BPX 48 - status, updates, scans

MToma · Mar 26, 2025

Hello,

My apologies, but my and MIonela's prints have not been sent, firstly due to some issues with access to my darkroom. They have been printed for 10 days now, and I can't get them to flatten, for the life of me. I'm at my 5th (6th?) attempt, and they're still... unpleasantly curly/kinked. First time this ever happened to me with Fomabrom.

So, again, I'm really sorry to the ones that are supposed to receive our prints. Some really nice (hopefully) selenium toned fiber prints are still (again) flattening, after my latest attempt (slightly dampened prints + iron under archival boards, then leave warm under weights).

Will send as soon as they're decently flat and properly spotted.

All the best,
Toma

Don_ih · Mar 26, 2025

MToma said:
my latest attempt (slightly dampened prints + iron under archival boards, then leave warm under weights)

I use a clothes iron on dry prints with a piece of parchment paper on top. Seems to do the trick.

piu58 · Apr 1, 2025

Trick: Pull them with the non photo side at a sharpüe edge, may be a table edge. Works fine and fast.

MToma · Apr 4, 2025

piu58 said:
Trick: Pull them with the non photo side at a sharpüe edge, may be a table edge. Works fine and fast.

Thanks both for the advice, tried both of these. I've managed to find a heat press, and will try that, as a last resort. If not, I'll have to reprint.

P.S. Only guess why this happened is that they dried quickly (20Rh humidity) and badly the first time, the fibers got "rearranged" badly, and they won't spring back...

BHuij · Apr 4, 2025

MToma said:
Thanks both for the advice, tried both of these. I've managed to find a heat press, and will try that, as a last resort. If not, I'll have to reprint.

P.S. Only guess why this happened is that they dried quickly (20Rh humidity) and badly the first time, the fibers got "rearranged" badly, and they won't spring back...

Can't speak for your specific paper. I use pretty much exclusively fresh Ilford MG FB. But I live in a very dry climate (20rh humidity is probably about average in my house) and use a hot press mount to flatten my fiber prints. For me the trick is low heat, letting them sit in there for around 30 minutes, and then letting the press cool down all the way to room temp with the prints still held flat inside.

Between that and making sure I give my prints a minimum of 24 hours to dry in the air before putting them in the hot press, I usually end up with prints that stay flat after coming out of the press and have minimal or no ripples.

Don_ih · Apr 4, 2025

Overwashing will cause the outside edge of the paper to swell and weaken, making it less dimensionally stable, and prone to waviness. It happens to an extent with normally washed fibre-based paper. Some people get around it by enlarging on oversized paper and trimming it back.

MToma · Dec 24, 2025

Hello all,

I've finally managed to get my life sorted out (a much less than fun year) and get back to the good parts of life. With undue delay, the print has been packed and will be shipped before the new year. (it had been finally been spotted and flattened about half a year ago).

I'm sorry it took so damn long to do it. Also, MIonela will be sending hers alongside mine. Along with her own apologies.

A peaceful New Year to all!

Toma

Don_ih · Jan 14, 2026

@MToma -- I think the print you sent is what I received today. You didn't include any information along with it, although it was very nicely packaged and survived the long trip from Romania.

Here is a phone photo:

It's a very interesting and compelling photo. It's unclear what exactly is going on, which adds to the intrigue. The hand looks somewhat unreal - the letters look like they could be carved into it. And I think that is an arm with water droplets on it. But it could be a leg? Anyway, if you would care to say something about it, that'd be great.

I appreciate your sending the print, by the way. I had forgotten I didn't get a print this round. Thank-you!

MToma · Jan 15, 2026

@Don_ih. My bad, I had gotten into my thick head that this is fully "blind", no info was supposed to be provided. It's actually MIonela's print, which she did in my darkroom and I handled the shipping alongside my own. She'll get back to you with some info.

Don_ih · Jan 15, 2026

MToma said:
I had gotten into my thick head that this is fully "blind", no info was supposed to be provided.

That's ok. At least you put your name on the outside of the envelope - otherwise, I would be completely clueless who sent it and what it was for.

MToma · Jan 16, 2026

Don_ih said:
That's ok. At least you put your name on the outside of the envelope - otherwise, I would be completely clueless who sent it and what it was for.

This was written in Romanian, then translated, that's why it sounds a bit "pompous".

In the photograph, the hand and the foot belong to a plastic mannequin, rescued from a clothing store and given a second life by a group of artists. The hand inscribed with the words “hold my hand” reflects the idea that what we keep close can be saved—if not by remaining the same, then through transformation, by becoming something else.

Don_ih · Jan 16, 2026

Thanks, @MToma - I didn't think it sounded pompous. I wondered if it was a doll's hand. Interesting idea.

mfohl · Jan 17, 2026

I received a beautiful print from Mtoma today. An unusual but interesting and very well done portrait. Light and composition are excellent. Not sure if this was supposed to be for me, Mtoma is not in the latest list. But it is a beautiful print, and I wanted to acknowledge receiving it. Sorry about the reflections.

Thanks Mihai!

BPX 48 - status, updates, scans

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