Digital BW, The Print

From: "ungram" <ungram@...>
To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 29, 2002 4:51 PM
Subject: [Digital BW] Storage interleaving paper


> I'm at the point where I need storage boxes.  There was a post here
> that Lightimpressions catalog now has boxes for 13x19 and 8.5x11.
> (Adorama also has these and 11x17).  The catalog on p. 51 (Aug)
> describes two kinds of paper and tissue.  These are buffered and non-
> buffered.  Which kind would be appropriate for these carbon pigment
> prints?  I use MIS VM, but it seems all the MIS and Piezo inks would
> be similar in their handling requirements.
>
Andy,

A very good question. Without a doubt buffering is good for the long term
life of the paper itself. What we do not know is the effect of the buffering
on the inks and image stability. Typically buffered interleaving papers have
been used with silver gelatin and platinum prints but not with things such
as dye transfer prints or textiles that contained dyes. It is well
documented that buffering agents actively attack organic dyes. I have not
been able to find any reference as the effect of buffering agents on carbon
pigment inks.

It has been noted that prints on some of the buffered art papers such as
Hahnemuhle tend to warm more than those on un-buffered papers such as Epson
Archival Matte. There is no data at this point but I am concerned that the
buffering agents in the paper may play a role. So if I was to choose a
interleaving paper I would go with the un-buffered papers. High quality
lignin free un-buffered papers such as those sold by Light Impressions will
last for centuries in good storage conditions and hopefully we will have
some answers on how best to store our prints before these papers break down.
Interleaving is something that can easily be replaced at a later date if
needed.

For myself I have chosen to go with plastic and all of my final but
un-matted prints go into Mylar or polypropylene foldlock sleeves from Light
Impressions. Mylar being the first choice. This is more expensive than
interleaving but offers greater protection since the print surface does not
slide against the cover sheet and makes handling and sorting the prints much
easier. I can easily go through 10 to 25 working sheets before I come up
with 3 to 5 copies of "keeper" prints so the cost of the sleeves is a small
portion of the total print cost.

Martin Wesley