DIP Online
Designs Ink Publishing
Article Archive and Reference Library
Articles by Chris A.
Paschke, CPF GCF CMG
"Innovative Sink Mounts"
April 2010
Sink mounting is the technique of creating a noninvasive, reversible,
preservation support system of a sink mat which surrounds and houses art to be held
in place by the edges of a top window mat.
They are akin to
edge strips and are a versatile option for many mounting dilemmas from magazines, and books to wax
saturated encaustic papers. All framers should
already have the sink mount in their mounting repertoire as an alternative
technique when other mounting methods are not suitable or just will not hold.
The Basics
A
traditional one piece sink mat features a blunt cut opening in a solid sheet of
sized foam center or rag board as a perimeter border that supports thick items beneath
a window mat(s) (diagram 1). It may be cut from a solid 4- or 8-ply board,
1/8" or 3/16" foam board (photo 1), or as side strips assembled
in a pinwheel design as the exterior support with the same end result. When a solid foam center board is used the
borders should be lined and blunt cut using the straight edge side of the
cutter. Overcutting the corners a good
inch helps insure a clean inner corner when the fallout is removed.
The top
window mat may be blunt or bevel cut for maximum overlap, as it serves as the
stay which holds the art inside the sink mount. See PFM "Sink Mounting", November
2006 or http://DesignsInkArt.com/library.htm to review this earlier
article.
Thin and Saturated
Paper
Though sink mounts are most often thought of for
thicker art that need more support behind a window mat, thin collectables
requiring preservation mounting methods are also good candidates for this
technique. As when using preservation edge
strips, single sheet art must be strong enough to support its own weight when
standing on long end in order for a sink mount to be used. If delicate art is placed in a sink mount it
can buckle and become damaged at the lower corners as gravity drags it
down.
The supporting window mat should barely touch the
art housed in the sink mount with a gap of no more than 1/32" to
1/16" space (diagram 2). If lightweight art is strong
enough for corner pockets or edge strips, but is placed too loosely inside too
deep of a sink mount, it may also ripple or cockle damaging the art or
collectable in time (photo 2). An unbeveled—blunt cut--thinner sheet of clear
acrylic or 4-ply board should be fitted inside the mount to lift the paper and
prevent cockling (photo 3).
Wax saturated paper cannot be hinged using
traditional starch paste because nothing will stick to the wax besides more wax
(photo 4). These have been traditionally mounted with corner
pockets or edge strips, but sink mounts are a nice alternative method for
display. Once again the paper should
just kiss the back of the window mat for proper depth (diagram 3). It must never
allow the art to sit above the edge of the sink mount spacer.
A free form shape may also be sink mounted (photo 5), and may require a lifter with coordinating color to showcase the art and visually fill the square. An ochre colored 4-ply board was fitted as a lifter behind the wax soaked free form portrait in photo 6 allowing for a color contrast accenting the shape while filling the sink mount void.
Pinwheel
The
pinwheel is an alternative technique for the same result as the one piece unit
above, but allows for scrap strips of board to be fitted for the boarder. The strips are
attached with PVA glue or ATG tape to the backing board aligned around the art then
topped with a window mat cut with 1/4" overlap to hold the art in place (diagram 4).
Cut four strips
the length of the longest side of the backing. Apply ATG tape to the back of
the strips and begin alignment in a pinwheel fashion at a random inner corner
of the pattern. Butt
each successive strip against the previous one, making certain the strips are
flush with outer edge of foam base. Turn sink unit face down and cut the protruding strip ends so
they are flush with the sides of the backing board.
Sink mount strips
should be level with the surface of the art so the window mat barely rests on its edges,
but is not held up by the thicker art. There
should also be no gap between the window mat and the art placed behind it. A sink mat should have only a tiny amount of
room side to side for paper expansion. Though any number of
decorative mats may be included in the design, the bottom mat is the only one
that holds the art or collectable in place.
This method also uses no adhesives, clips or permanent fusing, making
the process 100% save and used by conservators around the world.
Contemporary Sink Mounts
Traditional sink mounts are comprised of rag mats and/or foam center boards, but contemporary versions--Essential Acrylic Frame Enclosures--have been recently launched by Gemini Moulding using acrylic sheeting (photo 7). There are three layers sandwiched as 1/8" acrylic top, center sink mat (mount), and back panel in clear or opaque options. When both front and back are clear it allows for viewing from either side (photo 8). These enclosures may be constructed with surface sheets as regular clear acrylic, UV OP3, or Optium acrylic for a variety of preservation requirements and are hung by saw tooth hangers glued to the back. They may also be fitted with stands for tabletop display.
When the item being framed is thicker, such as a book, additional
inner layers deepen the sink mount to accommodate a full range of item
thicknesses from magazines to books. Two
3/8" sink mats are fitted between clear 1/8" front and back sheets
for the book in this enclosure (photo 9).
Glazed and Unglazed
Art
Though mixed media encaustics may need glass, but full
wax coated paper and panels do not require glazing. The beauty of using a sink mount for
encaustic is that sized window mat blanks may be laminated with a vinyl
heat-set film first then widow cut and will not require glazing (photo 10). A laminated sink mount window mat is best when
blunt cut mat to eliminate any visual unlaminated bevel. A reverse bevel should not be used because of
lessening the overlap required to support the panel in the sink mount.
Sink mounts are a safe, protective way to handle any
dimensional art or collectible. Though
not considered a shadowbox design, they may require a deeper moulding to
properly support the additional thickness of unit construction. As illustrated they may be comprised of clear
acrylic sheeting or cotton rag boards and are a solution to many mounting
challenges. The integration of laminates
also allows for a contemporary look desired by many of today's artists and interior
designers.
END
photo 1: A 3/16"
foam center board is window cut with a blunt edge for this 1/4" birch
plywood panel with encaustic.
photo 2: A single sheet of paper in a sink mat sandwich that is too deep for the sheet allows the sheet to bow at the corners which could allow damage over time. A 4-ply lifter or filler would have helped prevent this.
photo 3: The calligraphy has a square format allowing it to be sink mounted with window mat and 4-ply lifter. Since wax saturation makes wax translucent the selected lifter board should color enhance the art, this one is crème.
photo 4: Two
encaustic wax soaked 90# papers, square (left) and free form (right).
photo 5: The
free form sample needs a lifter with proper color to best showcase the art and
fill out the square.
photo 6: An ochre colored 4-ply board was fitted as a lifter behind the paper as a contrast to accent the free form edge and fill the sink mount.
photo 7: A sink mat is sandwiched between sheets of 1/8" clear acrylic backed with opaque black. Photos courtesy of Gemini Moulding.
photo 8: By adding sink mats the basic acrylic sandwich easily accommodates books and magazines.
photo 9: Two 3/8" sink mats are fitted between clear 1/8" front and back sheets for the book in this enclosure.
photo 10: By heat laminating the window blank prior to blunt cutting the window, glazing is not required for encaustic soaked paper.
For more articles on design or mounting search your desired
topic under Articles by Subject.
If you know your specific title check Articles by Title.
Additional information on mounting basics is found in
The Mounting and Laminating Handbook, Second Edition, 2002, and
The Mounting And Laminating Handbook, Third Edition, 2008.
Creative Mounting, Wrapping, And Laminating, 2000
will teach you everything you need to know about getting the most from your dry mount equipment
and materials as an innovative frame designer. All books are available from Designs Ink Publishing through this website.
Chris A Paschke, CPF GCF
Designs Ink
Designs Ink Publishing
785 Tucker Road, Suite G-183
Tehachapi, CA 93561
661.821.2188
info@designsinkart.com