spotting a b/w print

[lee]

I got to thinking today at the darkroom about having to spot some of the prints I was doing. then it occurred to me what others do about that. Specificly, in what sequence. I know they need to be dried. I generally flatten the prints first in the dry mount press then get out the triple 000 brush and do the spotting at that point. After that I mount and mat the print if I am to do that. Is there any advantage for the b/w practitioner to spot the print before they are flattened in the press?

lee\c

 

[ann]

We always spot after the prints have been mounted. As we are dry mounting the concern has always been about the relationship between the dye and heat. Never wanted to take a chance to test it out, and it has never been an issue doing it after mounting. just place a piece of clean board across the photo and spot away.

 

[blansky]

I do only portraits and retouch the negative first and then the print. The dye retouching is far more extensive than just spotting. If there is a lot to do I often do it before I mount the print because you can wash it off if you screw up.

More often than not though, I do it after the print is mounted because it is easier to work with a flat drymounted print.

I've never seen a color change from the heat of the press.

The dyes I use are Veronica Cass.www.veronicacass.com

Michael McBlane