Printing Carbon Transfer 101 [long...]

Pollmeier Klaus (KPollmeier@compuserve.com)
Mon, 13 Apr 1998 10:12:33 -0400

Nachricht geschrieben von "Wm. J. Clark"
>While the exposure is being made, soak the Final Support paper in 120-140
degree F distilled water for 5 minutes.<

What is this hot presoak for? I haven't found this necessary until now and
am curious to learn what it helps to prevent?

>Move the Final Support paper from the hot soak to a tray of room-temp (68
F) distilled water for 5 minutes. (Total soak = 10 minutes)
After the exposure, place the soaked Final Support paper and the exposed
tissue side-by side in a tray of distilled water (68 F) .<

I found that the more the transfer bath approaches room temperature (20C),
the more likely a loss of contact during development becomes. My best
experience was with water at 15-17C. Also, destilled water may not be
necessary unless you care for air-free water (which the destilled obviously
is). Usually I am walking on my wife's nerves one day in advance when
boiling ca. 10 liters of water in the kitchen for a few minutes. I then let
the pot cool down during the night and use the water the next day. The time
the transfer paper had to be in the cold water in advance I found of no
importance at all (sometimes hours, if I couldn't work continously), unless
it had time enough to expand completely.

Although the cold water gets stained with dichromate, it can be used
repetedly if filtered.

I also got very consistent results with better adhesion and less bubbles by
doing the transfer in a mixture of 1 part rubbing alcohol and 3 parts
water. This mixture must be preopared well in advance as the solution warms
up when pooring in the alcohol and tiny air bells are formed. But after one
hour or so the mixture is ready to use.

BTW: When developing on plexi or white plastic, the tissue may be hard to
pull off in the hot developing water if plain water baths are used. A trick
from the photogravure printers usually helps: A 2 min presoak in plain
rubbing alcohol just before the developing.

Klaus Pollmeier