For more information about printing in general, download Les' free eBook “The Art of Fine Art Digital Printing”. For more specific information about printing on Unryu, click here.

• Print your image ensuring a sufficient border of unprinted paper. In the case of Washi papers, the border rule is ‘more is better’.
• After printing, let dry for at least 24 hours.

Since you will probably be mounting the Unryu without glazing, it’s important to protect the print from UV light and grime.

• Apply a lacquer-based photo protectorant to the image. In this case, Moab’s Desert Varnish fit the bill perfectly due to its even spray pattern, quick drying and non-destructive coating.
• Spray the print using a sweeping motion and holding the can upright about 10-12 inches away from the paper. Spray the image as shown here. Then, turn the image 90 degrees and spray in the same manner. Repeat this process one more time for a total of four applications of the spray, two for each direction.
• Let dry for one hour.

After the lacquer has dried, it is time to start preparing the mat and backing board.

• If you have a mat cutter and know how to cut a mat, then do so at this time. Cut the mat so that you can still “reveal” the borders of the print. This is important because you want to allow the viewer to see the mulberry fibers and give the image a context.
• Your final borders should be set so the print is in the visual center, which means that if you have borders of two inches across the top and each side, the bottom border should be more like 2-1/4 to 2-3/8 inches. If you do not have mat cutting know-how, simply order a mat from an art source.
• The backboard should be thick and rigid enough so as so as not to bow. A piece of 3/16" or 1/4" Gatorboard works well.
• Cut the backboard to accommodate the entire width of the mat. (note: the borders in this print were a little wide on the sides, so we trimmed them).
• Once your backboard is cut, center your print on it and mark off the area that the print will be adhered to.

You can adhere the print to the backing board in one of two ways. One way is to use linen tape to create hinges for the print to stay on the backing board. This is known as a museum mount and is the least injurious to the print. The following is a more permanent method.

• Apply a thin coat of Raphael’s Miracle Muck adhesive (http://raphaelsap.com/miracle-muck/) to the print area. We tried a couple different adhesives/glues and this stuff works, but it dries fast, so you need to work quickly.

• Now comes the tricky part. Working quickly and carefully, place the print on the backboard trying not to get any large air bubbles. With large prints it helps to have another person hold up the print as you gently smooth it down. Then, using a hard rubber roller, roll out the print to flatten it fast against the backboard.

Next comes mounting and matting the image. You’ll want to get the dramatic effect of depth in the final presentation.

• Les recommends fitting a strip of very thick mat under the main mat to raise it up and off the photograph. In this example, trimmed strips of remnant Gatorboard were used.
• Now place the cut mat atop the strips, ensuring all are aligned perfectly and adhere in place. An alternative method for the final framing is below.

Hopefully, you remembered to obtain a frame, because after the mat is in place, all that is left to do is frame your print. Unryu paper is striking and an attention grabber in its own rite, so try not to detract from that with ornate frames.

• An alternative method to accomplish the final positioning and framing is to first turn the frame upside down, place the completed mat into the frame and adhere the stand-off Gatorboard strips to the inside of the mat. Be sure to leave 1/4" space between the inside edge of the mat and the stand-off Gatorboard so that they will not show once your framed print is hung. Use black Gatorboard as added insurance. Then place your Unryu print and backing board (no need to adhere it, as your framing points used to hold the backing board tight to the frame will keep things together and will preserve the actual print). Finish the framing with framing points, dust cover and hanging wire. Glazing is optional, but does take away a bit of the impact of the Unryu.