Digital BW, The Print

> Some people waxed or varnished their prints,  for example Paul Strand 
> did so, but the practice fell out of favor years ago. Most coatings used 
> over the years have had problems.
 
But did those prints suffer to the same extent from surface artifacts that the newer 
technology prints do? In other words was the motivation to solve the problems associated 
with coating as great as it is now? How about painters? Why can't we treat things a little 
more like they do in terms of prep and coatings?

Dave L.