216
Now through February 21st, place an order for any of our Archival Protective Envelopes and we'll give you 15% off!  - Enter promo code LN17 at checkout - Shop Now!
Shop Our New Website! - Click Here!
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Light Impressions  |  PO Box 2100 Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670  |  800.828.6216  |  info@lightimpressionsdirect.com
— 15% Off items in our Archival Protective Envelopes category only.
— Please use code LN17 at checkout for discount to apply.
— Offer expires Sunday 2/21/10 at midnight PST.
— Offer not valid on previous orders, and cannot be combined with other discount code offers.
— Offer not valid on gift certificates.

We're Your Go-To Resource for Mats and Matboards

Tuesday, February 9, 2010


NOT ALL MATS ARE CREATED EQUAL, AND WE'RE HERE TO HELP! Click Here For More Info.

Light Impressions - 1-800-828-6216
We Are Your Go-To Resource For Mats And Matboards
Light Impressions Newsletter

Mats and Matboards

Let Light Impressions be your go-to resource for Mats and Matboards. Remember, all mats are not created equal!
  • We Worry About What You Can't See!
  • Extra protection Always Included!
  • Light Impressions product pass P.A.T. - The World's Toughest Testing Standard!
  • Our Colors and Adhesives Stay True!
We offer mat boards in four thicknesses: 2-, 4-, 6-, and 8-ply!
2-Ply
Great for portfolio use where space is critical or as a backing board. (1/32" thick, 27.5pt.)
4-Ply
Creates adequate separation between your artwork and glazing. (1/16" thick, 55pt.)
6-Ply (Dualtone)
Provides structural support and dramatic depth. (3/32" thick, 82.5 pt.)
8-Ply Our premier matboard
A window in 8-ply adds depth and drama to any image. Also ideal for larger photographs or artwork that need more structural support. (1/8" thick, 110pt.)
1. What Are You Matting?

All black-and-white prints and documents should be matted in buffered boards like the Westminster and Westminster DuoTone Cotton Rag Board, Museum Board and Exeter Conservation Board. Color prints, dye transfers, albumen prints, and textiles like wool and silk belong on non-buffered boards like our Westminster 100% Cotton Non-Buffered Rag Board (page 27).

2. How Valuable Is The Item You Are Matting?

Consider both the monetary and sentimental value of your art or photo. For an extremely valuable or irreplaceable piece, our Westminster 100% Cotton Rag Board and Westminster DuoTone are the premier choices. However, our Exeter Conservation Board (page 23) is an excellent and safe alternative at a budget friendly price.

3. How Much Cutting Do You Want To Do?

You'll save money with our matboard in full 32"x 40" sheets. But you may prefer the convenience of our Pre-Cut Exhibition Mats (cut with standard-sized window openings) or Standard-Cut Sheets (with no window opening). We can also custom cut board to your exact specifications. (See order form for details or search "Custom Mats" online.)

4. What Is The Size Of Your Photo or Artwork?

For mats up to 16" x 20", we recommend a 2-ply back with a 4-ply front. For mats up to and including 22" x 28", we recommend 4-ply for both front and back. Mats larger than 22" x 28" should have a 6- or 8-ply front and 4-ply back.


View Our Mat Boards Click Here!

Shop Our New Website! - Click Here!
Light Impressions  |  PO Box 2100 Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670  |  800.828.6216  |  info@lightimpressionsdirect.com
— We are not responsible for typographical errors.
— Visit lightimpressionsdirect.com for more information