Annibale G. Posted February 22, 2010 Share #1 Posted February 22, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello, do you have some tips how to spread fiber base paper? Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 22, 2010 Posted February 22, 2010 Hi Annibale G., Take a look here Spreading Fiber base Paper. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jpattison Posted February 22, 2010 Share #2 Posted February 22, 2010 Hi, Do you mean flatten after drying, or actually coating the paper with emulsion? John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted February 23, 2010 Share #3 Posted February 23, 2010 B&W: Film, Paper, Chemistry - APUG There is a sticky thread on it. I have tried it all and find taping the print down was my first sucess in the 1960`s. I used a basswood drawing board. Today they use glass. In college i fell in love with a 3 foot dia drum dryer. The small ones don`t work. Neither do flat beds. I now have a Burke & James forced air machine where prints go between blotters that go between corrigated boards. Air blows thru the corrigations. Salthill made a similar machine in the 1980`s. As a young person then, $800 was too much. The B&J came from a garage sale of a retiring pro phographer, $15. What a steal. A blotter roll, not blotter book, also works. You can not buy any of this stuff today and nothing else works as well, NOTHING. Absent a lucky search for an anchient device, go with glass and tape. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annibale G. Posted February 23, 2010 Author Share #4 Posted February 23, 2010 good for you Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
soccerrick10 Posted February 23, 2010 Share #5 Posted February 23, 2010 I have a heat press with Teflon covers over the rubber pads. Once my papers are close to dry, I put them in the press at about 250 degrees, 30-40 lbs pressure for about 30 seconds. It won't make them perfectly flat like a sheet of paper, but it will take 95% of the curves out. Depending on the wetness when pressed, you can actually emboss the Teflon weave pattern into the paper for a very fine, matte finish. I bought my heatpress for other purposes off of eBay for less than $100. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted February 23, 2010 Share #6 Posted February 23, 2010 Annabel, I do not mean to be superior, but give you the benefit of my efforts to solve the very same problem you are having. I was generally unsucessful except for the the ways I stated. I worked at this for 40 years. I save you the trouble of repeating my past mistakes. The whole problem with almost all methods is the edges dry faster than the center thus creating wavy expanded edges which do not permit a print to even be forced flat. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
soccerrick10 Posted February 23, 2010 Share #7 Posted February 23, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Not to be argumentative - but, that is the reason I press them while still slightly "moist". That way, I can finish the drying throughout the print at the same time. When they are done, they will be as flat as they are coming out of the paper box. Smooth edges, with an arch to the paper - just as it comes out of the light safe wrapper. I've only been doing this for 39 years and this is the best method I've found since we used to squeege them to a polished press for a high gloss finish back in the 70's. But, it does require a heat press to make this happen. As my dad used to say, "There is more than one way to skin a cat". Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted February 23, 2010 Share #8 Posted February 23, 2010 I will have to try the heat press method some day. I have a Jumbo size press, 11x14 plus Can`t remember the brand, but it is famous one. I take it you put the paper in just as the edges begin to dry? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted February 23, 2010 Share #9 Posted February 23, 2010 I used these screens for many years....Zone VI Studios Zone VI Print Drying Screens - ZN7000 - 711BZ-GF-NONE Just put wet print between two screens. Always resulted in flat enough print to mount to archival mat board....either using Seal press if dry mounted, or linen tape if kept free using cover mat. And, yes, press could be used to initially flatten, but my method worked fine without. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted February 24, 2010 Share #10 Posted February 24, 2010 I have the Zone 6 screens and they go into the do not work bin. I do not want to force them flat. I want them to be flat. I want to mount with linen tape behind a cut mat. That is one piece of linen at the top of the print. Read up on archival mounting and you will see this is the prefered method because it is reversible. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted February 24, 2010 Share #11 Posted February 24, 2010 I have the Zone 6 screens and they go into the do not work bin. I do not want to force them flat. I want them to be flat. I want to mount with linen tape behind a cut mat. That is one piece of linen at the top of the print. Read up on archival mounting and you will see this is the prefered method because it is reversible. I've been collecting vintage photographs and mounting my own prints for 30 years. I've met with museum curators around the world. What makes you think I don't know about archival methods? I even mentioned my use of linen tape when desired, without discussing methods. Oh, and you're using the screens incorrectly...my technique does not force them flat. And, you think placing prints loosely between screens is less forceful than putting them in a press while moist, which you said you'd like to try? Give me a break. You're smug, but ignorant...not a pretty combination. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
soccerrick10 Posted February 25, 2010 Share #12 Posted February 25, 2010 Guys/Gals: It was never MY intent to cause any heated discussions. I was just describing a technique that has worked for me. Is it "right", is it "best", is it even "correct"? I don't know. But, I had a tool, I had a problem with wavy fiber paper, so I tried it. As I said, it worked for me. Someday, when I quit having to go to my real job every day, I'd like to try all kinds of things for my photography. Rick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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