Is it necessary to squeegee prints?

Jon Shiu · Feb 20, 2008

I squeegee the front of the print with a windshield wiper and dry face up on screens. Sometimes a stray drop of water can cause a raised bump as the print dries so I blot any large drops with a photo wipe.

Jon

Sirius Glass · Feb 21, 2008

I squeegee both sides [RC and FB] before I put it in the drum dryer.

Steve

matti · Feb 21, 2008

I squeegee. Both sides. And dry back to back or on net face down. If too much water is left in the print it curls more.
/matti

mooseontheloose · Feb 21, 2008

Thanks everyone!! I think I'll have to try the squeegee thing and see if it works for me -- I'll see what I can find in Paris when I go in tomorrow to exchange my brown developer.

I know I started this thread, but I have to say that it had me laughing at the end. How many times have I read the word SQUEEGEE? Such a ridiculous word for adults to use

(although I guess rhyming with Weegee is not such a bad thing...)

Cheers.

Dietmar Wolf · Feb 21, 2008

I dry on glass and tape the prints. I only wipe carefully the water off the print with a tiny sponge due to lime.

dancqu · Feb 21, 2008

mooseontheloose said:
How many times have I read the word SQUEEGEE?

How many times indeed! And how few times of any
alternative? I know there are a few out there who
do use a sponge but I the only one to have
mentioned such an obvious choice.

While in town pick up a sponge. I wet a dry sponge
with tap water then squeeze dry. Then a wet with
a little distilled and squeeze again. Good for three
or four 8x10s. No mess, no scratches, no
detached emulsions. Dan

removed account4 · Feb 21, 2008

i use a windshield wiper and squeegee on a piece of plexiglass.
rc and fiber both sides. then rc face up on the drying rack ( screen )
fb face down on the drying rack.
i also have a few lines across the sink and from time to time
hang things either by a corner ( rc )
or by 2 corners ( fb )
or back to back and 2 corners ( single weight fb )..

i had always heard if one doesn't blot off the excess water
water marks will appear on fb prints, rc the water runs off by itself
... not sure if this is an urban legend or would it be a lab legend ?

john

lee · Feb 24, 2008

I squeegee both sides and place face down on drying racks I built out of canvas stretcher frames. The dryer the air is the more likely the print is to curl. mine dry over night and are pretty flat with a slight curl toward the emulsion. About a minute in the dry mount press between to pieces of clean mat board make an excellent presentation.

lee\c

erikg · Feb 24, 2008

Only on apug can one find so many responses to a question on squeegeing! I squeegee both front and back of prints, one pass on each side, and I dry them on screens. Face up for RC, face down for fiber. I have used a windshield wiper for years. BTW, that is what Ansel recommends too, he probably took it off one of his Internationals, or maybe his white Caddilac.

Jordan.K · Feb 24, 2008

I make fiber prints for a living............ we have a thick piece of regular glass (plexi may scratch or burr over time) and we always squeegee the back of the print. It will help reduce curl which could result in krinking.

Is it necessary to squeegee prints?

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