Digital BW, The Print

Paul Roark wrote:


> With inkjet prints there have been stories from Florida of very rapid
> deterioration of Epson Enhanced Matte prints.  Presumably the heat and
> humidity in Florida accelerates the acidic attack on the paper. 

> I think if I had an important print that was dry mounted on acidic board I'd
> first de-acidify it in a bag with ammonia for about 20 minutes.  Then I'd
> use the Wei To product on the back and hope that the dry-mount tissue
> stopped the product from reaching the print. 

Remembering some ecological disputes about cow dung creating 
ammoniac gases in the air and the resultant acids when ammoniac 
gases are exposed to light I wonder whether that treatment will 
no worsen the archival qualities. Could be just a local Dutch 
problem of course :-) Similar thoughts are expressed here:

http://www.usask.ca/lists/alt-photo-process/1996/alt96b/0757.html

I think ammonia only reacts with UV light but I could be wrong.

I think buffering in the paper itself is the most important thing.

BTW, Paul any sign of fading on the Kodak Ultima paper yet ?

Ernst