Fotomask Residue On Print

[patricia de roeck]

Had a session spot-bleaching half a dozen prints yesterday using Fotospeed MK50 Fotomasking Fluid around the very small area to be bleached all went well until I removed the Mask today - the area covered is quite obvious and is slightly tacky to touch - has anyone any ideas on how to treat this area without affecting the surface of the print?
Patricia

 

[frotog]

My guess is that the mask you used has a petroleum base. Pec-12 or the Tasmanian equivalent should take care of your problem.

 

[pentaxuser]

A little worrying is this. I always understood that Fotomask could simply be lifted/rubbed off without leaving any residue. That,as I understood it, is its basic selling point.

It's often quoted in books as ideal for masking part of a print so that only chosen area(s) is/are toned. In several mentions I don't remember any source saying that it leaves a tacky residue which has to be removed by another chemical such as Pec-12.

Might be worth having a word with the stockist. There might be a problem with that batch of Fotomask.

pentaxuser

 

[patricia de roeck]

I've no idea what Pec-12 is - could you give me more of a description please and I'll try and find the Aussie equivalent. Yes, I'm really disappointed with the result - thought it was the answer to a bleacher's prayer. I followed the normal procedure after bleaching, rinse, fix, wash-aid, final wash. I had used it the previous week but left the prints soaking, pre-bleaching for too long and by the time I got round to the last 3 or 4 prints to spot bleach, the mask was lifting off and the bleach ran underneath the mask. Maybe I should try and remove the mask before the print-drying stage - will have to re-print and try again.
Patricia