Paper drying

[stephen_gray98]

Hello all. I've had problems drying watercolour paper where it starts buckling. As an example, a cyanotype paper that was soaked to remove the undeveloped parts was flat to begin with but when dry was slightly buckled and not flat. Did I dry it wrong (flat or hanging from a string) or was it the wrong type of paper ?

Regards


SPG

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

It's par for the course.

Watercolor painters tape the paper to a board along all four edges when they work on it. Or they use a very, very thick paper that never gets wet through.

I use a very thin paper for cyanotypes - the old Beinfang 360 [I understand the paper has been changed, google for more] - that dries dimpled and wavy. To flatten it I just drymount it.

 

[grzybu]

I used to have problems with drying Arches Aquarelle which is quite thick. I've tried drying with paper taped to the board. It was better but still not perfect.
But finally I've found solution:
After print is finally washed I'm putting it on glass sheet (I use two 5mm thick glass sheets clamped with strong clamps as my contact printer), dry it a little bit with paper towel and then put few layers of dry paper towels at the print.
Then I use few layers of thick fabric and put second sheet of glass on it. Then I clamp two sheets and wait two days.
I'm replacing towels and fabric with dry ones few times while waiting.
First time I replace towels just after 10-15 minutes and then another usually at the morning.
After such treatment prints are dry and completely flat. Just have to be patient.

 

[ColinRH]

as Nicholas says above; I use brown paper gummed tape on all four edges when the paper is just out of the water. Stick to a flat rigid surface ( I use 1/4" glass, but it might be an old plastic coated cupboard shelf or whatever). Let it dry for 24hrs and then with a sharp knife cut away from the tape. You end up with a VERY flat tight print. Nothing better

 

[stephen_gray98]

Thanks for all the info. I'll give it a go.

SPG

 

[heespharm]

Is it crazy that I use a clothes iron on a towel on the back side of the print.... Perfectly flat every time