What extra equipment do I need for Fiber paper?

Jedidiah Smith · Oct 10, 2007

Ramping up the darkroom again after about a year off of shooting B&W. (Have been mostly shooting slides in 35mm).
I'd like to try some fiber paper this time around and see if I can tell a difference between RC paper that I have used in the past.
Is there any special equipment that I need for it? From what I've read it seems like the wash time is longer, and hard to get it to dry flat. Any tips on that? I'm sure I'll still primarily use RC paper, unless there is a huge difference with the "look" of the fiber.
Thanks,
Jed

fhovie · Oct 10, 2007

you MUST have a Seal press. IMHO. Anything short of that is inconvenient. FB curls. It is cotton. It will always curl. A press will flatten your print. To display your print, you will want to mat it. Mounting to matboard with a press is the cats pajamas. There is nothing like a good Seal press for FB prints.

matti · Oct 10, 2007

Washing can be done by numerous water changes for an hour or something. HCA before is a good idea.
When it comes to drying, I wipe off the water and hang them in clothes pins back to tack until they feel dry but not any longer. Then I pack them under some heavy books. Works fine.
/matti

Neal · Oct 10, 2007

Dear Jed,

A squeegee and a blotter book are all you need to start.

Neal Wydra

dancqu · Oct 10, 2007

Jedidiah Smith said:
Is there any special equipment that I need for it?
From what I've read it seems like the wash time is
longer, and hard to get it to dry flat. Thanks Jed

I've worked with RC and know that it is quick to wash and
quick to dry flat. No matter. Still it is both sides plastic
coated with an emulsion overcoat on one.

Now I work only with FB. Washing is done using the alternate
two tray method. Non-woven separator sheets used twixt prints
allow for the free diffusion of hypo from the prints. The method
uses the least amount of water. Following a hca and hold the
prints can be expected to be clean after only three cycles.
Two cycles after hold may do if the hold is managed
in the same manor as a wash cycle.

Each cycle, nearing half time, a transfer is made, water included.
All are by so doing agitated. With the water in the second tray
the stack of prints and separators is rebuilt. Fresh water only
each cycle. I usually over night on the last cycle.

Essentially the method is the still water diffusion method.
The method endorsed by Fred Picker. Dan

zone v · Oct 10, 2007

Try Edwal Super print flattener to remove most of the curl

Monophoto · Oct 10, 2007

Jed -

I print on both RC and FB paper - and use exactly the same equipment, processes and chemicals for both. Absolutely no differences other than FB has longer processing times (development is 2 - 3 minutes versus 1 minute, etc).

Kevin Caulfield · Oct 10, 2007

I use paper towels to wipe the front and back of the prints. Once they are dry I flatten them between paper towels using phone books, etc. So the only EXTRA equipment I need are the paper towels and the phone books.

Changeling1 · Oct 11, 2007

Nothing beats double-weight rag...

fhovie said:
you MUST have a Seal press. IMHO. Anything short of that is inconvenient. FB curls. It is cotton. It will always curl. A press will flatten your print. To display your print, you will want to mat it. Mounting to matboard with a press is the cats pajamas. There is nothing like a good Seal press for FB prints.

Simon Galley says that Ilford will offer "curl free" fiber based paper in.... 2008 or '09.
But until then it's my good old Bogen 560 Dry Mount Press.

JBrunner · Oct 11, 2007

I dry fiber between two screens and then totally flatten with a press. My prints are flat, and stay flat, even when the humidity changes. Flattening the curly fiber paper is pretty much the only thing that you will find much different, except longer washing. Also, there are about 6 or 8 threads in the archives on flattening fiber prints.

Jedidiah Smith · Oct 11, 2007

Thank you all very much for the info. I will have to try some for sure. Obviously the "look" is very much worth the extra effort or you wouldn't go through it, right?
I think I could just start with the whole paper towel and phone book idea until I'm sure I like the fiber better than RC. If I do, then I'll have to invest in a press, it looks like - because I'm sure it would really help.
All the best, I need to put in a B&H order now!
Jed

What extra equipment do I need for Fiber paper?

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