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Thread: flattening FB prints - any reason not to use an iron?

  1. #1

    Join Date
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    flattening FB prints - any reason not to use an iron?

    I was getting fairly flat prints at 8x10", but now I'm printing bigger, they are wildly uneven. I'm squeegeeing them pretty thoroughly, and air-drying them face down on screens, and leaving them 24 hours at the darkroom where I go to print. By the time I collect them, they are rippled and decidedly un-flat. Shoving them under books for a couple of days still isn't doing the trick.

    What does the trick with flattening? Is it heat, or pressure, or the combination of the two? I don't have access to a dry-mounting press, so is there any reason not to use a normal household iron on the back of them? (With, I would assume, the steam off.)

  2. #2
    matthew blais's Avatar
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    Re: flattening FB prints - any reason not to use an iron?

    Some/many have posted here on that. A quick search on this forum should get you answers, which I believe will say...Sure, use an iron...(but check for proper methodology.)
    "I invent nothing, I rediscover"
    August Rodin

    My Now old Photo Site

  3. #3

    Re: flattening FB prints - any reason not to use an iron?

    An iron works fine. Set it on its coolest setting and place emulsion side down on a piece of very clean mat board. The slightest bit of mat board fluff or any other bits on the matbord or print surface will leave a very visible indent on your image which can't be removed.
    Best to iron flat before the print is 100% dry on back as this allows print fibres to be realigned. If the print is 100% dry you should moisten the back with a fine spray or use the steam of the iron to dampen it and then turn steam off and go over it again a few times.
    I use an Iron for dry mounting and it works really well once you get the knack of it.

  4. #4

    Join Date
    May 2006
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    159

    Re: flattening FB prints - any reason not to use an iron?

    But keep that iron moving! One stationary moment, even while changing directions, can put a visible crease in your print -- at least it did for me before I got a press. Get your technique down on botched prints before moving on to the good stuff.

  5. #5

    Join Date
    May 2002
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    1,031

    Re: flattening FB prints - any reason not to use an iron?

    Print only glossies. Ferrotype 'em. Problem solved!

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Jul 2007
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    Re: flattening FB prints - any reason not to use an iron?

    thanks for the tips! I'll give that a go.
    (and read up on ferrotyping.)

  7. #7
    jetcode
    Guest

    Re: flattening FB prints - any reason not to use an iron?

    Katie I had a mounting press that I used to flatten prints. A little heat and solid pressure between archival matts.

  8. #8
    kev curry's Avatar
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    Re: flattening FB prints - any reason not to use an iron?

    Hi Katie
    I'm not terribly adept at Ironing shirts but I though I might manage to stretch my skills to a FB print! I don't have a press and wondered how you got on with the Iron? Just about to try some 12x16 FB but fear i'll end up with expensive corrugated cardboard! I've read about drying prints by pegging two up together back to back and then weighting them down whilst still wet. Apparently they try to cancel each others curl out!
    Any tips would be good.

    Cheers
    kev

  9. #9

    Join Date
    Jul 2007
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    Re: flattening FB prints - any reason not to use an iron?

    The ironing seems to do the trick. Not perfectly flat, but, a lot better than before they were ironed.

  10. #10

    Join Date
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    9,487

    Re: flattening FB prints - any reason not to use an iron?

    Frame suppliers sell large flat plates made of steel (Light Impressions in the USA) for cold flattening. Back in the day I thought that was a more archival method - pile the books onto the plate (or concrete blocks).

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