Digital BW, The Print

Hi,
I'm just wondering - do people find that brushing matte rag papers too vigorously can actually *cause* flake?

I always brush, blow and inspect before printing - but it's not a failsafe method.

thanks,
Richard
--
Backroads Essay:
http://picasaweb.google.com/rsmallfield/TheBackroadsOfWarkworth
Greeting Cards available for purchase:
http://picasaweb.google.com/rsmallfield/GreetingCards
http://photos.smallfield.vze.com
http://smallfield.vze.com
   
   I believe that the first test of a truly great man is his humility. 
   I do not mean by humility, doubt of his own powers. But really 
   great men have a curious feeling that the greatness is not in 
   them, but through them. And they see something divine in 
   every other man and are endlessly, foolishly, incredibly merciful. 
   --John Ruskin, author, art critic, and social reformer (1819-1900)

Hi Richard,

How's it going up there?

I use a large horse hair type drafting brush and I've never had that
problem ( that I know of). I brush very hard, horizontally, then
vertically. However, if you are using a very stiff synthetic fiber
bruch you might end up brushing too hard and either breaking off
fibers or scratching the coating.

john



--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Richard
Smallfield <r.smallfield@...> wrote:
>
> Hi,
> I'm just wondering - do people find that brushing matte rag papers
too vigorously can actually *cause* flake?
> 
> I always brush, blow and inspect before printing - but it's not a
failsafe method.

> 
> thanks,
> Richard
>

Richard,

I haven't experienced brushing causing flaking problems, but I have 
tried using a soft cotton cloth like a tee shirt before, and if you 
get too aggressive, it can definitely leave marks on the sheet.  I've 
killed a few that way.  

So, I start by grabbing a sheet by the top edge, letting it hang 
down, and sahke it back and forth, hoping the action will help 
release any loose material or dust.  Then, I use a drafting brush and 
sometimes a can of air to clean before printing.  Usually does the 
job without any negative effects.  

Lou

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Richard 
Smallfield <r.smallfield@...> wrote:
>
> Hi,
> I'm just wondering - do people find that brushing matte rag papers 
too vigorously can actually *cause* flake?
> 
> I always brush, blow and inspect before printing - but it's not a 
failsafe method.

fwiw I continue to doubt flaking actually is a problem. I think
flaking results from printing over dust. Dust comes from the
environment AND especially from the edges of paper, the result of
cutting. Some papers are more dusty because some companies were less
careful than others when cutting. 

T-shirt isn't going to damage the surface if you use it with
restraint. Just brush with a loosely bunched-up shirt, don't rub. If
the paper's damaged by that you probably don't want to use it.

I first learned this directly from Moab's earliest online explanation
for mistaken allegations about Entrada and flakes. That wasn't
flaking, that was the result of packaging error...they didn't vacuum
the sheets after cutting.

Presumably roll paper cutters cause flakes. 



--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Richard
Smallfield <r.smallfield@...> wrote:
>
> Hi,
> I'm just wondering - do people find that brushing matte rag papers
too vigorously can actually *cause* flake?
> 
> I always brush, blow and inspect before printing - but it's not a
failsafe method.

> 
> thanks,
> Richard
> --
> Backroads Essay:
> http://picasaweb.google.com/rsmallfield/TheBackroadsOfWarkworth
> Greeting Cards available for purchase:
> http://picasaweb.google.com/rsmallfield/GreetingCards
> http://photos.smallfield.vze.com
> http://smallfield.vze.com
>    
>    I believe that the first test of a truly great man is his humility. 
>    I do not mean by humility, doubt of his own powers. But really 
>    great men have a curious feeling that the greatness is not in 
>    them, but through them. And they see something divine in 
>    every other man and are endlessly, foolishly, incredibly merciful. 
>    --John Ruskin, author, art critic, and social reformer (1819-1900)
>

I agree. Interestingly I was cutting a few sheets of Ilford Gold Silk fibre
yesterday and was really suprised how much dust came from the cut edges.

Mike


On 08/01/2008, djon43 <djon43@...> wrote:
>
>   fwiw I continue to doubt flaking actually is a problem. I think
> flaking results from printing over dust. Dust comes from the
> environment AND especially from the edges of paper, the result of
> cutting. Some papers are more dusty because some companies were less
> careful than others when cutting.
>
> T-shirt isn't going to damage the surface if you use it with
> restraint. Just brush with a loosely bunched-up shirt, don't rub. If
> the paper's damaged by that you probably don't want to use it.
>
> I first learned this directly from Moab's earliest online explanation
> for mistaken allegations about Entrada and flakes. That wasn't
> flaking, that was the result of packaging error...they didn't vacuum
> the sheets after cutting.
>
> Presumably roll paper cutters cause flakes.
>
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com<DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint%40yahoogroups.com>,
> Richard
> Smallfield <r.smallfield@...> wrote:
> >
> > Hi,
> > I'm just wondering - do people find that brushing matte rag papers
> too vigorously can actually *cause* flake?
> >
> > I always brush, blow and inspect before printing - but it's not a
> failsafe method.
> >
> > thanks,
> > Richard
> > --
> > Backroads Essay:
> > http://picasaweb.google.com/rsmallfield/TheBackroadsOfWarkworth
> > Greeting Cards available for purchase:
> > http://picasaweb.google.com/rsmallfield/GreetingCards
> > http://photos.smallfield.vze.com
> > http://smallfield.vze.com
> >
> > I believe that the first test of a truly great man is his humility.
> > I do not mean by humility, doubt of his own powers. But really
> > great men have a curious feeling that the greatness is not in
> > them, but through them. And they see something divine in
> > every other man and are endlessly, foolishly, incredibly merciful.
> > --John Ruskin, author, art critic, and social reformer (1819-1900)
> >
>
> 
>


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