Question about premade carbon tissue

[mark]

I am just starting down the carbon path after several years of false starts. I will be using BS premade tissue until I decide this is something I want to pursue and until I get the process down. I suppose I will eventually make my own glop but until then it is the premade. So for those who are using it or used it

I live in a very dry climate will I need to humidfy the tissue before use to control the curl or is it not an issue?

If there is anything else you think I need to know I am all eyes.

.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I've never used their tissue, but I have heard that it is quite curly. I would pin it to heavy card stock before sensitizing, then stand it up and lean against a wall. Direct a gentle breeze from a fan to speed up drying. Make sure you have good contact between negative and tissue when making the exposure.

 

[pschwart]

I am just starting down the carbon path after several years of false starts. I will be using BS premade tissue until I decide this is something I want to pursue and until I get the process down. I suppose I will eventually make my own glop but until then it is the premade. So for those who are using it or used it

I live in a very dry climate will I need to humidfy the tissue before use to control the curl or is it not an issue?

If there is anything else you think I need to know I am all eyes.

.

If you mean humidify the sensitized tissue before exposure, the answer is no -- this would be extremely difficult to control and you would encounter problems with consistency, artifacts, and sticking. Better to control the humidity of your working environment and storage.

If you are having problems with tissue curling excessively before being sensitized, here are some things you can do:

If you decide to pour your own tissue:
- modify your glop recipe. More sugar and a small amount of glycerin can help retain moisture and reduce curl.
- use a thicker substrate for your tissue

This will work with B&S tissue, too:
- sensitize on a metal sheet and hold down the corners of the tissue with magnets.
- dunk the curled tissues in cool water for a few seconds and drain before sensitizing. This should relax the curl.