View Full Version : Steaming Prints
Victor Krag
15th December 2008, 06:49 AM
During one of the lecture portions of a darkroom printing class I took in 2000 the instructor Patrick Jablonski, rep'ed by Ansel Adams Galleries, told us about steaming fiber prints. Once the print is processed and dry, get your kettle whistling hot, then hold the print about 5 inches from the steam spout moving the emulsion side of the print around covering each area for about 5 seconds. The idea is that the quick swelling from heat followed by fast cooling to room temperature would 'tighten' the emulsion for a pleasing, sharpening effect on the image.. Now, I didn't get the feeling that it was something that he did regularly, in fact I'm sure he doesn't, but if one is not inclined to tone or doesn't have have the proper ventilated space to tone, then you might try it. I remember thinking that the print did have a 'thighter' look and became slightly more glossy,.. I think.. also this was before I had a dry mount press to flatten them and after steaming I could easily 'massage' down the curled up corners of 4 or 5 prints at a time (warmest on top / emulsion out) as the prints cooled and they'd stay fairly flat. Anyone else try this or heard of this steaming technique?
B&W Neil
15th December 2008, 07:34 AM
[QUOTE=..... Anyone else try this or heard of this steaming technique?[/QUOTE]
Not at all, how intriguing, I shall give it a try sometime.
Neil.
Bill
15th December 2008, 07:59 AM
Anyone else try this or heard of this steaming technique?
I have seen it demonstrated some years ago by John Davies on a weekend course. He used it on Agfa Record Rapid to bring out the gloss finish on air dried prints. I'm not sure that he mentioned any sharpening of the image. I have used it since and it seems to work quite well. I have not tried it on other papers though. I believe it can also be used to mask retouching to a degree. I think it only works on FB papers.
Bill.
Dave miller
15th December 2008, 09:23 AM
It's a technique for increasing the gloss of prints, a side effect may be an apparent ""sharpening" of the image.
R/C prints dried with heat also exhibit a higher gloss than those dried at room temperature.
Les McLean
15th December 2008, 12:35 PM
When I find a scuff mark or fingerprint or any sort of blemish on the print surface I steam it to remove it. The steaming increases the gloss and appears to increase sharpness but I think this is only because the increase in the gloss slightly increases contrast. When steaming I hold the mounted print about 9 to 12 inches from the steam coming from the spout of a very old kettle that has no automatic switch off. I move the print around continuously so that the the whole print recieves a burst of steam. Be careful not to expose any one area of the print to an extended birst of steam as this will melt the emulsion, yes I did manage that the first time I tried this procedure.
Victor Krag
15th December 2008, 04:13 PM
Ah, so others also note the extra glossyness and it wasn't just my imagination !
Rob Archer
15th December 2008, 06:01 PM
I was once told of a similar technique whereby a wet (not damp) print is put into a heat press between sheets of photo blotting paper - apparently I gives a slightly glossier (apparently sharper?) print. I haven't tried it as I've only just procured a heat press, but when I do I'll let you know if it works!
Rob
Jacques
5th January 2010, 05:44 PM
After steaming the print are you drying the print face down or face up on the drying screen?
Jacques
Les McLean
5th January 2010, 10:31 PM
Lay the print FACE UP on a drying rack for the heated emulsion after steaming is very delicate so handle it with care and don't touch the emulsion before it is dry otherwise you are likely to leave a noticable mark. It will dry quite quickly.
Jacques
5th January 2010, 10:49 PM
Thank you Les.
Jacques
8th January 2010, 06:23 PM
Today I've try steaming some of my prints. It is pretty amazing the difference that you can have. The prints were printed on Fomabrom Variant 111.
vincent
8th January 2010, 06:54 PM
I recently bought in the supermarket a SteamBee by JML which produces steam for cleaning around the house, I was using it to remove ground in dirt from the floor. That job is now completed and I must now try it on my B&W prints.
Jacques
9th January 2010, 01:04 PM
Let us know if it is working well.
Jacques
numnutz
13th January 2010, 02:11 PM
I recently bought in the supermarket a SteamBee by JML
A bit expensive for a few prints 'though surely.
http://tinyurl.com/yckysv9
nn :)
Dave miller
13th January 2010, 02:21 PM
A bit expensive for a few prints 'though surely.
http://tinyurl.com/yckysv9
nn :)
Not since he's already brought it for another purpose. I think that makes it free.
Andy
13th January 2010, 04:21 PM
You could also use a wall paper steam stripper, almost as cheap as a kettle and will give either a steam hose or a 8 x 10 steam area. You could always multi-task it and strip some wallpaper.. or my fav. de-ice a freezer in less than half an hour using the hose only ( bit messy but stops you putting the kitchen knife through the compressor)... slightly off topic.... :D
Andy
Dave miller
13th January 2010, 04:29 PM
I can feel some melted emulsion coming on soon. :D
vincent
13th January 2010, 07:56 PM
A bit expensive for a few prints 'though surely.
http://tinyurl.com/yckysv9
nn :)
No no no it is nothing like those featured on the site I think it only cost €40 or thereabouts. Its made by JML and used for cleaning kitchen surfaces , tiles etc. I'm sure that it will not stand a lot of ware but should be okay for steaming my prints.
I see it on ebay.uk going for £20 at the moment.
Martin Reed
15th January 2010, 01:36 PM
I think the origin of the technique was from desperation with Agfa Record Rapid in the '70's - it dried quite semi-matt anyway, and was very prone to scum marks especially when toned. This often showed up as fingerprints & tong marks where the paper was touched. I don't know who discovered that steaming cures it, but it does. It's difficult to ensure that the print is perfectly evenly covered though.
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