Diasec

Diasec is the registered trademark associated with a Swiss-developed method of presenting photographs and other fine-art prints by bonding the image directly to a sheet of clear acrylic. The process was invented in 1969 by Heinz Sovilla-Brulhart and is used primarily in the professional art, photography, gallery, museum, and fine-art fabrication markets. Unlike a conventional framed print, in which the image is separated from glazing by an air gap, a Diasec mount places the printed surface against the acrylic face. The process uses a liquid, neutral-curing gel rather than a transparent adhesive film. This is intended to produce a bubble-free bond and a visually continuous surface, while the optical properties of acrylic allow light to pass through and refract within the material. The resulting panel generally has a high-gloss appearance, strong color presence, and a sharp, flat presentation. A typical finished work consists of the face-mounted print, the acrylic glazing, and a rigid rear support, often aluminum or Dibond. The backing reinforces the panel, seals the artwork from the rear, and can accommodate a sub-frame or other concealed hanging system. Translucent acrylic or related materials may be used when a work is designed for backlighting. The format has become particularly associated with contemporary photography and large-scale photographic editions, where frameless presentation, saturated color, and a smooth reflective surface are important to the artist or publisher. The Diasec gel incorporates ultraviolet-light inhibitors and is described as free of plasticizers. Reference material also characterizes the cured system as resistant to fungicidal and bacterial agents and to airborne pollutants. The completed panel remains somewhat flexible and is intended to tolerate changes in temperature and humidity that can affect paper-based works. Historical samples produced during the 1970s have been cited as showing limited visible color change and no obvious acid-related deterioration, although long-term conservation outcomes depend on the print, inks, acrylic, fabrication quality, and display conditions. The process has important limitations. Once the print has been bonded to the acrylic, the mounting is effectively irreversible. If the acrylic is seriously damaged, the original print generally cannot be separated and recovered. Surface-scratch-resistant coatings are available for some newer acrylic products and can reduce handling and abrasion risks, but they do not eliminate the need for careful transport, cleaning, and exhibition control. The original process was patented and commercialized through a Swiss licensing structure associated with Alrane Inventing AG. The patent has since expired, allowing alternative mounting methods to be offered by other fabricators. Those alternatives may resemble the visual result but are not authorized Diasec production and do not use the genuine Diasec fluids or machinery. Diasec Support BV, established in the Netherlands in 2009, was described as supporting the Swiss licensor through training and the provision of specialized equipment. The Diasec name therefore denotes both a distinctive mounting technique and a controlled licensed production system rather than a conventional consumer product line.

Diasec originated in Switzerland in 1969, when Heinz Sovilla-Brulhart invented a method for mounting a photographic print directly onto acrylic glazing. The innovation addressed a recurring presentation problem in photography and fine art: how to create a flat, highly transparent, visually saturated panel without the air gap and conventional frame associated with ordinary glazing. The process uses a liquid gel that bonds the face of the print to the acrylic. This differs from systems based on transparent adhesive films and is intended to avoid air bubbles while creating a continuous optical interface. The bonded image is normally reinforced with an aluminum or Dibond backing. That support both stiffens the work and allows fabricators to attach concealed sub-frames, making it possible to hang the panel without a traditional picture frame. The formulation and production method were protected through a patent and commercial licensing arrangements connected with the Swiss company Alrane Inventing AG. The Diasec name consequently came to identify the authorized process and its associated materials and machinery. The cured gel was designed with an ultraviolet filter and without plasticizers; reference descriptions also emphasize resistance to microorganisms and airborne pollutants. The finished structure remains sufficiently flexible to accommodate some environmental changes affecting paper works, while forming an airtight and chemically stable panel after curing. During the 1970s and later, the technique found use among artists, photographers, galleries, museums, publishers, and specialist art fabricators. Its appeal grew with the development of large-scale contemporary photography, for which a glossy, frameless, color-intensive surface could become part of the work's visual language. Diasec-mounted works have been used in the presentation of prominent photographic art, including works associated with Andreas Gursky. The method is not fully reversible. Because the print is permanently bonded to the acrylic, damage to the glazing can also compromise the artwork, and the image generally cannot be salvaged by simply removing it from the panel. Later acrylic products introduced optional anti-scratch surface treatments to improve handling resistance. Long-term examples from the 1970s have been cited as showing little visible color shift and no apparent acid erosion, though these observations do not constitute a guarantee for every print or installation. The Diasec patent eventually expired. Other mounting studios have therefore been able to offer surrogate processes with similar visual characteristics. Such providers cannot, on the basis of the expired patent alone, use the Diasec trademark, genuine Diasec ingredients, or Diasec machinery unless separately authorized. In 2009, Diasec Support BV was established in the Netherlands to support the Swiss licensor with training and custom machine supply. The brand's modern identity consequently remains linked to licensed professional fabrication, technical know-how, and the presentation of photographic and fine-art prints on acrylic.

• 2009

  Diasec Support BV established

  [1]Diasecen.wikipedia.org

  The Dutch company Diasec Support BV was established to support the Swiss licensor through training and the provision of custom machinery.

• 1970

  Early long-term samples produced

  [1]Diasecen.wikipedia.org

  Diasec samples made during the 1970s have been described as retaining their white tones with little visible color change and no apparent acid erosion.

• 1969

  Invention of the Diasec process

  [1]Diasecen.wikipedia.org

  Heinz Sovilla-Brulhart invented the process for face-mounting photographic prints directly onto acrylic glazing.

• Diasec patent expiration

  [1]Diasecen.wikipedia.org

  The patent covering the process expired, enabling competing studios to offer surrogate mounting methods, although unauthorized providers cannot use genuine Diasec materials, machinery, or branding.

A specialist, archival-oriented presentation method for professional photography and fine art, positioned around optical clarity, saturated color, flat frameless presentation, and protection from environmental exposure.

• Fine-art photographic mounting · 1969

  Diasec face-mounted print

  The core Diasec product is a photographic or fine-art print bonded directly to the rear face of clear acrylic. A neutral-curing liquid gel is used instead of adhesive film, with the aim of producing a bubble-free, optically continuous surface. The finished work is generally glossy and flat, and is often mounted onto aluminum or Dibond for rigidity and concealed hanging.

• Artwork presentation panel · 1969

  Diasec acrylic panel

  A completed Diasec acrylic panel combines the face-mounted image, acrylic glazing, and a rear support system. The construction protects the print from both sides and can accept a sub-frame, allowing galleries and collectors to display the work without a conventional picture frame. UV inhibitors in the gel are intended to reduce ultraviolet exposure, while optional acrylic surface coatings may improve scratch resistance.

• Backlit art display

  Backlit Diasec presentation

  For works intended to be illuminated from behind, translucent acrylic or comparable materials can be incorporated into the mounting construction. This extends the Diasec presentation concept beyond standard wall-hung reflective panels and supports specialized gallery, museum, and photographic-display installations.

1. 1Diasecen.wikipedia.org