Digital BW, The Print

I've followed this list with interest for a couple of months now, and I thank 
everyone for providing a lot of useful information here.

The recent discussion of outgassing of RC-type papers printed with Epson 2200 
pigment inks brings to mind several issues of concern to me, as I am printing 
with the 2200 onto Ilford Galerie Smooth papers.   I mount and present my 
prints bare, with no glass, so I don't worry much about the outgassing issue.   
But I do worry about increased fading of the images without the UV protection 
of glass, and their greater vulnerability to damage from fingers and such.

I've thought of using a protective coating.   Are there any on the market 
that do not yellow over time?   Are there any that do not change the glossiness 
of the surface they cover?   If there are, and I started using them, would the 
outgassing issue complicate their use on the Ilford RC-type papers?

Finally:   When a bare Epson 2200 print does attract an unwanted fingerprint, 
what is the wisdom about cleaning the print to remove the smudge without 
disturbing the pigment?

I apologize if I'm covering well-trodden ground here.   Feel free to reply 
offlist if it is.

Sanders McNew.


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