Digital BW, The Print

<paul.roark@v...> wrote:

>A light fixative (three very light coats) is not a big deal to me.  
It has no effect on the image, but the pigs don't rub off easily.  I 
can easily do this in my garage with no breathing or equipment.  
There are aerosols that are very archival and work fine.<

What fixatives are you using? I'd like to give an archival aerosol a 
try. As you point out, the surface of matte paper is touchy. If you 
make images with dark grounds, as I often do, scuffing is especially 
apparent.

For now, I intend to stay with matte paper and keep trying to 
increase dmax through ink choice rather than coating. An RC matte 
paper with the characteristics you describe would be very 
interesting. Let's hope one becomes available. 

Speaking of dmax, has anyone else gotten the impression that once 
you get a coated print and an uncoated print (of the same image) 
framed under glass or plexy, the APPARENT difference in dmax drops 
noticeably? This is one of the reasons I abandoned coating....
BJ
http://www.mcwayne.com