Print Flatness

[naaldvoerder]

Yes, I am,

wanted to keep thing internationally though. I have been thinking to tape prints down on two sides only. I usually print full frame and it would allow my to still make maximum use of the papersize.

JJ

[Cheryl Jacobs]

I also use the tape-ot-to-glass method. Maybe 1% drydown now, so I don't mind the slight loss of paper size due to trimming. Flatty, glass-like prints. (Thanks, Donald!)

[Dave Miller]

The drydown effect is caused because fibre prints shrink as they dry. This contraction of the gelatine causes the increase in contrast. Therefore taping stops the shrinkage, and the drydown.

If the image size / paper size is measured before, and after drying, the shrinkage will be evident. Because the taped print is not allowed to shrink it’s final trimmed size will be very close to the traditionally dried print.

Taping on only two sides will result in the print adopting an hourglass shape, interesting but unlikely to set a trend.

The slower a print is dried in the conventional way the flatter it will be. Clipping two prints back to back whilst they dry is another well tried method of flattening, but doesn’t get over the drydown problem.

[Annemarieke]

JJ,
If you use the name "naaldvoerder" it is quite obvious that you are either from Holland or from Belgium. Hence my question.
Anne Marieke

[shicks5319]

Hey, thanks to all who chimed in on this.

I will try the methods offered up.

I can see this is a great place. Keep up the positive energy here!

[Doug Bennett]

shicks,

Just to add to the confusion: what I do is use plastic clothes hangers, the ones with the clips. Clip the wet print by two corners. Put two more clips on the bottom corners, for weight. Works pretty well. However, if you get serious about fiber paper, then there is nothing that beats a dry mount press, and nothing, IMHO, that looks better than a dry mounted fiber print.

[fhovie]

shicks,

Just to add to the confusion: what I do is use plastic clothes hangers, the ones with the clips. Clip the wet print by two corners. Put two more clips on the bottom corners, for weight. Works pretty well. However, if you get serious about fiber paper, then there is nothing that beats a dry mount press, and nothing, IMHO, that looks better than a dry mounted fiber print.

Me too - exactly

[Flotsam]

Years ago I had the uncharacteristic foresight to buy a Seal 110S dry mount press for a couple of hundred dollars when I had the chance.

Now I am with the hang 'em up to dry and then use the press to smooth them out contingent. Pretty quick and easy with very nice results.

[Snapper]

I use a FB print dryer, which dries a print totally flat in 10 minutes, albeit with a slight overall curve. Is this ok - are there any drawbacks to using this method?

[naaldvoerder]

Annemarieke/Cheryl,

Thanks for sharing your methods. Tried it yesterday and it works awesome; flat print of bigger size even after losing hte small rim and less drydown. Thanks again!!

JJ