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How to Mount Drawings on a Foamboard

Whether you mount drawings on a foamboard with tape or spray adhesive, it is important to always use acid-free products if the drawing is something that is to be preserved for a long time. Much less expensive materials can be used if the drawing is not of major value.



Foamboard comes in different thicknesses from 1/4 inch to 3/8 inch. The thicker one is recommended for most applications from 8-by-10 inches and up. The better quality ones have acid-free outer layers over the foam and are not significantly more expensive than non-acid-free boards.

Things You'll Need

  • Sharp craft knife
  • Metal straight edge
  • Acid-free, double-sided tape
  • 1/4-inch wooden dowel
  • Acid-free spray adhesive
  • Soft paint roller
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Instructions

  1. Traditional Taping Technique

    • 1

      Mark the foamboard where it is to be cut and place a metal ruler along the marks as a guide for cutting. Cut the foam board slightly larger than the drawing to be mounted using a sharp craft knife. Cut it larger if a border is planned around the drawing.

    • 2

      Center the drawing on the foamboard and position it where you want to place it. Leave a small margin for error on boards that will be trimmed to fit later. Make light marks at the top corners to identify where the drawing will be place once adhered.

    • 3

      Turn the drawing face down and apply a piece of acid-free, double-sided tape along the top edge of the drawing. Turn it over and position it so it lines up with the top-corner marks. Lightly press on one corner and make any positioning adjustments before completely adhering the top strip.

    • 4

      Fold back the drawing gently and apply the tape along both sides and bottom of the drawing. Place several 1/4-inch dowels under the drawing crosswise to keep the tape from adhering to the board. Gently smooth down the tape starting from the top of each side and work your way down, moving the dowels out of the way one by one. Make any adjustment as you go before the sides are completely adhered.

    • 5

      Smooth the bottom tape gently, starting from the middle and working out. Go over the entire edge of the drawing with more pressure once you are satisfied with the positioning. Trim any excess foamboard from around the drawing.

    Spray-Adhesive Mounting

    • 6

      Follow Steps 1 and 2 in Section 1.

    • 7

      Turn the drawing over on a flat surface. Spray the back of the drawing with acid-free adhesive. Move from side to side and apply a light, even coat. Avoid saturating the drawing.

    • 8

      Place dowels across the foamboard and align the top edge of the drawing with the top corner marks.

    • 9

      Smooth out the drawing gently, starting at the top center and working out to the edges. Continue gradually down the length of the drawing being sure to smooth out any bubbles as you go. Usually the adhesive allows the drawing to be repositioned in small increments so progress slowly and make adjustments immediately as you encounter a problem.

    • 10

      Use a soft paint roller over the entire drawing to finalize the adhesion. Start in the middle and work out to all the edges. Use only enough pressure to ensure adhesion, not enough to compress the foamboard.

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