Are acrylic cleaners harmful to the image?

I am curious as to whether the various cleaners/static removal products for

acrylic glazing, i.e. Brillianize, have any harmful effect on the print. If

you use these products on both sides of the glazing to eliminate static

electricity, do they leave a protective film? Once the frame package is

assembled the print is exposed to the inside surface of the glazing,

presumably containing this protective film, and I am wondering about the long

term effect this may have on the image. Anybody have any knowledge on this?

 

BTW I do use a mat, usually a double mat, so the image is not in direct

contact with the glazing.

Brillianize is the product that is recommended by Frame Destination, so I doubt that there is any problem with it.

That is a very serious and complicated chemical science. My research was not exhaustive but the only information about cleaners and framing conservation I have come across is not to use cleaners such as Windex that contain ammonia. Not only does Brillianize not contain ammonia, but it is one of the safest and least harmful cleaners available. In fact, it is safe enough to drink, although I must admit I have not tried it. Brillianize does leave a little film, however, in my testing of other cleaner polishes, Brillianize was the quickest to apply and seemed to leave the least acrylic the clearest.

Mark,

 

Thank you for responding to this, it was because of your post in the Printing>Other forum way back in April of 2005 that I was made aware of Brillianize. I am trying to get away from using glass in the framed prints that I sell and was searching the archives concerning acrylic glazing.

 

I realize that nobody has absolutely, positively, definite answers in this whole archival quest because none of us have been doing what we?re doing with the products we?re doing it with for 100 years. It?s all a matter of educated guesses. After becoming aware of Brillianize I researched all I could find and haven?t found anything negative about it.

 

I have a bottle of it coming, along with an assortment of other items, from Frame Destination. Thanks for the services you provide.

I'm also wondering if anyone here does drum scanning and if so, if they have ever used Brillianize to clean and polish drums. The antistatic properties might be good but is there a residu left which would harm negatives or be disolved by the likes of Prazo mounting fluid, or any other mounting fluids from applied science or Aztek?

Aqueous products are not recommended for photo film cleaning because water swells and softens the gelatine, making easily susceptible to damage. Brillianize contains 83% water. Acrylic coated prints on the other hand should not be damaged by this product, with the caveat that you should assure yourself such is the case.

 

As to fluids, Dave, I think when you mentioned fluids you meant ScanScience, not Applied Science. ScanScience fluid does not damage film, prints, or acrylic drums. The file "Film Cleaning" in that web site has additional info, although acknowledging that your main concern was prints.