Dry Mount problem

When dry mounting, I use a board between the platen and the print (as described by Ansel Adams.) I'm finding that the board sticks a little to the print and takes off the gloss surface, degrading the blacks.

Questions:

1 Is there anything I can do to a print which has already suffered this?

2. Is there a way of preventing this? Maybe to use quick realease paper between the board and the print? (I tried using just quick release paper and found that there were small pits in the print no matter how carefully I dusted everything.)

Thanks in advance.

I definitely recommend using quick release paper.

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It is not likely you will be able to salvage your prints that have

lost the gloss on their surface. The only possibility I can think of

is to wax them with some Renaissance microcrystalline wax (available

from Light Impressions), but I wouldn't guarantee the result.

Seal also markets quick release board, the quick release "teflon"

substance integrated into a reasonably stiff board. It is quite

useful.

Bob

Try cleaning the surface of the print with some PEC 12 cleaner and

then use the renaissance wax & see if it doesn't help the problem. It

can in some cases. In others you have the surface both lifted by the

sticking mat as well as being compressed and the irregularity just

won't go away.

I use a sheet of Light Impressions Apollo interleaving paper between

the print and the cover board. I replace it every so often,

especially if I get indenting or stickyness. The Apollo paper is way

cheaper than the release papers and has no effect on the finish of an

air-dryed fiber base print.

By the way- the sticking to the face of a print is usually related to

moisture- make sure everything is very dry before attempting to

drymount!

the best answer, IMHO, is to stop dry-mounting your prints. use

linen tape hinges. it is the archival way to mount prints of any

kind.

Try the release paper, but also check that your press is not too hot

or the time too long.

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Regards,

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Doug

As stated earlier, the most likely problem is moisture in the print

or board.I would suggest heating the board and pressing the print

prior to tacking the tissue. If you choose not to use tissue but the

hinge method instead, you will have a flat print for presentation. I

believe the hinge method is preferred for archival purposes.

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Merg Ross

If I am understanding right, your prints are being dulled during the

mounting process. I like my prints to have a nice gloss look. When

they don't have the shine that I like, I will treat the suface of the

print with steam. I fire up the the kettle that I use to make tea,

you know the kind that whistles when the water boils and move the

print around in the path of the steam. This also works well to hide

touch up spots on a print.

With respect to hinge mounting, you will get more protection of the

image from pollutants migrating in from the back of the print if you

dry mount. Bainbridge Alpharag Artcare boards have an

active 'trapping' system which protects the print from pollutants

from the front as well as back but some testing has shown dry mounted

prints do better than those not dry mounted. They also lay flat and

don't get wavy with atmospheric pressure & moisture changes.

Many Thanks to everyone for their help. I tried Jeff White's

suggestion of using steam from a kettle and it worked like a dream.

Many many Jeff!