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Writing on back of paper before development

Alex Benjamin

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I want to keep track of my work prints by leaving a small note on the back of the paper (ex. WP#1, WP#2, WP#3, etc.) before I put it in the developer. What's best, and has no chance of interfering with the developer, pencil or pen?
 
I use a standard ball point pen on the base side of all paper types. Then wipe any smudges off before placing on easel and in the developer. Never a problem after doing this for nearly a half century.
 
Nothing will impact the developer, by the way. Pencil is just more likely to disappear.
 
For RC, a fine point Sharpie i.e magic marker, works well for me.
On fiber, I generally use pencil, if I add a note at all.
 
Alex Benjamin said:
I want to keep track of my work prints by leaving a small note on the back of the paper (ex. WP#1, WP#2, WP#3, etc.) before I put it in the developer. What's best, and has no chance of interfering with the developer, pencil or pen?
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Why would you need to note WP on a print that is obviously a WP? I put notes on the back of prints after processing with exposure info, sharpie works just fine.
 
I can lose track of paper grade when doing test strips so I occasionally write the grade on the back in pencil
 
Thanks for all the info !
 
I use HB pencil on the back of FB paper. Either don’t press hard, or make sure you have a margin to write in. I use 35mm and standard paper sizes (eg 12x16), so there is one wide margin. (Trouble is, I cut it off for dry mounting, and sometimes can’t remember which note goes with which print!)
 
Rick A said:
Why would you need to note WP on a print that is obviously a WP?
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While repetition is the mother of perfection, obviousness is its aunt who lives in the country and whose kindness and gentle manners she can count upon when life gets a bit complicated.
 
On the back of FB paper I use a 4B pencil, which is somewhat softer than de American #0.

It is to note the filtering (variabel contrast) and/or the exposure time, so I can compare the deferent test strips.
I use teststrips of about 6 cm wide and 24cm long when printing my preferred 24x24cm format (from 6x6 negs). These strips are cut of the final print sheet ( 24x30cm: economy).
I always place the different test strip as much as possible on the very same place (the most important area) so to compare them.
 
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I also use an 8B. It leaves a highly legible mark while requiring almost no pressure. I mark the border are of every print with whatever info is relevant. I also use it to put a copyright notice onto the print before dry-mounting.

These are readily available in art supply stores.
 

Unfortunately there seems to be some divergence of opinion on the longevity of an 8B mark that is put on the back of the paper if it is immersed in developer stop and fix as opposed to used after processing

Frankly I can't remember noticing a deterioration but I confess I haven't gone back to look days, weeks or months after marking the paper prior to processing

pentaxuser
 
It has never failed in my experience, and I always mark the prints before exposing.

Fixer will remove Sharpie pen from the emulsion side. So will Isopropanol.
 
Don_ih said:
Nothing will impact the developer, by the way. Pencil is just more likely to disappear.
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Try an indelible pencil, like post and beam and log cabin carpenters use.
 
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Got me some 8B pencils. Will try that in my next darkroom session this coming week. Thanks all for you suggestions.
 
snusmumriken said:
Does that make them palimpsests?
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I'll have to roll them all up, stick them in a tube, bury them in a field, hoping they'll be dug up in the distant future, then maybe
 
Don_ih said:
Nothing will impact the developer, by the way. Pencil is just more likely to disappear.
Click to expand...

It won’t on FB paper. I just tried it today, and it stays the same as it was before development.
 
It really is not rocket science, just try what you have got on an off cut or test strip and wash the hell out of it to see which stays on there.
 
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