Mounting, Framing, and Finishing Services
Photographs and other materials can be laminated and mounted or framed for display or presentation. Our finishing staff can handle a variety of custom presentations.
Matting
Mats can be cut for almost any subject. They are available in dozens of colors and textures. Mattes can be made with straight cuts or with beveled cuts and with single or multiple openings. Our automated Wizard Mat Cutter, a computer controlled, precision, cutting machine, is designed to cut up to a 40" x 60" matboard. The pattern library contains more than 100 different mat design templates, including rectangles, arrowheads, French stairs, etc., which can be resized into thousands of combinations. Ask one of our CSRs for more information.
Mat board Matte board is available in several colors and is used for very short term projects such as presentations. Because matte board is a paper product, edges become damaged easily meaning a relatively short useful life. Framing is recommeneded for most matted pieces.
Framing
Dodge Color, Inc. stocks many styles of pre-cut metal and wood frames.
Custom Framing Sample
Half-inch black metal Half-inch black metal frames are very popular because they go with a variety of decor and lend a high-tech look. These frames are exactly cut and assembled by us to your specification. Generally they are stocked in even, two inch increments.
ProEDGE™ trim This durable ABS plastic trim comes in a variety of colors and offers an attractive, finished edge-cap for prints mounted on 3/16" and 1/2" thick substrates. ProEDGE is an inexpensive alternative to framing, and provides stability and corner protection for lightweight foamboard mounts. The trim is available in blue, white, red, gold, chrome, pewter, and gloss or satin-finished black.
Mounting
Acrylic (Plexiglas) sheets, known as Plexiglas, are very popular for mounting transparancies, usually produced on Duratrans display material. Acrylic is available in 1/8 and 1/4 inch thickness' and is stocked in 4x8 foot sheets. It is available with special order in sizes up to 6x14 feet. Typically the acrylic sheet is clear, but is available in translucent ("frosted").
Front-mounted (face-mounted) transparancies (Duratrans) Display transparancies are typically mounted behind acrylic so the viewer looks through the acrylic to see the image. This provides three important benefits. First, the transparency is protected from scratches and abrasions that occur at any public display. If the acrylic is damaged, it can be polished by hand to repair it. Second, the transparency is full supported and laminated to the acrylic. Dirt and moisture cannot find their way between the transparency and the substrate. This means film sagging caused by humidity changes is eliminated. Thirdly, the acrylic protects the transparency from the fading and color changing effects of ultra-violet (UV) light, approximately doubling the useful life of the transparency.
Front-mounted (face-mounted) prints For a very attractive hanging display or presentation piece, photographs are often "float mounted" behind acrylic. This technique leaves a clear border around the print, inside a frame, giving the visual impression the photograph is floating in the frame.
Back-mounted prints and transparancies (Duratrans) Often, color prints are mounted on acrylic, especially in sizes larger that 4x8 feet. Display transparancies can be mounted to the front of acrylic for special purposes.
Box mounting Box mounting is popular for wall mounted photographic display. It makes the photograph appear to be mounted on a box the size of the photo, and 1-1/2 inches or more thick. Typically, the mounted item does not have any border showing. A box mount is usually 1-1/2 thick or more with a decorative edge, sometimes black, chrome or wood-like.
Substrates
The material on which an original is mounted is called a substrate. Dodge Color offers many kinds of substrates for different uses. In general, substrates are available up to 4x8 feet. There are several substrates available larger. Please ask our customer service representatives for specific information. Also, when considering substrates of larger sizes, transport can be a problem.
Gatorfoam our most popular mounting substrate, is a high density board that resists warping. We stock it in natural (kraft) color, and in black. It is available also in white and several other colors. The most popular thickness is 3/16 inch, and is available also in 1/2, 3/4, 1 and 1-1/2 inches. Available with a finished edge, Gatorfoam makes an attractive well-finished display.
Foamcore is a light density board for mounting. We stock it in a white color, and is available also in black and several other colors. The most popular thickness is 3/16 inch. Foamcore is available with a finished edge making an attractive well-finished display.
Sintra is an expanded PVC (plastic) board that is very durable and easy to shape. Popular for exhibits that will be shipped often, Sintra resists bent corners and warping. We stock Sintra in 3mm thick black, and is also available in white and many other colors in thicknesses of 1,2,5,6,9, and 12 mm.
