A 5% gelatine solution brushed over the
entire back of your print paper to stick it to a sheet of plexiglass (
perspex) will keep it flat. Allow to dry thoroughly.
First, rough up the surface of the plexi sheet
with medium sandpaper so the gel will adhere. Lay the print sheet face down on
another larger sheet of cheap paper when brushing on the gel. Then, position
the plexi sheet on the gel coated paper and press down with the palm of the
hand smoothing out the contact from the centre of the sheet out towards
the edges. Finally, turn the pack over and continue to smooth out the
contact and flatten air bubbles. Remove the cheap paper and clean up the edges
with tissue. If you are coating with gel emulsions the sheet will snap off
of from the plexi sheet after the process is done.
Hope this helps.
A DVD of this activity, for those with limited visual
imagination, may be available in 2009 at a cost of $45 plus postage and
packing. ( Dont freak out. Its a joke )
But, seriously, this has worked with
very thin papers, 40 gsm.
Hope it works for you.
Best wishes. John Grocott- Photographist-
London-UK