Re: More presentation of alt. prints

HareHound@aol.com
Sat, 28 Sep 1996 20:21:12 -0400

Kevin,
I don't know if this is any help, but when I was in graduate school I made a
number of large cyanotypes (3'x5') on Aches En Tout Cas paper and like you,
did not want to deal with the glass or plexi barrier. My solution was to
stretch the paper, damp, on painting stretcher bars, then coat the facing
surface with several coats of very thinned down polymer glue (ala Elmer's).
I thinned the glue about one third glue to two thirds water and put maybe
three coats on. That sealed the surface, strengthened the paper, yet did not
seem to add any gloss or discernable coating to the image. Then I framed the
pieces with a metal frame that projected a quarter of an inch from the
surface, which provided a barrier from things laid on it while horizontal. I
still managed to puncture on, and then built masonite and lathe surfaces to
stretch them on. That was about 6 years ago and none of them have yellowed or
peeled or in any way degraded , and some are stored in a garage in Texas heat
and humidity which should be the ultimate test. I don't know how the glue
would react with PtPd prints, but I'll bet it looks as good as wax, maybe
better. Good luck, Janet Flohr