overwashing fiber based silver gelatin prints
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overwashing fiber based silver gelatin prints
How long can I leave fiber based silver gelatin prints in the wash tray? Is there a danger of "overwashing" if left in water too long?
overwashing fiber based silver gelatin prints
Usually, the paper manufacturer will give their suggested wash times. If your talking an hour or two I don't think there would be any problems. If the prints aren't separated, and are just stacked on top off each other, I would try and rotate them a couple times. Your trying to purge all the bad chemicals out of the paper.
Stephen Prunier Photography
overwashing fiber based silver gelatin prints
SPPhoto is correct. For you to know, the problem with overwashing is not damage to the image per say, it is weakening the paper fibers. Although photo paper is tightly woven, any paper can break down if left in water too long. In my opinion, two hours is absolutely the limit, with one hour or less being preferable.
Do take note of SPPhotos warning, keep the papers seperated. If you don't have an archival washer, shuffle them no less than once every five minutes, and DO NOT overfill the tray. The more prints in the tray the more often you need to shuffle.
And finally never ever place the face of a print (silver side) against the back of a print. Always stack them in the tray back-to-back (non-silver paper base) and face to face (silver coated side to silver coated side). This is of extreme importance to proper washing.
Do take note of SPPhotos warning, keep the papers seperated. If you don't have an archival washer, shuffle them no less than once every five minutes, and DO NOT overfill the tray. The more prints in the tray the more often you need to shuffle.
And finally never ever place the face of a print (silver side) against the back of a print. Always stack them in the tray back-to-back (non-silver paper base) and face to face (silver coated side to silver coated side). This is of extreme importance to proper washing.
Do it in the Dark,
Steve Anchell
Steve Anchell
Re: overwashing fiber based silver gelatin prints
I agree with Steve, two hours max! I know when my wife and I had our custom lab I would often wash my fiber prints for an hour if I was going to tone them. My clients never had one complaint of any damage to the print.
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tim.bowman
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Re: overwashing fiber based silver gelatin prints
I have seen this recommendation in multiple places. It does make sense intuitively and it's what I do with my prints.sanchell wrote: ↑Tue Sep 06, 2016 12:25 pm And finally never ever place the face of a print (silver side) against the back of a print. Always stack them in the tray back-to-back (non-silver paper base) and face to face (silver coated side to silver coated side). This is of extreme importance to proper washing.
But I've never seen an explanation of why to do this and what bad outcomes it avoids. Can anyone fill me in so I know why I'm doing the right thing?