Mounting a poster you already own
Stop and ask one question first: would you mind if this could never be undone? Mounting usually glues a poster to a board for good.
Sort your poster into one of three piles.
| What you have | Our advice |
|---|---|
| Recent print or a reprint you could replace | Fine to mount, if the surface and size suit |
| Event or exhibition poster you are fond of | Probably fine, but accept that it is permanent |
| Original vintage poster, or signed or numbered print | Do not mount it. Talk to a paper conservator or a framer first |
| Poster with tears, tape or heavy creases | Ask us to look at it. A copy may serve you better |
Dry-mounted and glued sheets are very hard to lift again. On a collectable poster that can destroy much of the value. If your poster could be worth something, get an opinion before anything touches it.
What mounting will and will not fix
It will end the curl. Anything that has lived in a tube for years will lie flat on a board, and it will stop slipping around in a frame.
It will not remove creases. Fold lines soften a little but they stay, and a glossy poster shows them more than a matt one. It will not hide stains or fading either.
Measure it properly
Use a steel rule, in millimetres, along all four edges. Old posters are rarely square, and many were trimmed. Our listed sizes include two that match traditional British poster formats: 30in x 20in is the same as a double crown, and 40in x 30in is the size of a UK quad film poster. Posters from the US or Europe often fall between our sizes, so tell us the actual measurements and we will work out the board.
Choosing the backing
For most posters in a frame or on a bedroom wall, 3mm Foamex is plenty. Go to 5mm if the poster will hang without a frame at larger sizes. See choosing board thickness if you are unsure.
| Size | 3mm | 5mm |
|---|---|---|
| A2 | £7 | £8 |
| A1 | £12 | £14 |
| A0 | £20 | £25 |
| 30in x 20in | £10 | £11 |
| 40in x 30in | £20 | £22 |
Guide prices from our price list. They exclude VAT and delivery and assume print-ready artwork.
Can you bring it to us?
Whether we can mount a particular sheet depends on its paper, its surface and its condition, so please ask before you send or bring it. A photograph of the poster and its measurements is a good start. If it is too delicate, we can talk about making a copy.
The option most people forget
Keep the original safe and display a reproduction. A fragile poster can be scanned or photographed, then printed as a new sheet to any board you like. See artwork scanning and reprinting. Only copy work you have the right to reproduce, which for many posters means asking the rights holder.
From tube to flat board.
Your questions.
Can a mounted poster be taken off the board?
Plan on the answer being no. Some methods can be reversed by a specialist conservator, but ordinary display mounting is meant to be permanent.
My poster has been rolled for years. Can it be flattened without mounting?
Often it will relax if laid flat under light, even weight in a dry room for a while. Take care with brittle paper, and leave anything valuable to a conservator.
Will a mounted poster still fit in my frame?
Check the depth of the frame first. A 3mm board plus glass and backing may be too thick for a slim frame, so measure the rebate before you order.