I have been following this thread and would like to jump in.
I also had problems for years with all this. In the end the solution was
quite simple. After the preshrink and extra gelatin size I soaked the paper
in water at room temperature for 5 minutes. Then I would let the excess
water run off before laying the paper face down on a clean sheet of glass.
I dry the back of the paper a bit and then lay a sheet of plexiglass on
the paper, leaving about 2 inches of paper all around. I cut the corners
off of the paper and then fold the paper over the plexiglass and tape it
with a good masking tape by 3m #273. I would only tape some holding strips
at first. When the paper is taped to the plexiglass I lift the plexiglass
with the paper. Next I clamp simple household clothes pins all around the
edges and leave the paper to dry. Next day I take the clothes pins off,
finish taping around the paper and I am ready to print.
I found that this method worked well with just about every paper. The paper
shrinks back to the the same size and is very flat, making it easy to
register again and again. The plexiglass bends with the paper and works
much better than glass. I normaly use 3mm thickness for prints up to 8x10
inches and thicker sizes for larger.
The tape holds up well even with 6 printings but if you do not print every
day then sometimes it is good to use the clothes pins at the end of the day
to avoid the chance of the tape coming loose.
Someone mentioned Stephen Livick. He helped me solve many of my own problems
I was having with gum printing. I was trying to make large prints but with
the method I mentioned above I could never imagine making prints as large
as he does, often 75x100cm. He told me about using much thicker papers.
Judy brought that up and I know that is not what she was interested in but
others might want to try it. By using a 640g paper you do not need to worry
so much about shrinking. I use SANDERS WATERFORD from the UK. I use the
cold pressed surface which is similar in look to a BFK ARCHES 250g. I have
had no problems with shrinking.
Hope that answers some questions and even spawns some new ones.
I am sorry I have not had a chance to write to you personally lately Judy,
I will try to get to it soon!!!
Jeff
Jeff Stanford
Petrejusv. 32
121 38 Stockholm, Sweden
tel:(+46)(0)8-659 86 09
e-mail: jeff.stanford@mailbox.swipnet.se
Internet address: http://www.algonet.se/~photogum
Come visit PhotoGum.