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Special Projects
Whether you need prints you use as underpaintings, to be acrylic face-mounted, or to display at a memorial service, Old Town Editions is ready to help you with these special projects. There are many uses for prints beyond standard art reproduction and sale, and we love seeing everything that our clients create with their prints. Trends and styles change and with those changes come new ways to finish and display your prints. We have continually expanded our offerings over the years to keep up with the latest trends in printmaking and print display.
Acrylic Face-Mount Printing
Create prints to be mounted to acrylic panels for a modern display
Underpainting Prints
Use a giclee print on canvas as a template to paint over
Memorial Prints
Print a portrait for display at a memorial or funeral service
Oversized prints face-mounted on acrylic and displayed seamlessly
Acrylic Face-Mount Prints
Acrylic face mounts offer a modern and dramatic way to finish and display your images. This type of mounting is perfect for high-detail images with a lot of color saturation, as light refracts through the plexiglass and intensifies the colors and clarity of the image. Acrylic face-mounted prints will look right at home in modern interiors.
In the acrylic face mount process, a clear adhesive is applied to the face of a print produced on high-quality glossy photo paper and adhered to high-quality, optically clear acrylic (plexiglass). The print will be backed with Sintra or Dibond to provide rigidity. You can then hang the piece as is or you can choose to have a floating box mount added that makes the acrylic face mount print look like it is floating on your wall. Depending on your preferences, you can order 1/16″ to 1/2″ plexiglass thickness. These prints are UV-resistant and water-resistant. Acrylic face mounts are estimated to last more than 80 years before fading.
Please note that the face-mounting work is not done in-house, but you will still be able to pick up your final, face-mounted prints at our studio. Allow for some extra time in your deadline for the print to travel to and from our studio.
Photograph by Pat McMahon
Artist Andrew McClain with acrylic face-mounts of his images
Acrylic Panel Care Instructions
To clean acrylic and plexiglass, start by clearing away any debris with a soft framing brush. Then, use a premium micro-fiber cloth with soapy water to clean the entire surface area. After wetting the cloth, be sure to lightly blot the surface, rather than applying pressure as you wipe. Too much pressure can actually result in more scratches. After you have wiped the entire piece of acrylic, use the dry side of the cloth to dry or buff the area. Buffing or polishing the acrylic surface reduces future stains. If there are any remaining streaks, re-wet the cloth and dry again.
There are a couple of cleaning items that you’ll want to stay away from to avoid accidentally damaging the acrylic. Do not use paper towels because they will not remove scratches and may even cause them. Stick with a micro-fiber type of cloth. Avoid ammonia based products, like Windex or other home glass cleaners, because they contain harmful chemicals that will actually damage the surface, leaving it looking cloudy. Soapy water is the safest and most effective cleaning method.
Underpainting Prints
Giclee prints can be used as underpaintings, to create a template for you to paint over top of. Often the print will be made at a low opacity so that the image is just there for reference but is easily covered. Using prints to aid in the creation of new, original artwork is becoming more common as digital printing techniques advance. We work with a number of artists who have used giclee prints as underpaintings and have found success creating original artwork this way.
It’s important to note that in order for your artwork to be considered an original painting, you need to fully cover the underpainting print. If you only partially paint over it, leaving areas of the print visible, this would be considered an embellished print or a mixed media artwork, but not an original painting. Embellished prints and mixed media artworks are both perfectly acceptable, but it’s important to label your artwork accurately so as not to mislead your customers.
When creating giclee prints to be used as underpaintings, it’s important to know what medium you plan to use to work over the top of the print.
Acrylic paint: Paint directly on the canvas print with no varnish, and finish with a clear gel medium to protect the paint and print.
Oil paint: Paint over a varnished canvas. The varnish will keep the oils from breaking down the ink layer and causing the ink to mix with your paints.
Memorial and Funeral Prints
Often times when a friend or loved one passes away you have the need to create a centerpiece for the family to view during the memorial ceremonies. Or you might like to just create a keepsake to keep and cherish. When printing with Old Town Editions, you create a lasting memory that can also serve as the centerpiece of your ceremony with our memorial/funeral prints.
Printing a photograph of your loved one can be a wonderful way to honor them; this print can be displayed as a remembrance at the ceremony and continue to be cherished for generations.
Whether you have a piece of art, a digital image, or a small printed picture you need to be enlarged we can help. We offer digital photo restoration and photo enlargement services and will work with you to create exactly what you need.
In an effort to make things as easy and simple as possible during these difficult times, we have fast turnaround times for same-week returns on the memorial or funeral prints. You will have one-on-one time with a technician who will be aiding you in your creation. We understand that often there is limited time when planning memorial services, and we do not charge rush fees for this service.
We offer printing on canvas or fine art papers, as well as custom canvas stretching. We will help you figure out whether paper or canvas printing options fit your needs and timeline best.
If you find yourself needing a print for a memorial service, please reach out at 703-684-0005, or use our online contact form.
FAQ
How do I get started?
If you have a special project you’d like to work with us on, please reach out! You can reach us at 703-684-0005, or via e-mail at info@oldtowneditions.com. We do require appointments, so please reach out if you’d like to set up a time to come by the studio.
I have a project not listed here, can you help?
If you have a specialized project that you need prints for that you don’t see listed here, please reach out to us! We’re happy to let you know if your project is something that we can provide prints for, or if it requires services we don’t offer.
How much does acrylic face-mounting cost?
The cost of acrylic face-mounts is determined by size, thickness of plexi, and the finishing options you choose for hanging hardware. Please reach out to us if you’d like to get an estimate for printing and face-mounting.