Digital BW, The Print

Hi,
I'm starting to do prints for galleries. I'm using UT on Photorag.

Is carbon on cotton all I need to ensure longevity? I was going to get the framer to use regular glass and not UV glass, as carbon on cotton is already UV-safe, right?

When should sprays be used as an extra protective measure?

thanks,
Richard
--
http://smallfield.vze.com
http://photos.smallfield.vze.com

   "The most incomprehensible thing about the world 
   is that it is comprehensible."
   --Albert Einstein

On Fri, 2004-02-20 at 02:22, Richard Smallfield wrote:

> Hi,
> I'm starting to do prints for galleries. I'm using UT on Photorag.
> 
> Is carbon on cotton all I need to ensure longevity? I was going to get the framer to use regular glass and not UV glass, as carbon on cotton is already UV-safe, right?
> 
> When should sprays be used as an extra protective measure?
> 
> thanks,
> Richard


I don't use glass - I use OP-3, which is a UV blocking acrylic. The
problem with glass, besides its weight, is that if somebody drops your
frame, your print is shredded. And if you are going to use acrylic, the
extra protection of a UV blocking acrylic can't hurt.

If you use glazing of some type, I don't think sprays on the print
itself are worth while, and most curators hate them in any case. It's a
choice you get to make, however.

For more on "archival" framing, see:

http://lcweb.loc.gov/preserv/care/mat.html



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Richard,

>I'm starting to do prints for galleries. I'm using UT on Photorag.

>Is carbon on cotton all I need to ensure longevity? I was going to get the
>framer to use regular glass and not UV glass, as carbon on cotton is
>already UV-safe, right?

>When should sprays be used as an extra protective measure?

I suspect UV glass may offer some additional protection, probably more for
stopping the optical brighteners from burning out and turning yellow
(relatively) than for any indoor fading differences.  (Outdoor display is a
different issue.  Window glass absorbs the shortest and most damaging UV.)
I, personally, do not use UV glass.

With UT inks most the differences I see in fluorescent light fade testing
with the PremierArt spray (which has a UV blocking agent) relate a slight
advantage in less yellowing, not visually density. (This is unlike Epson
inks, where the spray makes a significant difference.)  The MIS UT
base/binder is light yellow.  I suspect it may have some UV absorbing
characteristics that make this difference.

The PremierArt-type sprays do give physical protection to the print that is
worthwhile.  This may be not only for protection from abrasion, but also
from humidity and possibly gas attack, at least to a limited extent.  I
suspect the roll of humidity is being very understated by all the fade test
procedures, which artificially dry the pigments even if the ambient air
humidity is controlled.  As with rusting iron, water seems to be a primary
carrier of both oxygen (the source of fading) and acids (the source of paper
deterioration).

The recent posting about the paper coatings yellowing from, probably, VOCs
is distressing.  Hopefully the glass and spray will protect the print.  I'm
also suspicious there are paper differences, but PR may be one of the most
sensitive.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com 

For UT2 information, curves, and settings see:
http://home1.gte.net/res09aij/

>.. what are VOC¹s? 

"Volatile organic compounds" -- This is the broad category of nasty air
pollutants that comes off oil-based paints, our print sprays, and many
products that have solvents or plastics in them.  I'm not a chemist, so I
could be using the term incorrectly.  

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com 

For UT2 information, curves, and settings see:
http://home1.gte.net/res09aij/ 

__________________________________

On 2/19/04 11:14 AM, "Paul Roark" <paul.roark@...> wrote:

> Richard,
> 
> 
> The recent posting about the paper coatings yellowing from, probably, VOCs
> is distressing.  Hopefully the glass and spray will protect the print.
I'm
> also suspicious there are paper differences, but PR may be one of the most
> sensitive.
> 
> Paul
> www.PaulRoark.com
> 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]




Please visit the Group Homepage to check the Files, and other resources as
they are often being updated.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint

If you wish to receive no emails or just a daily digest, or you wish to
unsubscribe, please edit your Membership preferences by visiting this same
page.

Please follow these basic guidelines:
- As threads develop, trim off excess portions of earlier messages to keep
them short.
- Good manners are required at all time. No personal attacks or flames.
Hostile, aggressive or argumentative users may be removed from the
membership without notice.
- Keep your posts and threads related to the group topic of digital B&W
printing. Users who persistently make off-topic posts may be removed from
the membership.
- By posting on this forum you agree to abide by the group rules and
guidelines, and to abide by the actions and decisions of the group Owner and
Moderators. See “Group Topic, Rules and Guidelines” in the Files section:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint/files/

BY PARTICIPATING IN AND/OR POSTING MESSAGES TO THE DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT
YAHOO! GROUP YOU EXPRESSLY UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT THE “OWNER” AND
“MODERATORS” OF DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU
FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR EXEMPLARY
DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS,
GOODWILL, USE, DATA OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES (EVEN IF THE  “OWNER” AND
“MODERATORS” OF DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES), RESULTING FROM: (i) THE USE OR THE INABILITY
TO USE THE DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP; (ii) UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO OR
ALTERATION OF YOUR TRANSMISSIONS OR DATA; (iii) STATEMENTS OR CONDUCT OF ANY
THIRD PARTY ON THE DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP; OR (iv) ANY OTHER
MATTER RELATING TO THE DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP.
 
Yahoo! Groups Links

Paul, I¹m embarrassed, but what are VOC¹s?  J Vee


On 2/19/04 11:14 AM, "Paul Roark" <paul.roark@...> wrote:

> Richard,
> 
> 
> The recent posting about the paper coatings yellowing from, probably, VOCs
> is distressing.  Hopefully the glass and spray will protect the print.  I'm
> also suspicious there are paper differences, but PR may be one of the most
> sensitive.
> 
> Paul
> www.PaulRoark.com
> 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]