Print Drying - Reducing Curling
Quotes from various sources as noted:
Screen drying is recommended for archival processing because it offers
the
least likelihood of contamination.
Blotters or cloth belts on heated drum dryers build up concentrations of chemical residues
(fixers or print flattener) that can effect subsequent prints. (1)
Prints curl less when dried flat than when suspended.
It is not a good idea to reduce print curvature by flexing the print
against the curl; it sometimes works but you risk cracking the emulsion.
The curl tends to relax in time as the print absorbs moisture from
the air, or you may seek to increase the humidity. (2)
The curl can be reduced by heating the print briefly in a
dry mount press, or by stacking prints under a weight of books.
re Mounting: (quote)
"Many photographers mount their work to keep it flat for viewing.
However, chemicals or impurities in adhesives can damage photographs,
and once mounted
are very difficult to remove from their backing,
so mounting is only recommended for photographs that do not need to be preserved.........
dry mounting is the preferred process ..... " (3)
Sources:
(1)
Build Your Own Home Darkroom
Lista Duren & Billy McDonald - ISBN 0-442-22089-8, Curtin & London.
(2)
The Kodak Workshop Series - "Black & White Darkroom Techniques"
Cat 144 0809 - ISBN 0-87985-274-7
(3)
The (new) Darkroom Handbook - MeMaio, Worth, Curtin.
Focal Press - ISBN 0-240-80260-8