How to Hinge Artwork with the TALAS Professional Archival Art Hinging Kit
Paper hinges are a traditional conservation method for mounting works on paper to a backing board or mat while allowing the artwork to naturally expand and contract with changes in humidity. When properly applied, a paper hinge provides a secure attachment without restricting the movement of the artwork.
Two common methods are the T-hinge and V-hinge. Both allow for natural movement, but they differ in how the hinge connects the artwork to the backing board. A T-hinge uses an exposed crosspiece to secure the artwork, while a V-hinge folds the hinge behind the artwork for a more discreet attachment.
Our Artwork Hinging Kit provides the basic materials needed to create either type of hinge using Tengujo Tape and wheat paste.
Please note: Paper hinging involves introducing moisture to an artwork and requires appropriate materials, technique, and judgment. Hinging is best suited to those with conservation experience, particularly when working with fragile, valuable, or moisture-sensitive materials.
Choosing the Right Hinging Paper
The hinging paper should always be lighter in weight and less stiff than the artwork being mounted. A hinge that is heavier or stiffer than the artwork can restrict its natural movement and place unnecessary stress on the paper.
Tengujo Tape is made from 100% kozo and weighs just 7.3 gsm. Its thin, flexible structure and long kozo fibers make it well suited for hinging applications.
The hinge should also be appropriately sized for the artwork. The heavier or larger the piece, the more support will generally be required.
How Many Hinges Should You Use?
There is no single formula for determining the number of hinges needed. The appropriate number and size depend on the size, weight, flexibility, and condition of the artwork, as well as how it will be displayed.
As a general guideline:
Small, lightweight artwork: Two hinges along the top edge may be sufficient.
Medium-sized artwork: Three or four hinges may provide better support.
Large or heavier artwork: Additional hinges may be needed, spaced evenly along the top edge.
Very large, heavy, or unusually shaped artwork: The number, placement, and size of the hinges should be determined based on the specific object and mounting conditions.
When in doubt, it is generally better to distribute the weight across more appropriately sized, lightweight hinges rather than relying on a small number of larger or heavier hinges.
The hinges should support the artwork without preventing it from moving independently from the backing board. The goal is to secure the artwork—not to attach its entire top edge rigidly to the mount.
Materials Included in the Artwork Hinging Kit
1 oz Wheat Paste No. 301 – A pre-cooked, starch-based adhesive that can be prepared by adding cold water. Wheat paste is commonly used for paper hinging because it provides excellent adhesion while remaining reversible.
Tengujo Tape, White – approximately 24" of strips
Tengujo Tape, Natural – approximately 24" of strips
Cotton Blotting Paper – four pieces, approximately 4" × 6"
Hollytex – four pieces, approximately 4" × 6"
The included cotton blotting paper is 30pt, 100% cotton, acid-free, and designed for absorbency and conservation applications.
Creating a T-Hinge
The T-hinge is one of the most common methods of attaching artwork to a backing board. Because the crosspiece is visible on the back of the artwork, this method is particularly useful when the hinge will be concealed by a window mat.
1. Attach the Upright Hinges
Place the artwork face down on a clean work surface.
Apply a small amount of wheat paste to approximately one-third of the length of a strip of Tengujo Tape. Apply the paste to one side of the tape, keeping the adhesive layer thin and even.
Place the pasted portion on a piece of blotting paper and allow the excess moisture to absorb briefly.
Position the hinge near the top edge of the artwork, leaving a slight gap between the edge of the artwork and the beginning of the pasted area. This small unpasted margin helps prevent adhesive from coming directly into contact with the edge of the artwork.
Cover the hinge with Hollytex, followed by blotting paper. Gently burnish through the Hollytex to encourage good contact, then dry under light weight.
Repeat for the remaining hinges.
2. Attach the Artwork to the Backing Board
Once the upright hinges are completely dry, position the artwork face-up on the backing board.
For each hinge, prepare a second strip of Tengujo Tape as the crosspiece. Apply a thin layer of wheat paste to one side of the strip.
Place the crosspiece over the exposed portion of the upright hinge, creating a T shape. The crosspiece should adhere to the backing board, not to the artwork itself.
Cover the hinge with Hollytex and blotting paper, then dry under light weight.
The finished T-hinge provides a strong, secure attachment while allowing the artwork to move independently from the backing board.
Creating a V-Hinge
The V-hinge provides a more discreet alternative to the T-hinge. Instead of placing a crosspiece over the top of the hinge, the hinge is folded behind the artwork and attached directly to the backing board.
1. Attach the Upright Hinges
Begin by attaching the hinges to the back of the artwork using the same process described for the T-hinge.
Position the hinges near the top edge of the artwork, making sure that the pasted area is far enough from the edge that the hinge will not be visible when folded behind the artwork.
Cover with Hollytex and blotting paper, then dry under light weight.
2. Fold the Hinges
Once the hinges are dry, fold each hinge back along the point where it attaches to the artwork, creating a V shape.
Use a piece of blotting paper as a buffer between the hinge and the artwork while folding.
Position the artwork face-up on the backing board and lightly weight it in place, or lightly mark the position of the top corners with pencil.
Fold the V-hinges outward and place blotting paper behind the exposed hinges.
3. Attach the Hinges to the Backing Board
Apply a thin layer of wheat paste to the exposed portion of each hinge.
Fold the hinge back underneath the artwork and adhere it to the backing board. Slightly raise the artwork as needed to allow the hinge to fold beneath it without applying adhesive to the artwork.
Place a piece of Hollytex larger than the hinge between the hinge and the artwork to protect the artwork from moisture and adhesive.
Support the artwork as necessary—or turn it over if the object and working conditions allow—and cover the hinges with blotting paper and Hollytex. Dry under light weight.
4. Add a Crosspiece
Once the V-hinges are dry, a crosspiece can be added to reinforce the connection to the backing board.
Prepare a strip of Tengujo Tape with wheat paste and place it across the existing hinge, as with the T-hinge. Keep the adhesive away from the artwork by using Hollytex as a barrier where necessary.
Cover with blotting paper and Hollytex and dry under light weight.
A Secure, Flexible, Reversible Mount
Whether using a T-hinge or V-hinge, the goal of paper hinging is the same: to securely support the artwork while allowing it to respond naturally to its environment.
With lightweight kozo Tengujo Tape, wheat paste, and careful application, these traditional hinging techniques provide a practical and reversible method for mounting works on paper in archival framing and conservation settings.
Reversing a Paper Hinge
One of the benefits of wheat paste is its reversibility. If the artwork needs to be removed from the mount, the hinge can be carefully released using controlled moisture.
For a T-hinge, the crosspiece can be removed while leaving the original hinge attached to the artwork. This can allow the hinge to be reused for future mounting by adding a new crosspiece.
Because removing a hinge introduces moisture to the artwork, complete removal should be undertaken by someone with appropriate conservation experience, particularly for fragile or valuable materials.
Documenting the Mounting
Good conservation practice includes documenting how an artwork has been mounted. The Artwork Hinging Kit includes labels that can be placed on the back of the mount to identify the hinge type and materials used.
This information can be helpful for anyone who handles, remounts, or conserves the artwork in the future.
