Relief map mounting

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Eric A

Eric A

CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
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Oct 14, 2020
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Sarasota, FL
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Artfinity Giclee Printing
So I have a botanical garden that brought me this map that is 38" x 52" and they want it mounted and framed and it cannot have glazing on it. It is going to be used as a research tool so they need to be able to look at it with a magnifying glass. This is going to be moved around the department but never really hung or displayed to the public. They just need a way to protect the condition of it as it is very rare and not replaceable. My question is how on Earth do I mount this thing to keep it "flat" so I can frame it? Everything in yellow has depth to it.
map1.jpg
map2.jpg
 
What a unique piece! Pretty awesome.

Some contradictions there on what they want and imagine, versus preserving it correctly

Is it paper or plastic?

I would recommend using a deeper box, with plexiglass, but with access from the front (either hinges or magnets). That way it would be protected to the best of abilities when not in use. But it could still be taken out for closer looks

In that case, the map should be mounted onto something quite rigid (so you take out the map with the backing). I can't think of any way to have that reversible though. I imagine the only way to do this properly is wet mounting it. If paper, that is going to be quite tricky. Bit scary!

Another way would be with rare earth magnets, but they would have to handle it with extreme care when they take it out.

The 'rare' and 'irreplaceable' is what would bother me the most. You might need to have another discussion with them
 
Some items were just not intended to be framed and used as they were made.

With that said, and not being too concerned with reversibility here is an idea since they want to touch and poke at the map.

version 1
1) glue the non-dimensional surfaces to a rigid panel of our choice

version 2
1) place the map upside down and fill in the back cavities with the best grade of expanding foam.
2) after the foam sets, remove(sand or cut) all the high spots. This will level the entire back side to the same planar surface.
3) attach this "open faced sandwich" to a rigid panel of your choice.
 
I call them bumpy maps. They are plastic. I spray glue onto all of the flat areas and then attach it to something rigid.

My maps were alot smaller so I used foam core then just put a frame around it.
Most times it was a map of somewhere in Maine but I have had ones from national parks.

Rare or not, you still need some sort of adhesive to hold it in place.
 
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I'm wondering about the "rare and irreplaceable" claim. Have you tried translating the name of the manufacturer and Googling it? I looked up "relief maps of Columbia" and there are a bunch of options, though I didn't see this one in particular.

I've framed pieces like this. Vacuum formed topographic maps where the only real flat area is the perimeter and possibly the ocean. My experience is that the plastic ages rather quickly and gets brittle and yellows. If they really are concerned about it going forward, it would be best kept in an archival lightproof box in cold storage. Displaying it with any light source and no UV filtration will cut its lifespan.
 
Yeah, I have a couple of mine in here that have begun to crack. I takes about 20 years or so tho...and that's solely under fluorescent lights.
 
I have framed a few of these every year, but never ones where conservation was a concern.
The biggest I've seen was about 24"x30"
I've use Self Adhesive foamboard like Perfectmount.

I think Ylva has the right idea with a front opening frame.
 
I hate these things. I've framed a few in my time and they are never flat no matter what you do. The vacuforming always makes the "flat" border rippled if the raised portion is close to the edge. We used adhesive foam pads (like 3M command) just because they had some thickness to them. I should warn you that the ones we did were replaceable.

I'd be a little worried to fill the back with expandible foam. It expands in all directions, so the plastic would have to rigid enough that the expansion doesn't distort the map.
 
I am not sure about the foam idea either, not sure how that can be controlled. You could make molds from plaster of Paris or such, or any papier mache, just to give it more stability if needed.

Time to have this discussion with the customer. Everyone did say this was plastic, is it so? It getting brittle might be more concerning then.
 
One thing to remember is that most vacuum formed 3-d maps are made from Styrene plastic. A very unstable plastic over time.

Regarding the method I suggested. many craft products us expanded foam. The bulk of the excess can be removed with a kitchen carving knife or a multitool. The balance is sanded off.
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framah said:
I call them bumpy maps. They are plastic. I spray glue onto all of the flat areas and then attach it to something rigid.

My maps were alot smaller so I used foam core then just put a frame around it.
Most times it was a map of somewhere in Maine but I have had ones from national parks.

Rare or not, you still need some sort of adhesive to hold it in place.
Click to expand...
This map is a heavy paper not plastic. What kind of glue can I use that will not leach through the paper or burn it over time? Thanks, Eric
 
wpfay said:
I'm wondering about the "rare and irreplaceable" claim. Have you tried translating the name of the manufacturer and Googling it? I looked up "relief maps of Columbia" and there are a bunch of options, though I didn't see this one in particular.

I've framed pieces like this. Vacuum formed topographic maps where the only real flat area is the perimeter and possibly the ocean. My experience is that the plastic ages rather quickly and gets brittle and yellows. If they really are concerned about it going forward, it would be best kept in an archival lightproof box in cold storage. Displaying it with any light source and no UV filtration will cut its lifespan.
Click to expand...
The owners have the only two left that are known to exsist and it was only printed for six months in the 1980's. The other one is cut in four pieces and they lost one of the pieces. They are one of the premier orchid reseachers in the world and I guess this map is very accurate compared to others. So I doubt that I will find another one. This is not a plastic map. It is a very heavy weight paper. Overall this is a very heavy piece compared to what I am use to for a paper print that size. I would guess it weighs about double what a normal art print that size does.
 
As everything in life, there has to be a compromise. In this case the owners want to handle it on a regular basis and not just look at it. They have to make the final decision.
 
I would probably contact a paper conservator for recommendations. Seeing how this is a truly unique piece but needs to hold up to being handled, I stand by my first recommendation. The attachment is something a conservator might be able to either do for you, or to tell you how to.
 
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