Spotting before or after mounting?

[brummelisa]

Hi,

First I hope that I haven't put this question in the wrong category, but I couldn't find an appropiate.

My question is if it matters if one does the spotting (is that the correct word, you know put color in those white dots) after mounting?

I will use spotpen (but I haven't used them before so I don't know if they will affect the paper) and Kentmere fiber.

/ Marcus

 

[keffs]

I do it before, because if you make a mess of it, you have not wasted your time mounting it. Otherwise, it should not make any difference, depending on how you are mounting it I suppose.

Steve

 

[Monophoto]

I've always done it before mounting. As Steve notes, if you screw up (and you will occasionally, especially when first starting out), you only ruin the print and not a mounted print. The cost of the mount could equal the prime cost of the materials to make a print.

Also, I find that it is helpful to be able to maneuver around the print while spotting, and when because the mount is typically much larger than the print, its harder to rotate a mounted print than an unmounted print.

I suppose that a mounted print would be flatter than an unmounted print, and that might make spotting easier. But my experience is that if I allow my prints to dry thoroughly on screens (face down), and then leave them stacked under weights for a few days, they are more than flat enough to be spotted with no significant difficulty.

By the way, those Spotpens seem like a good idea, but dyes and brushes are much less expensive and far easier to use (after you have learned how to do it, of course) than pens.

 

[catem]

Agree do it before, for reasons given. Also if you overdo it you can re-wash the print. You also run the risk with a mounted print of marking the mount in the process - easier than you'd think... (the brush falls unaccountably from your nerveless fingers as your concentration lapses...spots leap mysteriously from your brush onto the pristine mount...) at least when it's on a part of the print you have a fair chance of removing it if you act immediately, or blending it in....

Spotpens come as they are, I prefer to use dyes/brushes for various reason, not least because you can mix and dilute to exact colour requirements, and it is easier to be more accurate.

 

[Jon Butler]

Hi.
I always spot before mounting, so if you mess up
you can wash it and start again.

JON.

 

[brummelisa]

Thanks for your input. I assumed before questioning that it would be smarter to do it before mounting, but one always want to have some thoughts and input.

/ Marcus

 

[Steve_7x]

Jon's comment is key... spot before mounting, and if you make a boo-boo you can just wash it out. If you mount first you better be a good spotter - because if you goof not only is the print goofed but you wasted a mat board.

Steve

 

[bill schwab]

I'll be the one to go the other way on this. I like to spot my prints after mounting. My reasoning for this is the commitment factor. It makes me a much better and more diligent retoucher. It also gives the print more stability when working on it... the print rarely has a chance to move. On the rare occasion when I do screw up, I have a small sponge that I dampen to draw across the spot to remove the mistake. This often helps when reapplying the spotone. To each their own!

 

[Bob Carnie]

I prefer to spot with a brush before the print is mounted or even hot pressed.
By heating the print for flattening purposes or for mounting the emulsion seals up or tightens and the dyes have a harder time sinking in and sit on the top of the emulsion more.

Isn't this thread a bit of DeJeVu , I thought I responded to the exact question about a week or so ago.
Man am I getting dopey.

 

[thefizz]

I'll be the one to go the other way on this. I like to spot my prints after mounting. My reasoning for this is the commitment factor. It makes me a much better and more diligent retoucher. It also gives the print more stability when working on it... the print rarely has a chance to move. On the rare occasion when I do screw up, I have a small sponge that I dampen to draw across the spot to remove the mistake. This often helps when reapplying the spotone. To each their own!

I'm with Bill on this one for exactly the same reasons.

 

[MurrayMinchin]

Isn't this thread a bit of DeJeVu , I thought I responded to the exact question about a week or so ago.
Man am I getting dopey.

Don't worry Bob, you're not losing it. I remember your answer from last week...then again...maybe we're in parallel delusions

Murray

 

[User Removed]

I prefer to spot AFTER mounting, beause I like to have the mount to hold onto and the print surface perfectly flat. Once you have spotted several hundred prints, you learn how to spot well and making errors rarly happens.

 

[Dinesh]

...Man am I getting dopey.

No argument here!

 

[brummelisa]

Sorry If I missed that other thread, but I searched before.

Anyway, my main reason for me asking is to know how you guys do it and now it seems that you can do it both ways.

/ Marcus

 

[Michael W]

I do it before mounting & use a very fine tip brush.