Hi,
I enlarge 4x5 B&W negatives to 8x10 and 11x14 on RC paper. I'm planning to try Fiber paper for the first time; am planning to buy a 25-sheet pack of Bergger VC-NB Glossy and also Oriental Seagull VC Glossy in 11x14. I'm also planning to use the Ilford Archival Wash approach (5 min wash, 10 min wash aid, 5 min wash) to save water.
I've browsed this forum and have found that several people dry their Fiber prints by attaching the wet (squeegeed) print to a sheet of glass using tape such as 3M Artist Tape for Watercolor Paper. I understand this aids in helping the paper dry flat, and also eliminates the dry-down effect experienced with fiber paper.
In my search, I didn't come across any answers to some of the following questions. So a few questions to those who use this approach:
<ul>
<li>Can you briefly summarize the approach you use? I've read some people let the print lay on a fiberglass screen for ~30 minutes to let it dry a little, and then tape it to the sheet of glass.
<li>Do you (or is it okay) to use both sides of the glass? I don't make more than 6 prints in a session, so is it best to get 3 or 6 sheets of glass?
<li>If I use both sides of the glass, then I'll have to stand the glass up instead of letting it lay flat - will this create a problem with drying flat?
<li>Since 11x14 is the largest print I make, I suppose a sheet of glass that is 13x16 would be large enough. But how thick does it need to be? Is 1/8" thick enough? Tempered glass is probably the safest way to go, but is more than double in price; so I'll probably use untempered and be careful.
<li>Since the dry-down effect is supposed to be eliminated, then I suppose that I need to make the print with the detail I want in the highlights -- so there is no need to test for dry-down effect?
<li>Any other tips or advice?
</ul>
I'll probably mount the prints using photo corners, although in the past I've used the 3M adhesive (not spray) with RC prints and have had success, but I don't know that the 3M product is archival.
I'm hoping the approach above works as I don't want to spend $$$ on a dry-mount press.
Thanks in advance for any help or advice,
Justin
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