Removing water from prints

[Photo Knowledge]

I am new here. I am having a hard time on what to use to dry my darkroom prints. Can I use a regular dish sponge to wipe water from my prints? If not is the paper squeegee with the rubber on it on Freestyle and B&H a good choice? This question is for both RC and Fiber based papers. Thank you!

 

[Sirius Glass]

Welcome to APUG Photrio!!​

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

You don't need anything special. I find a bath towel works very well. A squeegee doesn't work any better, if not worse.

 

[Photo Knowledge]

You don't need anything special. I find a bath towel works very well. A squeegee doesn't work any better, if not worse.

Do I just lay the prints on the towel and fold the towel over the prints and just damp lightly? Or can I just use the towel and wipe down carefully? Thanks!

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

I just fold the towel over the print and pat the towel. It gets rid of the surface water and then I hang the prints up by the corner with a Paterson clip to dry. I lay large prints face-up on the bedroom carpet to dry.

 

[Photo Knowledge]

Do I just lay the prints on the towel and fold the towel over the prints and just damp lightly? Or can I just use the towel and wipe down carefully? Thanks

I just fold the towel over the print and pat the towel. It gets rid of the surface water and then I hang the prints up by the corner with a Paterson clip to dry. I lay large prints face-up on the bedroom carpet to dry.

Perfect thank you. I'm trying to think of anything I have laying around the house to save money so here's another question. I only have wooden clothes pins and last time I dried my prints from them they left marks on the corners. Can I put some kind of tape on the part where the clothes pins clips to eliminate marks on my prints? I would think the tape would make the clip more soft. I only have duct tape and I wouldn't be using the sticky side on my prints of course. Thanks!

 

[logan2z]

I use this squeegee:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1596642-REG/legacy_pro_9114_tube_squeegee_for_prints.html

You can save some money by going with the 9" version:

Legacy Pro Tube Squeegee (9")

Buy Legacy Pro Tube Squeegee (9") featuring Remove Excess Water from Darkroom Prints, Tube Design Promotes Even Pressure, Soft Rubber Blade. Review Legacy Pro null

www.bhphotovideo.com

I wouldn't personally use a towel to dry prints, unless you're sure it's made from something that won't leave lint or other bits of material on the paper surface - even if you only wipe the non-emulsion side.

 

[eli griggs]

Try using a new, high quality auto windscreen wiper to gently wipe your print, usually in one movement, free of standing water.

Use a sheet of clean, angled on its edge, piece of plexiglass or plate glass, with a small towel at the base of the sheet material, to better manage accumulated H²O, before it spreads.

For smaller prints I use a good quality windscreen squeezie, made with square cut 90° angles on the wiping blade, again on a

 

[GregY]

I also use a car windshield wiper blade.... widely available.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

I wouldn't personally use a towel to dry prints, unless you're sure it's made from something that won't leave lint or other bits of material on the paper surface - even if you only wipe the non-emulsion side.

Oh, the towel leaves lint. But the lint brushes off easily after the print is dry. Patting the print dry with a towel is very benign.

As to wooden clothes pins - yeah, I would just lay the prints face up to dry. If a clean carpet isn't a available then face up on a dry towel - just something to let the moisture escape from the back of the print.

There is no 'right way' to do it - whatever works for you is as right as it needs to be.

 

[MattKing]

Moved to the general B&W: Film, Paper and Chemistry sub-forum.
The "Feedback and Discussion" sub-forum is for discussing how the site itself functions.
No problem though - welcome to Photrio.
For RC, I air dry my prints by standing them in racks. You can also roll them on to a smooth surface and let them air dry. Here is my refrigerator performing that task with some submissions for a Postcard exchange from a few years ago.:

 

[Photo Knowledge]

Moved to the general B&W: Film, Paper and Chemistry sub-forum.
The "Feedback and Discussion" sub-forum is for discussing how the site itself functions.
No problem though - welcome to Photrio.
For RC, I air dry my prints by standing them in racks. You can also roll them on to a smooth surface and let them air dry. Here is my refrigerator performing that task with some submissions for a Postcard exchange from a few years ago.:
View attachment 345682

Well I'm just learning the site. Roll them with what? And how did you stick the prints to the fridge? I'm going to get dozens of suggestions on how to dry my prints. Someone said towel and someone said no towel. So I'm confused. That's the problem here too many suggestions it's confuses my brain. I don't have money for racks. Right now I have rope to hang across with wooden clothes pins. I have a towel and I also have a squeegee that you use for negatives. Would that also work for paper? The rubber from the squeegee scratched my negatives so I stopped using them. And yes my towels have lint of course. I'm just looking to wipe water off before I hang them. I just need one answer. How do I remove water from my prints? I was told a towel and now no towel. I know how to hang them I just need to know what to use without scratching the paper. I'm trying not to spend money. Can I use a new dish squeegee? Thanks!

 

[Photo Knowledge]

I also use a car windshield wiper blade.... widely available.

I've read about using those maybe I'll just give that a try instead of people telling me not what to do! Use a towel. Don't use a towel. Do this no do that! Thank you for the suggestion.

 

[Photo Knowledge]

Try using a new, high quality auto windscreen wiper to gently wipe your print, usually in one movement, free of standing water.

Use a sheet of clean, angled on its edge, piece of plexiglass or plate glass, with a small towel at the base of the sheet material, to better manage accumulated H²O, before it spreads.

For smaller prints I use a good quality windscreen squeezie, made with square cut 90° angles on the wiping blade, again on a

I bought a white dry eraser board to put my prints on to squeegee the water off. I saw it on a youtube That's what I have I spent money on it recently I can't afford to buy any glass or anything else. I just joined this page this evening so it's gonna take me time to understand what it offers.

 

[Photo Knowledge]

I use this squeegee:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1596642-REG/legacy_pro_9114_tube_squeegee_for_prints.html

You can save some money by going with the 9" version:

Legacy Pro Tube Squeegee (9")

Buy Legacy Pro Tube Squeegee (9") featuring Remove Excess Water from Darkroom Prints, Tube Design Promotes Even Pressure, Soft Rubber Blade. Review Legacy Pro null

www.bhphotovideo.com

I wouldn't personally use a towel to dry prints, unless you're sure it's made from something that won't leave lint or other bits of material on the paper surface - even if you only wipe the non-emulsion side.

Is it a good squeegee. That's what I'm going to buy if I keep getting different answers on ways to remove water from prints. I'm just nervous about scratching the paper. Maybe you can answer something. I get these dents in my paper I get them when drying them. I think it happens when one water spot dries in one spot. That's my guess.

 

[Photo Knowledge]

Moved to the general B&W: Film, Paper and Chemistry sub-forum.
The "Feedback and Discussion" sub-forum is for discussing how the site itself functions.
No problem though - welcome to Photrio.
For RC, I air dry my prints by standing them in racks. You can also roll them on to a smooth surface and let them air dry. Here is my refrigerator performing that task with some submissions for a Postcard exchange from a few years ago.:
View attachment 345682

I like this fridge idea. I'd like to know what you roll your prints with. I think this would eliminate risks of marking up my paper corners.

 

[mshchem]

Deep breath.
A squeegee, I use a Libman window squeegee, about 5 bucks. Don't use directly on the print face, I have a poly squeegee board, lay the print face down then squeegee it from the backside, keep your fingers ahold of a corner to keep the print from sticking.
Then use a rack or hang dry. I have an Ilfospeed dryer that will dry an 8x10 in about 10 seconds, pretty slick.

As far as a squeegee board goes, it needs to be immaculately clean, able to take pressure. Matt's fridge worked, needs to be smooth not textured metal, glass window would work, or maybe a sliding glass door. Again I don't leave the prints stuck to anything.

For color prints back in the day I used a blow dryer, took 3 or 4 minutes.

 

[Photo Knowledge]

Moved to the general B&W: Film, Paper and Chemistry sub-forum.
The "Feedback and Discussion" sub-forum is for discussing how the site itself functions.
No problem though - welcome to Photrio.
For RC, I air dry my prints by standing them in racks. You can also roll them on to a smooth surface and let them air dry. Here is my refrigerator performing that task with some submissions for a Postcard exchange from a few years ago.:
View attachment 345682

Hi again. Why was my post moved to a different forum? How do know what topic to post in different forums? Thanks!

 

[mshchem]

 

[Photo Knowledge]

Deep breath.
A squeegee, I use a Libman window squeegee, about 5 bucks. Don't use directly on the print face, I have a poly squeegee board, lay the print face down then squeegee it from the backside, keep your fingers ahold of a corner to keep the print from sticking.
Then use a rack or hang dry. I have an Ilfospeed dryer that will dry an 8x10 in about 10 seconds, pretty slick.

As far as a squeegee board goes, it needs to be immaculately clean, able to take pressure. Matt's fridge worked, needs to be smooth not textured metal, glass window would work, or maybe a sliding glass door. Again I don't leave the prints stuck to anything.

For color prints back in the day I used a blow dryer, took 3 or 4 minutes

 

[Photo Knowledge]

Deep breath.
A squeegee, I use a Libman window squeegee, about 5 bucks. Don't use directly on the print face, I have a poly squeegee board, lay the print face down then squeegee it from the backside, keep your fingers ahold of a corner to keep the print from sticking.
Then use a rack or hang dry. I have an Ilfospeed dryer that will dry an 8x10 in about 10 seconds, pretty slick.

As far as a squeegee board goes, it needs to be immaculately clean, able to take pressure. Matt's fridge worked, needs to be smooth not textured metal, glass window would work, or maybe a sliding glass door. Again I don't leave the prints stuck to anything.

For color prints back in the day I used a blow dryer, took 3 or 4 minutes.

I bought a white dry eraser board. Saw someone use one on a youtube channel for prints. I trust his Darkroom work! Problem for me is just trying to remove a little water that would take not even 10 seconds. I was told a windshield wiper blade and a squeegee on B&H that was my first option and now I'm just trying to eliminate spending money. My one question is tiring into a bunch of peoples opinions and it's getting to me. So when I slap my print onto my white dry eraser board that is brand new and clean I slap it on picture side down? Why is this? Watch someone is gonna come in and say "ummm that's not necessary to slap it facedown you could scuff the picture itself" never ends man.

 

[Nige]

I bought a white dry eraser board to put my prints on to squeegee the water off.

For fiber paper I squeegee both front and back of the print using a car windscreen squeegee. Something like this. I use the sink splashback (backsplash for you Americans) as I have my sink surrounded by PVC sheeting but your dry eraser board will work. I then place face down on 'flyscreen' drying racks. The various methods of drying fiber prints is really about how flat they are afterwards. Mine dry pretty flat but they need to be dry-mounted for complete flatness in my experience (not saying others can't do better!). Leave them in a stack of prints for several years and they flatten out too.

For RC prints, I use paper racks. Like this. Stand a piece up in each segment and they'll dry perfectly. No squeegeeing needed.

For some questions, there really are multiple answers, pick one that works for you.

 

[Photo Knowledge]

For fiber paper I squeegee both front and back of the print using a car windscreen squeegee. Something like this. I use the sink splashback (backsplash for you Americans) as I have my sink surrounded by PVC sheeting but your dry eraser board will work. I then place face down on 'flyscreen' drying racks. The various methods of drying fiber prints is really about how flat they are afterwards. Mine dry pretty flat but they need to be dry-mounted for complete flatness in my experience (not saying others can't do better!). Leave them in a stack of prints for several years and they flatten out too.

For RC prints, I use paper racks. Like this. Stand a piece up in each segment and they'll dry perfectly. No squeegeeing needed.

For some questions, there really are multiple answers, pick one that works for you.

Well I have no money for racks and I'm limited on money. I'll break it down on what I have. White dry eraser board. Rope and clothes pins for hanging prints. A refrigerator to roll the prints on. What would be a good roller? As for flattening out the prints which would be FB for the first time for me. How long until they flatten? I'm not going to wait years for them to flatten.

 

[Nige]

You can flatten a 8x10 with a clothes iron... once dry, cover it with a hanky and iron it (no steam) then quickly place it under some heavy books... let cool and it will be pretty flat. Bit hard to do a larger print unless you move to a larger surface (than an ironing board) where you can do all that without bending the print and putting a permanent crease in it. I dry-mounted a 8x10 using a sandwich press once, just to see if it would work (yes it did) so that could be another option.

Ohh, I reckon Matt stuck those postcards on the fridge wet, rather than rolled them on with some device (could be wrong). Once they drop off, they're dry.

And for RC prints, for the not frills, no equipment approach.. just stand them up against something (where the water runnoff isn't going to wreck whatever it's sitting on)

 

[mshchem]

I would use this squeegee, I have the fancier photo squeegee but the simple window squeegee works great, I recommend this Libman
You can squeegee front or back, just be careful not to scratch the front. After you squeegee lay the print on a towel, print face up to dry, make sure there's no standing drips of water.

Fiber base paper needs to be dried in a blotter book, maybe under a heavy book, don't over dry. I use an old Pako print dryer. I dry mount fiber prints then cut mats