Support our Sponsors, they keep FADU free: AG Photographic The Imaging Warehouse Process Supplies RH Designs Second-hand Darkroom Supplies |
> Archival RC prints? |
*** Click here for the FADU 2015/2014 Yearbooks *** |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread | Display Modes |
#21
|
|||
|
|||
It may be that RC will not last as long as FB. It still hasn't been around as long as FB but I sometimes wonder whether the alleged longevity issues aren't a leftover from the early days that Ian refers to.
They have now been overcome but they won't go away. A bit like the "beware of the sudden death" Xtol phenomenon which tends still to persist Mike |
#22
|
|||
|
|||
The plasticisers in typical transparent PVC sleeves can cause problems on most silver-gelatine images, sometimes within months. Best to store portfolio pics in polypropylene 'archival' sleeves, which needn't cost any more if you know where to look.
|
#23
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
In the commercial world photographs are used extensively and aren't stored to be archival but used to sell products it's important that they don't fade in months regardless of their stage/display conditions. Ian |
#24
|
|||
|
|||
Variable-contrast paper, with three emulsion layers, will inevitably have a kink in the HD curve, roughly corresonding with skin tone in portraits. Ilford now only offers grades 1, 2 and 3 in Ilfospeed RC or grades 2 and 3 in Ilfobrom Galerie FB, so for fine prints, pay attention to exposure and film development to produce a negative that doesn't need contrast adjustment.
|
#25
|
||||
|
||||
I'm 52 and don't kid myself that my prints are so good that they have to be archivally processed to last a hundred years. My kids will probably bin them when my clogs go pop. However, I greatly prefer the surface appearance of unglazed fibre based prints over anything RC that I've seen. If there was an RC surface that was a good match for unglazed fibre based I'd happily use that paper.
All this is moot if you frame a print under glass. Prints from the same negs made to match on RC and FB paper can't be told apart under glass in my experience. www.theonlinedarkroom.com |
#26
|
|||
|
|||
The Ilfolab RC dryer uses long quartz radiant heaters, such as used for bathrooms, above and below the paper. The travel speed or temperature are adjusted to dry just short of curling. The Durst Epsom processor dryer had the same layout but had internal smoke detection to cut the heater on the first whiff of scorching. I think it would take a lot of R&D to perfect a DIY version. But you could try grilling, holding the paper between two closely-spaced wire oven shelves, to limit curling. Let everyone know how you get on! It might be worth the effort.
|
#27
|
|||
|
|||
As for drying RC papers I have 14 bought new (50p each at a mill shop) T towels, actually catering "glass cloths", that are exclusively used to dry prints and regularly washed. I lay one on a work surface lay six drained 10x8s on it face up, lay another towel on top, gently run a rolling pin over to remove surplus water and then lay them somewhere safe to dry. Contact sheets I would dry quickly with a hair dryer.
I have a couple of Paterson drying racks but the prints being vertical half way through drying you have to turn them upside down to stop moisture pooling at the bottom edge. FB papers I dry flat after the same treatment and unless later toning them when dry flatten between the pages of an coffee table art book weighed down with more books. I have no shortage of this kind of book. |
#28
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
www.theonlinedarkroom.com |
#29
|
||||
|
||||
I will have to disagree on this one and I'm not saying you are wrong Steve. It is just that I love handling prints and I often look at them at different angles, I seldom frame them. That is why I love matt fibre prints. I also like the feel of Ilford MG portfolio (thick) paper - I have yet to try the new, recently introduced version, and single weight FB prints in small formats (not available any longer of course as single weight paper is the most difficult to coat - too fragile on todays high-speed coating macines)
Last edited by Miha; 31st July 2013 at 11:25 AM. |
#30
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
two points: - the Ilfolab dryer squeegees off surface water between mangle rollers. - I've only observed the improved Ilfolab dryer gloss with MGIV RC gloss paper. Pearl finish dried in air or in the machine looked much the same. But the machine really does save time - a whole evening's work, perhaps a couple of dozen 12" x 16" prints, dried perfectly in a few minutes. And yes, some of them have been waiting, soaking for a couple of hours without ill effect. |
Support our Sponsors, they keep FADU free: AG Photographic The Imaging Warehouse Process Supplies RH Designs Second-hand Darkroom Supplies |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Do digital, colour or black and white, prints sell better than darkroom prints. | Mark Burley | Business Matters | 51 | 20th September 2013 02:47 PM |
Problem with Archival Washer dividers | Peter Fitz | Darkroom | 9 | 23rd December 2010 10:41 AM |
Which archival washer | MarkWalker | Monochrome printing techniques | 29 | 15th December 2010 10:00 AM |
Archival ringbinder boxes | Carl V | Equipment miscellaneous | 10 | 16th February 2010 04:38 PM |
Archival Print (and film) processing | Andrew Bartram | Monochrome printing techniques | 0 | 6th March 2009 10:00 AM |