How do you transport wet prints?

David Brown · Aug 30, 2016

How do folks who use school and/or community darkrooms handle taking wet prints home? This is assuming there is not time to let the prints dry before you remove them from the facility. This is in a workshop scenario.

Kevin Harding · Aug 30, 2016

In a book of watercolor paper I use as a blotting book; squeegeed first.

horacekenneth · Aug 30, 2016

In the past I've just taken them home in a tray, stacked and wet. It was never a problem but I imagine if they dried like that it would be.

howardpan · Aug 30, 2016

I use a tray and hold the prints in a shallow bath of water.

MattKing · Aug 30, 2016

Tupperware/Rubbermaid are your friends.

An extra plastic paper safe dedicated to wet processing can also be good.

Ian Grant · Aug 31, 2016

In a devloping tray. It was something I did quite regularly when I used my work darkroom, I'd take the FB prints home and finish washing etc. RC prints I'd swab dry and place on the back seat of my car

Ian

David Brown · Aug 31, 2016

Thanks, everybody. I think we're going to come up with a solution. This is for a workshop, where the workshopees will want to take their prints with them, but there will not be time to get them dry, especially the fiber based prints. I've considered just going with RC paper for the workshop (since the point of the instruction is contrast controls), but other principles in the endeavor insist we offer fiber paper printing. I'm not against that, obviously, just trying to be practical.

faberryman · Aug 31, 2016

I use a blotter book.

darkroommike · Aug 31, 2016

Blotter book, in fact, this is the only thing a blotter book is good for. I have a lovely Beseler rotary dryer I'll donate if you come and get it. (And another for spares.)

Doc W · Aug 31, 2016

Get a large Tupperware container, say 10x12, with a tightly fitting lid and Bob's your uncle.

ndrs · Aug 31, 2016

110 mm plastic sewer pipes can be more practical than trays. They can be carried in backpacks if the lower end is closed.

MartinP · Aug 31, 2016

Some clear and practical guidance on print dry-down and on drying the fibre-based prints at home would be good for the students too, otherwise some people will end up with prints dried too quickly and going very curly indeed! Preventing drying out could be done with a couple of plastic bags inside a box-file, as a get-me-home solution that everyone could use (unless they are making huge prints of course).

Saganich · Aug 31, 2016

Blotter Book. Works great on the subway.

David Brown · Aug 31, 2016

MartinP said:
Some clear and practical guidance ...

I'm aiming for the entire workshop to be based around that principle.

carioca · Aug 31, 2016

Rushing things with silver prints is never a good idea.
Depending on the support used, plastic or fiber paper, a completed wash is essential. If your prints still need washing, never let them get dry. Re-wetting/washing does not work anymore once dry. I would just place them in a large zip-lock bag, filled with some water and finish the job at home.

John51 · Sep 1, 2016

Could you double up on the number of fb prints made? Half get taken home wet by the students, the other half get washed and dried properly. Then the students can, at a later date, see the difference that differing drying methods make.

David Brown · Sep 1, 2016

carioca said:
Rushing things with silver prints is never a good idea.
Depending on the support used, plastic or fiber paper, a completed wash is essential. If your prints still need washing, never let them get dry. Re-wetting/washing does not work anymore once dry. I would just place them in a large zip-lock bag, filled with some water and finish the job at home.

The prints will be sufficiently washed, just not dry!

John51 said:
Could you double up on the number of fb prints made? Half get taken home wet by the students, the other half get washed and dried properly. Then the students can, at a later date, see the difference that differing drying methods make.

No, this is not practical at this facility. It's a workshop. It's not school students who can come back the next day.

Thanks, again, everybody. A few good suggestions will be given due consideration. I think we can wrap this up now.

Cheers,

John51 · Sep 2, 2016

It's not school students who can come back the next day.

Post the prints to them?

mgb74 · Sep 2, 2016

I encourage darkroom users to lay a towel in their trunk and place the prints on that. Or a high quality blotter book (from research,not experience, it appears that many cheaper blotter books today will leave lint on a print). A bigger issue is the time it takes to properly wash the prints.

How do you transport wet prints?

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