Digital BW, The Print

> Subject: water resistance (was Re: Hawk Mountain Papers?)
>
> Since pigment ink sets replaced dye in my printers, I thought I could
> quit worrying about this. I used to worry a lot, especially in re
> post cards and envelopes, and especially in the winter. But only in
> the context of the ink. I've been oblivious to risks which remain
> from the paper even when pigment ink is used.

For what it's worth, here is my experience with MIS ultrachromes on  
Legion matte paper:

I printed an image to be inserted under a clear plastic sleeve around  
an insulted beverage "glass".

I dried the printed and then sprayed it with Krylon "fixative" (which  
disappears completely into the matte surface).

I inserted the photo under the sleeve, only to find that it did not  
fit quite right. I then discovered that I could not remove it.  
Nothing seemed to work, so in desperation I decided to soak the paper  
overnight, hoping that it would soften enough for me to get it out.

Well, it didn't work, and I ended up soaking the print in cold water  
or hot water, with and without dish detergent or Mr. Clean, for more  
than a week.

I finally discovered that the sleeve itself could be removed (duh!),  
and the print easily extracted.

I dried the print and was amazed at how good it looked. There was a  
little bit of yellow showing on the back, but the front looked fine.  
No smearing, streaking, or any obvious detriment. I couldn't believe  
it. After a few days in water the emulsion on regular photographic  
paper starts lifting off (yes, I forgot about a print I left in the  
printwasher).

I don't know what contribution Krylon fixative made to this outcome.

Myron