About Sara Tro Expertise I am a professional custom picture framer and designer. I have experience in all areas of
picture framing, and own my own custom framing shop. I can answer questions relating
to the design of a piece, the preservation of the artwork, color theory, photograph
restoration, decor, art placement, room balancing and installation questions.
Experience I have owned my own retail custom frame shop for 5 years, and managed a high-end shop before that for 5.5 years. I worked for a professional restorer and archivist for 8 months prior to the management position. I am also a fine artist myself, with a BFA in Photography and Printmaking, and have been framing my own work for years and years.
Education/Credentials BFA Fine Arts, NYSCC at Alfred University, NY
Question Can you please tell me the difference between a flush mount and a salon mount when mounting a photograph?Thank you!
Answer Hi Mary,
Thank you for your email!
So sorry for my late reply.. I am a photographer too and it being wedding season, I have been distracted by weddings to photograph.. Humble apologies!
So, to answer your question...
hmmm....
To the best of my knowledge, a "flush" mount is when you mount a photograph and there is no substrate seen. So, you may have heard of "flush mount albums"? In these albums, the photographs will "bleed" off the page, meaning there is no border showing. I think in the photography world, this is what a general flush mount is.. No border showing, just photo.
As for the "salon mount".. I think this term refers to a very simple style of mounting for display, but not framed per say. I'm not positive, but I have heard this term used before when an artist will mount (using tissue or spray, most likely) a photograph onto a matboard or foam core, centered (I usually add visual weight to the bottom edge and maybe the top a little, for balance) and there would be no "over mat", so no top mat covering any of the image. The image then kind of floats on the substrate you choose, and the pieces are light and can be displayed temporarily (like for a week or less) this way. For longer installation times, I would frame the photographs at least with glass, which will protect them from being touched or splashed with something.
In the art installation world, the term "salon" means something entirely different, but I am pretty certain the above is correct when speaking of mounting photographs. Be sure and use the best quality materials you can afford. If using tissue and a heat press, do not mount ink jet prints. For a photograph, you can use Seal's "archival" tissues.. they are easy to place and cut and pretty easy to use in general. Avoid spray mounts if you will be selling the pieces, or if you have more than a few. The area gets sticky, your hands get sticky.. It can be a big mess if you have a show to present.
