RE: pt/pd mounting

[EJN Photo <ejnphoto@sbcglobal.net>]

The underlying issue is whether an acid environment is called for because it
is where pt pd process goes, or whether is it better to keep it pH neutral
or toward the alkaline side.

I'd go with buffered if what Liam says is accurate. I am not saying it is
not. The paper will be happier in a neutral environment and if the PT prints
do indeed go acid a buffer will help.    

The process is subjected to a variety of pH environments and different
practitioners will use different clearing bath and what not affecting the pH
of the paper. I doubt any one has studied the new sprays meant for ink jet
prints on the longevity of PT/PD prints. If the air is what carries the
sulfur, than eliminating contact with the air seems like a place to start.
Or will the sulfur migrate through the protective surface?  

???



Eric Neilsen Photography
4101 Commerce Street, Suite 9
Dallas, TX 75226
214-827-8301
http://ericneilsenphotography.com


 
Skype : ejprinter> -----Original Message-----
> From: Camden Hardy [mailto:camden@hardyphotography.net]
> Sent: Monday, September 11, 2006 2:02 PM
> To: alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca
> Subject: Re: pt/pd mounting
> 
> Katherine,
> 
> I apologize for the ambiguity of my question.  You (and Liam)
> are correct;
> I was in fact trying to find out whether acid board is good (as
> someone
> once told me) or bad for pt prints.
> 
> My instinct was to say acid board is bad in general, but it was
> a fairly
> convincing argument.
> 
> While we're on the subject though, what about buffered board?
> Can anyone
> see a reason to use or not use it for pt/pd?
> 
> Camden Hardy
> 
> camden[at]hardyphotography[dot]net
> http://www.hardyphotography.net
> 
> 
> 
> On Mon, September 11, 2006 12:30 pm, Katharine Thayer wrote:
> >
> > On Sep 11, 2006, at 8:11 AM, Camden Hardy wrote:
> >
> >> Thanks to Liam and Gawain for the responses.
> >>
> >> So that leaves us with one "busted" and one "doesn't really
> matter".
> >>
> >> Anyone want to tip the scales?
> >
> > Camden, I don't have any information to tip the scales one
> way or the
> > other,  but from where I'm looking, the scales are already
> tipped.
> >
> > Your question was
> >
> > Someone once told me (can't remember who or where or when)
> that since
> >>> pt/pd is an acidic process that mounting a print in pH
> neutral or
> >>> acid
> >>> free mat board will actually shorten the life of the print.
> >
> > This is a different question, as I read it,  than whether
> using a
> > buffered board,  where the pH of the board has been raised to
> 8 or 9
> > with the addition of calcium carbonate, will shorten the life
> of the
> > print.  Both of the answers addressed this second question,
> and it
> > makes sense that they answered this question, because that's
> probably
> > what your vaguely remembered warning was referring to anyway.
> >
> > The way I read it, both Liam and Gawain answered this seond
> question
> > in the negative:  using a buffered board shouldn't hurt your
> pt
> > print,  Lord willing and the creek don't rise.  But the
> answer to
> > your original question is also "no,"   and not just because
> as Liam
> > says, a pt print isn't acidic when it's properly washed--even
> if it
> > was, you wouldn't want to use an acid board.   So you're left
> with
> > the choice of whether  to use a pH neutral board (100% cotton
> rag)
> > or whether you want the additional protection of buffering
> against
> > the formation of acid in the print over time.
> > Katharine
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >>
> >> Camden Hardy
> >>
> >> camden[at]hardyphotography[dot]net
> >> http://www.hardyphotography.net
> >>
> >>
> >> On Sat, September 9, 2006 8:36 pm, Liam Lawless wrote:
> >>
> >>> Platinum prints should not be acidic if properly washed
> after
> >>> processing.
> >>> But platinum is a catalyst and turns atmospheric sulphur
> dioxide into
> >>> sulphuric acid which causes yellowing and embrittlement of
> the
> >>> paper the
> >>> print is on.  Old platinum prints are often quite acidic,
> so I see
> >>> only
> >>> benefits from buffered boards.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Liam
> >>>
> >>> -----Original Message-----
> >>> From: Camden Hardy [mailto:camden@hardyphotography.net]
> >>> Sent: 09 September 2006 18:19
> >>> To: alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca
> >>> Subject: pt/pd mounting
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> I've heard a myth I'm looking to bust or confirm, and I
> figured
> >>> this would
> >>> be a good place to find out.
> >>>
> >>> Someone once told me (can't remember who or where or when)
> that since
> >>> pt/pd is an acidic process that mounting a print in pH
> neutral or
> >>> acid
> >>> free mat board will actually shorten the life of the print.
> >>>
> >>> So my question is, within the context of pt/pd, how
> important is
> >>> the pH
> >>> level of mat board for archival mounting?
> >>>
> >>> Thanks,
> >>> Camden Hardy
> >>>
> >>> camden[at]hardyphotography[dot]net
> >>> http://www.hardyphotography.net
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>