Digital BW, The Print

A while back I reported on tests of various coatings for Innova F-
Type Gloss Ultrasmooth paper.  The prints were made on an Epson 2400 
with stock Epson K3 pigmemt inks.  I reported that a coat of 
Renaissance Wax on the surface gave the best shadow detail and 
eliminated any gloss differential.

I just ran some prints for a client and ran into a different 
problem.  I let the prints "age" for ~ 24 hours after printing 
before applying any coating.  I then coated with the ren wax I 
reccommended, let it dry for about 3 hours, buffed with a soft towel 
and put them away for the night.  The next morning I noticed a 
blemish in the sky, of course, on one print which wasn't there when 
I waxed them the night before.  Apparently the solvents in the ren 
wax "lifted" the epson pigment ink in that particular area of the 
image.  It was a spot about 1mm in diameter.  I tried spotting it 
with spotone and dyes that I use for gelatin silver prints and it 
didn't work - the wax prevents conventional spotting medium from 
adhering/pentrating into the paper.  So scratch one fine print!!!

I have quite using ren wax on any of the new fiber glossy papers 
(Innova F-Type, Crane Silver Rag, and Hahnemuhle Pearl)printed using 
Epson K3 inks.  I now use Premier PrintShield spray only.  It looks 
almost as good as ren wax (really splitting hairs to tell the 
difference), protects the surface of the print, deepens the shadow 
detail, and still completely eliminates any gloss differential 
problems in the highlights.

Just thought I would pass this on so others don't run into the same 
problem.  

We get old too soon and smart too late!

Cheers,

TK