Digital BW, The Print

Mark, thanks for chiming in with scientific explanation of what happens when  a photograph is framed against glass.  This will allow me to better help my customers. It was also interesting that you mentioned that it may not be an issue with inkjet. I am still concerned about mounting inkjets against glazing due to the condensation issue. An easy quick test could be done by just putting a few drops of water on an inkjet print and laying glass on top and leaving it for some time.  Regardless, the use of spacers has virtually no visual impact and little cost impact (less than mat board). Spacers can be purchased clear, white, and black so they are not noticeable in the frame.

Cheers,
Mark
http://www.framedestination.com/
http://www.facebook.com/FrameDestination


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Mark" <mark@...> wrote:
 
> I have a large inkjet print in my office done just this way in a gold frame (I like the borderless "painterly" look).  I plan on adding several samples with different microporous surface types into my real world print monitoring studies.  I monitor light, temperature and RH inside the frame package over long time periods.
> 
>  While the concerns expressed by others in this thread are real, I'm not so sure they apply to all inkjet papers. Traditional photographic emulsion use gelatin.  Gelatin is a unique polymer with a Tg (glass transition temperature) that varies with moisture content.  When the relative humidity reaches approximately 75% at normal room temperatures, the gelatin coating reverts to gel state, then later upon drying down again (ie. returning below Tg) it glues itself to the glazing if in direct contact. The phenomenon is often called ferrotyping, and this Tg issue is also what accounts for the silver ion diffusion that leaves the silver mirroring/tarnish look on many old B&W photos.  However, microporous inkjet papers aren't going to have these Tg issues whereas swellable inkjet papers have it to excess because they use a highly water soluble gelatin coating. So, for certain type inkjet papers with microporous coatings or acrylic overcoats,  direct contact may be perfectly safe. That said, I need to test my hypothesis with some real world print studies...now in progress.
> 
> cheers,
> Mark
> http://www.aardenburg-imaging.com
>