Foam board printing and mounting

What foam board is

Foam board is a foam core sandwiched between two stiff paper faces. The result is a perfectly flat board, unusually light, with a smooth surface you can print on or mount a print onto.

What you end up with is a single surface: the picture, the board behind it, and that's it. No glass to reflect light, no molding to box it in, and no weight that calls for drilling into the wall.

That is exactly why foam board is so common at exhibitions, conferences, indoor signage, presentations and display spaces: anywhere something needs to look finished, hang easily, and not stay there forever.

5 mm or 10 mm

These are the two thicknesses we work with, and choosing between them is simpler than it looks.

5 mm is the thin board. It costs less, weighs less, and is perfectly adequate for small and medium sizes: A4, A3, and even around 50x70 cm if the board hangs flat on a wall rather than standing on its own. From the side it is barely visible, and that is what gives the look of a picture floating on the wall.

10 mm is the thick board, and here it is no longer just about looks. The bigger the board, the more likely a thin one is to warp over time, especially if it stands on an easel, leans, or hangs from only two points. In large sizes, 10 mm isn't an upgrade, it's the right thing to do.

The rule we give customers: up to about 50x70 cm on a wall, 5 mm works. Anything bigger, or anything that stands rather than hangs, 10 mm.

Printing and mounting, all in-house

Both routes run here in the same place, and you choose based on what you have in hand.

You have a file: we print it on the same professional Canon printer we use for photos, canvas and posters, and mount the print on the board. Same ink quality, same fade resistance.

You already have a print: a poster you bought, a sign printed somewhere else, a map, a chart or a print that arrived rolled up. Bring it as it is and we mount it on the board. It is routine work for us, and it is what most people mean when they look for foam board mounting.

The mounting itself is what decides whether the result looks professional or amateur. Air bubbles, creases and lifting edges are what happens when it is mounted badly, and they can't be fixed afterward, because the print is already on the board.

Sizes and cutting to measure

The size is set by what you need, not by what exists in a catalog. We cut the board to measure here, exactly the way we cut molding, glass and mats, including sizes you won't find anywhere else.

The common sizes are A4 and A3 for signage and presentations, around 50x70 cm for posters and pictures, and 70x100 cm for displays and large posters. But if your wall calls for 40x90, that's what we'll cut.

What is worth knowing in advance: the size you can print is set by the file, not by the board. A file downloaded from a website or passed along on WhatsApp is almost always downsized, and that only shows up in a large print. Send us the original file on WhatsApp before you drive over, and we'll tell you how large it can go.

Foam board, canvas or a full frame

This is the real question, and it usually only gets asked after someone has already settled on foam board. Here is how we answer it at the studio.

Foam board is the choice when time and weight matter most: something that has to look finished, go up fast, weigh nothing and not cost much. A poster in a commercial space, a poster in a teenager's room, a board for an event, a chart in the office, a presentation at a conference. If the answer to "will this still be up in two years?" is "probably not", go with foam board.

A printed canvas is a different choice altogether: the fabric is stretched over a wooden frame, it has depth and physical presence, and it looks like a piece of art rather than a poster. It costs more than foam board and lasts for years.

A full frame with glass is what you choose when the item needs protection, not just display. Glass keeps out dust, fingers and scratches, and a mat gives the picture room to breathe. For a family photo, a certificate, an art print or anything with sentimental value, that is the answer, not foam board.

The downside of foam board is exactly the flip side of its advantage: the surface is completely exposed. There is no protection, and the print is bonded to the board permanently. You can't take it off later and do something else with it.

How to hang foam board

A foam board is light enough to hang almost any way you like, and that is a big part of its appeal.

On a wall: strong double-sided tape or adhesive pads in the corners are enough for medium sizes, with no drilling and no nails. On larger boards it is better to add hanging points on the back.

Standing: a 10 mm board can stand on a tabletop stand, on an easel, or lean on a shelf, which is the usual setup at conferences, exhibitions and shop windows.

Worth knowing: foam board is an indoor material. Direct sun and humidity will damage it, and a board that gets wet never goes back to being flat. If the planned spot is a balcony, outdoors or a bathroom, we'll talk about something else.

Price and turnaround

The price depends on three things only: the size, the thickness (5 or 10 mm), and whether we print it or only mount a print you brought. No hidden extras, and no different price depending on the type of picture.

The simplest way to get a price is to come in with the file or the print and the size you want, and you get it on the spot. If you'd like to check something before the drive, a quick WhatsApp message with the file and the size is fine.

Most foam board jobs are ready within two business days, and often sooner. Foam board is one of our fastest jobs, because there is no glass cutting and no assembly. If it's urgent, it is worth asking about same-day availability.

How to order

Come to 3 Naftali Palatin St., Booth 147, Rishon LeZion. No appointment needed, and there is free parking nearby. Bring the file or the print, choose a size and thickness, and get a price on the spot.

The advantage of coming in person is that you can see the board before deciding: hold the print against a 5 mm and a 10 mm board and see the difference from the side, and see how it looks next to the same picture in a frame. That is the difference between ordering online and knowing what you are getting.

Customers also come to us from Tel Aviv, Holon, Bat Yam, Rehovot, Nes Ziona, Be'er Ya'akov and Yavne.