Drying Fiber Prints in the Microwave?

bmac · Apr 22, 2003

I am going to be doing some major testing of a new idea I have. In order to speed up the process of drying / drydown testing I am thinking about using a microwave. What do you think? Will I experience anything strange while doing this?

Poco · Apr 22, 2003

It works quite well. Only problem is that I find it affects the finish of the paper in a way that makes judging tones tricky. Ilford's Warmtone comes out much shinier from the microwave than when air dried, for example -- but then, I really zap the thing. Cooking it slower may solve the problem.

bmac · Apr 22, 2003

So are we talking 2 minutes on high?

Poco · Apr 22, 2003

That should do it. I expect you'll need to calibrate to your individual oven, timing to cook until the print attains the dimensions of an already dried one.

Les McLean · Apr 22, 2003

The faster a glossy fibre print is dried the higher the gloss. Agfa's Record Rapid responded beautifully to different drying speeds if dried quickly on a print dryer thegloss was quite high but when dried overnight at room temperature the finish was near semi matt which suited certain images. I found that drying prints quickly in the microwave also increases the warmth especially if it is a warm paper such as Ilford Warmtone. 1 to 2 minutes dependant on the power of the microwave should be OK. Anyone come across a 20 x 16 microwave yet?

Aggie · Apr 22, 2003

Ed Sukach · Apr 23, 2003

Ansel Adam's video - I borrowed a copy from my local Library - has him drying portions of prints (couldn't get the entire print in) with the microwave, as a matter of routine, prior to making the final print.

Interesting video - I learned that he broke his nose in the Great San Fransico earthquake (1906?).

lee · Apr 23, 2003

I brought this up once about using the microwave in the kitchen and the bruises about my head and shoulders are JUST starting to heal. The wife was not amused.

lee\c

bmac · Apr 23, 2003

Luckily I do the bulk of my work after "she who rules the house" is asleep. LOL! It took about 45 seconds in our small microwave to completely dry an 8x10 after I had sponged the bulk of the water off of it.

Drying Fiber Prints in the Microwave?

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