Drying emulsion side face up or face down on screens?

cirwin2010 · Jan 4, 2021

I made some drying screens using canvas stretcher bars and fiberglass window screen. I decided to try drying my prints emulsion side down on the screen per some posts on the internet to help with curling of fiber based paper. The screen has left a bit of a pattern in the glossy emulsion upon inspection after drying. I have only attempted this so far with the Adorama house fb paper so I don't know if it is paper specific.

The pattern has effected only about half of the print from what I can tell. Maybe from the paper lifting as it dries? Any tips?

Saganich · Jan 4, 2021

I dry face up aways. I use generic aluminum framed window screens and have made my own in the past as you have. If the screen frames are thin, like for windows, to layer the frames one on top of the other reduces the curling... and having an extra one on top as well.

logan2z · Jan 4, 2021

I used to dry face up but started drying face down to reduce curling. I haven't noticed any sign of the screen pattern in the surface of my prints. FWIW, I'm using Ilford MG Classic Fiber paper.

NB23 · Jan 4, 2021

Up in order to prevent any kind of contamination

Arthurwg · Jan 4, 2021

Always face down, no problems over 20 years but I mostly use Matt paper. This was true with Agfa Classic and now Ilford. Could be the paper that you are using.

Alan9940 · Jan 4, 2021

I've dried all FB papers face down for nearly 40 years with no issues. RC and pt/pd prints are dried face up.

bdial · Jan 4, 2021

I do them face up to insure there is no imprinting of the screen. For fiber paper I usually put another screen on top which, as noted, helps with flatness. There is enough gap between the two that the emulsion only makes slight contact with the upper screen.

Doremus Scudder · Jan 4, 2021

Screen imprints are a problem; I dry my prints face up.

Doremus

Steve Goldstein · Jan 4, 2021

I’ve been drying face-down on Kostiner screens for years with nary an imprint. All papers were/are glossy FB: Ilford MGIV, Adox MCC110, Ilford MG Classic, Ilford MGWT, Bergger. I’m not sure if print size has any bearing but my maximum print is 16x20. I also let them drip-dry (hung by one corner) for 20-30 minutes before they go on the screens.

Lachlan Young · Jan 4, 2021

Foma's emulsions, if they get softened in processing, can be sensitive to picking up screen marks when dried face-down. Ilford, Adox etc are very well hardened in comparison.

David Allen · Jan 5, 2021

Lachlan Young said:
Foma's emulsions, if they get softened in processing, can be sensitive to picking up screen marks when dried face-down. Ilford, Adox etc are very well hardened in comparison.

I agree with regards to Foma Variant 111 Fibre-glossy. I have had this problem in the past and so I dry with the emulsion facing up. Curling is not a great problem with the Foma paper and I always flatten the prints in a dry mounting press anyway and then mount them on board at a latter date.

removed account4 · Jan 5, 2021

Hi cirwin2010
When you dry them to you put weight on top of them to keep the prints flat, or do you just squeegee them ( or let them drip dry from a corner ) and then put them face down ( FB ) or face up on the screens ?
John

Andrew O'Neill · Jan 5, 2021

Face down for me.

cirwin2010 · Jan 5, 2021

jnantz said:
Hi cirwin2010
When you dry them to you put weight on top of them to keep the prints flat, or do you just squeegee them ( or let them drip dry from a corner ) and then put them face down ( FB ) or face up on the screens ?
John

I let it drip dry then place it face down on the screen with no weight added.

Drying emulsion side face up or face down on screens?

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