Drying Fiber Prints in the Microwave?

[bmac]

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]

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]

So are we talking 2 minutes on high?

 

[Poco]

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]

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]

..

 

[Ed Sukach]

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]

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]

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.