Toronto Photography Meetup Group

So, I'm not sure if I'm using the right terminology -- I mean the mounting system where they mount the photo onto a slab of particle board (kinda like plywood) and there's an indentation on the backside that lets you hang it up on the wall... you know what I mean? And they let you choose the colour for the edge.

Anyway, my question is, will this survive the sort of humidity one finds in a bathroom? (e.g., when I run the shower, the whole room gets a little misty.)

And if not, what other type of art can survive a bathroom environment?

Thanks people!

a vacuum sealed photo will survive the humidity.

Dan - I suspect that the adhesive that is used to bond the wood chips/particles will be susceptible to deterioration from humidity. Do you have to hang your image in the bathroom or is there a better place to present it?

If you must hang it in a bathroom, I'd suggest printing the image on a media that is not hydroscopic (avoid paper, wood fibre, even canvas) and opt for RC paper (resin coated) for B&W silver prints or plexi, dibond or aluminum for colour. Of course, none of those will be archival but you may not care.

Good luck.

You can always take the picture out of the bathroom as you shower. Or just take cold showers!

Spraying it with a clear laquer might be an option too.

My mother has kept that type of mounted art in her washroom for years in similar circumstances without difficulty. As long as you have reasonable circulation (ie. so it doesn't remain really damp) it should be fine.

particle board does not stand humidity. If you get condensation on the mirror when you use the bathroom then the particle board will not last more than a few months.

Different materials can be used to mount the work some waterproof others not.

I sold a sealed 4' x 2' framed image a couple of years ago to a couple in the beach area that hung it in their bathroom. Apparently it has survived just fine! I think the key is that the bathroom has good ventilation.

We also have framed work in our bathroom - and it has survived the moisture. But we also put the fan on after having a shower.

Thanks for the feedback... I suppose I could find some other kind of art (non-photo-based); but I was kinda hoping to use my own images.

What was that about "vacuum sealed"? How/where does one get that?

that was just a thought i had since it doesn't seem to be affected by the temperature (thinking about headlights on a car). i tried googling it and it doesn't exist. ...............yet

You could laminate it. Try Dr Copy on St Clair (not too far from the Wychwood Barns). If your photo is not too large they should be able to laminate it in a pouch that will seal the photo. If laminated properly moisture should not be able to get to the photo.

Framing the artwork in an archival fashion is the best way to ensure longevity. PERIOD.

Cheaper quality options such as plak mounting, or non-archival framing will not withstand the humidity and extreme changes in temperature during a shower or what have you. Non-archival systems include using paper based backing boards and mat boards as well as plastic frames or HDF frames. the best choices are solid wood frames as they will not be affected by the changes with in the room. Metal frames are another option but will condensate on inside which may lead to damage. Make sure every step the frame shop uses when handling your piece and assembling the piece is archival and you will have a long lasting piece of your own artwork in your bathroom.

Also as a side note the laminating option is true that it will prevent any damage due to condensation but it could possibly warp due to temperature. Not 100% sure on the warping but it is possible because it is such thin plastic.

It also doesn't look that nice... just my thought.

Or.....

You can use a place like this and have a fresh copy
of your art work when ever you.... Well you know

http://jeremyinc.com/

Tim

even after my long framing post i would like to 2nd tim there on that last post. now that is just awesome.

Well that Jeremy thing is certainly something to think about!

Although it's true that a laminated print on its own might look a bit bleah, I think if I laminate it and then frame it, it might not be *too* bad...

If you have the cash TIW can do it up in a waterproof mount.

How about printing directly on metal
http://www.scottkelby.com/blog/2009/archives/6589

FWIW, I've had this hanging in a frame in the bathroom for the 5+ years and no issues.

Guessing it was printed at Shoppers and in a Restoration Hardware frame.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samobeid/2432685818/" title="Untitled by Sam Obeid, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2086/2432685818_2e31387751.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt=""></a>

Which reminds me, it's time to change it!

Damn, that's sweet!!

Wow~~~awesome~~~

UBER cool! A 16x24 print for around $160USD.

So, I ended up solving the problem in a rather straighforward way:

I just made sure the framed prints had no real monetary value (yet still look nice).

So, I used my home inkject printer to make some nice 8.5 x 11 prints (there is *slight* banding, nearly invisible; no one who has been to my bathroom has yet detected it). These are B&W, and I think my printer handled it even better than it would have done in colour.

Then I used some of those "clip frames" -- you know, board & glass with 4 metal clip thigies -- and as it happened I had a bunch of them lying around, so this didn't cost me anything.

So, for about $1.50 worth of paper, I now have a nice "Montmarte photo gallery" in my bathroom.

(And so far the humidity doesn't seem to have had any effect, anyway.)