A few months ago, I proposed a tutorial on mounting prints; Yesterday I finally had, simultaneously, the benefit of time and recollection. So without further ado:
Icon Mounting Tutorial for the LaymanMaterials:Print
Wood
Suitable lacquer/varnish, glue, resin, etc.
Large and fine paintbrushes
Pencil
Straight edge
Plastic card
Utility knife or scissors
Saw
Sandpaper (80-150 grit is fine)
Newspaper
Preparation:Select icon print.Icon prints made on a personal use inkjet printer will be the most susceptible to color bleed. Glossy icons from calendars, magazines, etc. are often the better choice.
Always produce a high-resolution copy of a rare or personally valuable icon print before mounting it, in case something goes wrong. You could always mount the copy instead, too.
Select wood.I used a spare cedar plank for my wood base. I recommend using any scrap wood you have lying around, or if you don’t feel up to measuring and cutting the wood, you could buy a small section from a hardware store or lumber yard and have them cut it for you. But that’s a lot of hassle, so don’t do it. Salpy mentioned staining the wood; you can do this, but with soft woods, the lacquer alone brings out a bit of the natural wood color.
Select lacquer.Be careful not to use water-based glues. I used a matte acrylic lacquer for this demonstration, because it produces a non-reflective finish and doesn’t bleed the colors; this is my recommended lacquer.
Instruction:Cut print out.I cut this particular print out free-handed, as it has ornate edges and a separate plaque. For standard prints, cut using the straight edge and utility knife.
Cut wood.Measure your print. Add ½ to 1 cm onto the length and width. The more “border” gap you add between the edge of the wood and the edge of the icon, the less precise you will have to be for it to look presentable. Lightly sand edges until roughness from the cut is removed. Sand the face to remove any bumps, and sand the reverse side so that your wall will not be damaged.
Apply lacquer to wood.This coat should be extremely thin. Do not neglect the vertical sides of the wood.
Place print onto wood.Adhere from top to bottom, pressing with a plastic card to remove air bubbles as you go along.
Apply lacquer to print and wood.Using a diagonal brushstroke with a large brush, apply a thin coat of lacquer to the print and wood, being mindful of the print edges and sides. Smooth out your strokes with a fine brush.
Apply 3 more coats, with 1 hour intervals between each coat.
Apply a 5th, diluted coat.Gently mix 1/4 part water with 1 part lacquer, being careful not to generate bubbles. Spend extra time using the fine brush for this last coat.
Let dry 24 hours.
And there you have it. This is an icon of Sts. Theodore Stratelates and Nicholas of Myra, from the 2011 St. Tikhon’s seminary calendar.
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