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Removing liquid emulsion from glass?

Discussion in 'Silver Gelatin Based Emulsion Making & Coating' started by El Gringo, May 10, 2009.

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  1. May 10, 2009 #1
    El Gringo

    El Gringo Subscriber

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    I am currently trying to work up the courage to print a shot onto glass. I've had a little experience with liquid emulsion coated onto cotton so I'm confident enough to give it a go, however glass is a little more expensive to buy compared to cotton!

    I was wondering if you could remove the emulsion from the glass if the print hadn't gone as planned, reapply the emulsion and start again without any problems? If so do I just put the glass in really hot water and wait until the emulsion comes off?
     
  2. May 10, 2009 #2
    Kirk Keyes

    Kirk Keyes Member

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    You can strip the emulsion off as you say with hot water. I understand some people us bleach - the high pH of the bleach certainly helps swell the emulsion and that will help take it off too.
     
  3. May 11, 2009 #3
    Captain_joe6

    Captain_joe6 Member

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    I've used solutions of citric acid to get it off as well. works just fine. made myself some nice faux-ambrotypes via this method.
     
  4. May 11, 2009 #4
    Ian Grant

    Ian Grant Subscriber

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    If it's hardened then Domestos (UK Sodium Hypchlorite bleach) is the best cleaner if it doesn't come off with hot water. The bleach does rather more than swell the Gelatin it causes it to break down.

    Ian