Dumb Technique Question - Squeegee?

DaveFred · Dec 19, 2023

When I am squeegeeing RC prints, I am often finding they get stuck to the piece of plexi I squeegee them on.
Is this a case of pushing down too hard? Not making sure the plexi is completely dry before use? Not letting it drain over the final wash tank long enough?
Should I even ben squeegeeing RC prints?

Thanks.

Anon Ymous · Dec 19, 2023

Back when I had a darkroom, I never squeegeed RC prints. I just hung them from one corner.

Laurent · Dec 19, 2023

DaveFred said:
When I am squeegeeing RC prints, I am often finding they get stuck to the piece of plexi I squeegee them on.
Is this a case of pushing down too hard? Not making sure the plexi is completely dry before use? Not letting it drain over the final wash tank long enough?
Should I even ben squeegeeing RC prints?

Thanks.

Happens to me also, I think it's just physical ( surface tension effect, that kind of things). I never let the print completely flat on the plexi, si that I can lift it heavily.

jimjm · Dec 19, 2023

Yeah, it's OK to squeegee RC prints. Just make sure your squeegee blade is clean and in good condition, as well as the sheet of plexi. The emulsion is the side where you need to take care.
I angle the print slightly on the plexiglass so that one corner of the paper is about 1/8" off the edge. I grab this corner when taking the paper off to flip over to the other side, which keeps you from damaging the paper with a fingernail. I use a piece of plexi larger that the paper itself. Doesn't matter if the plexi is wet or dry, but I do squeegee off excess water between prints. You can do front or back first, I've never seen any difference. Modern RC paper is very durable.

Kino · Dec 19, 2023

I squeegee my RC prints with a Jobo Print Squeegee. Found a large, white plastic cutting board at some home goods store and it has a handle hole cut in the top.

I just make sure the top the print hangs over that hole by a tiny margin when I squeegee and it gives me just enough of an edge to peel it off the surface without damage.

guangong · Dec 19, 2023

Anon Ymous said:
Back when I had a darkroom, I never squeegeed RC prints. I just hung them from one corner.

That's what I do also. If prints are curled, flattened in dry mouth press.

FriedLouisStudio · Dec 19, 2023

No need to squeegee RC prints.

Hang them from a corner with bulldog clips or clothespins to dry. If they curl excessively when dried, put them face to face under some weight for a day or two.

Sirius Glass · Dec 19, 2023

I never use a squeegee, but I use a print roller on glass. Sometimes a print will stick and there are two ways to get the print off the glass:

Pick at a corner of the print and peel it up. Usually that does not damage the corner.
Gently slide the print to the edge of the glass and lift a larger section than #1. Since I put each print near the glass edge, this it not that hard to do.

MattKing · Dec 19, 2023

I squeegee RC prints onto a cleaned refrigerator door.
Then after a few minutes I remove them to air dry in a rack - which started life as an LP storage rack.
From a postcard exchange about 15 years ago:

HowieP · Dec 23, 2023

Have been squeegee-ing for 35 years+ with RC paper on a glass-like surface that used to be a bar. I do front-back-front and run the squeegee through a towel after every wipe. Prints dry fully between two screens latched together. No sticking, no problems.

DaveFred · Dec 26, 2023

Leaving a corner over to be able to grab is brilliant. Funny how often in the darkroom the simplest solutions are often overlooked.
Also, correcting myself. I actually am using a fiber paper. Harman Positive FB. I thought I had the RC variant, but I dont, its the FB.
I am using it to test / mess around with an old 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 busch pressman.
I was also having issues with the emulsion getting damaged while processing and me treating it as if it was RC explains that as well. Good to know for future I probably dont need to squeegee RC.
They are coming out much better now.
Always appreciate the internet gut check.

Jarin Blaschke · Dec 26, 2023

“The Absorber”. You get it at car shops and it takes the water up instantly without raking the print surface. You have to keep it immaculate, of course, or replace it on occasion to avoid a build up of contaminants.

Dumb Technique Question - Squeegee?

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency