45% Humidity and Ilford FB Still Won't Dry Flat

[ASA1000]

My FB prints are sometimes curled/wavy all over the place after air drying so I flatten them on low heat in the dry mount press which leaves them basically flat with a slight curl. Makes them easier to store for later dry mounting. I’d never expect a FB paper to dry flat/uniform enough for presentation without it least having it tipped in or something but anyway.

I do it all the old fashioned way. After the wash I simply squeegee and then let them air dry.

Ilford suggests using Ilfotol (like Photo Flo) to aid even drying but I’ve never done it. Perhaps OP can try that.

worth a shot. Thx!

[ASA1000]

I can only tell you what worked for me: an electric press. Since I got this all my prints are flat. Here’s what I use:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/23441435317...mis&media=COPY

(Other models and sizes exist). Works great— I basically stick the print in between two white mat boards and press it hot. Here’s a good video on how to do this:

https://youtu.be/oG30kHW6cBU

I have a Seal 210 Dry mounting press. ;-)

[willwilson]

Do fiber prints ever dry flat? If my fiber prints did not curl I'd think something was wrong. I don't consider a fiber print by itself complete until dry mounted.

In my experience, RC is the only material that is presentable without dry mounting, even my RC prints have a slight curl.

[Tin Can]

When I received 100's of 8X10 and 11/14 WET prints to sort for my second Print Exchange from all over our world

Some mounted, most not

They were very flat

Drying on a screen is only the first step

[John Layton]

Not perfect...but you can also run two drying lines one above the other, allowing prints to be clipped to both top and bottom edges - effectively holding them under tension from both sides. Another advantage here is that there is no contact of the prints' surfaces while they are drying.

[ASA1000]

When I received 100's of 8X10 and 11/14 WET prints to sort for my second Print Exchange from all over our world

Some mounted, most not

They were very flat

Drying on a screen is only the first step

I'm going to dig out an old print made on the old gallery paper and wash it and dry it...... stay tuned

[ASA1000]

Not perfect...but you can also run two drying lines one above the other, allowing prints to be clipped to both top and bottom edges - effectively holding them under tension from both sides. Another advantage here is that there is no contact of the prints' surfaces while they are drying.

Are you a betting man? ;-). I'm betting that isn't going to work. These prints lift a screen when I put one above. They will buckle a towel if I leave one on top.
....and what if I want to print borderless? No, I'm not giving away any of the expensive paper. I bought it all and I want to use it all.
thx!

[Mark Sampson]

I've been following this and the previous thread, and I admit that I'm stumped. Especially since I did have this issue a while back, and now I don't.
All I can offer now is a) check the alignment of your press (if that's possible) and b)leave your prints in the press longer.
Don't give up (and don't print borderless)!

[cowanw]

Your press is heated, right?

[Kiwi7475]

I have a Seal 210 Dry mounting press. ;-)

So I don’t understand… you’re looking for self-flatness after drying… but that’s a unicorn with FB paper. I appreciate you may be able to mitigate it some with chemicals, perfect squeegeeing, controlled RH to 0.1%, etc , but who cares if you can flatten it with the press? (I’m joking with my rhetoric, but you get the point I hope).