Re: white precipitate on pt/pd prints

j.r.anderson (j.r.anderson@mds.qmw.ac.uk)
Sat, 21 Sep 1996 12:38:44 +0100

>I hope the list members can help solve a mysterious problem that is occurring
>with increasing frequency.
>
>As my pt/pd prints dry, a dusty white precipitate forms on the surface of the
>paper. Some of the deposit can be removed by lightly wiping the print, more
>can be removed by dabbing with a gum eraser, and neither of these methods is
>satisfactory since they damage the print surface (though almost imperceptibly)
>and don't solve the problem (some of the precipitate appears tohave formed
>just
>below the top layer of paper fibers).

This problem, or something that sounds very similar, happened to someone I
know who also prints on Platine. He said that the precipitate was only
visible on drying the prints. He resolved the problem completely by
installing a water softening unit (one of those ion exchange things you
have to fill with salt periodically). For him filters made no difference at
all.

So we also need to be plumbing experts! ;-)

Jonathan