Re: polymer plate drying time
More questions and responses below... Keith Taylor wrote: Jon,Do you use actual talc, or baby powder? I've found that real talcum powder is difficult to find - though I used some in Florence. Much more chalky and coarse than baby powder -- at least the batch I had access to. I have a 33x43" vacuum frame with glass, get 22in Hg and I leave it for at least 3 minutes before exposure. I have a ribbed bed to the frame which causes problems with platinum prints, so I have a sheet of black plastic 1/32" thick.The Kreene makes it so I can only get about 12 in the vacuum frame. Images are generally pretty sharp except for the patches though.
Yes, due to the Kreene plastic. I clean the glass with a non-ammonia, non-alcohol based cleaner, but no anti-static spray. I also use Pictorico on a roll (never sheets) with an Epson 4000. I do have a 2200 that I use infrequently with sheet Pictorico, but not for gravure - usually small platinums. I dry the OHP in the film drying cabinet for 20-30mins low heat prior to use.Drying the OHP seems to be the biggest difference, since I used to have glass in my vacuum frame, and do basically everything similarly to you....but I've never bothered to try drying the OHP with heat for 20-30 minutes. I did use to dry my plates with a hair drier until I was told by an instructor that it was a waste of electricity...NOT. Thanks Keith. I'm very eager to dry some OHP and try dusting again, both the plate and positive and will report back. Best regards, Jon
|