How do you wash your prints?

[ibcrewin]

How do you wash your prints? Print washers seem really expensive, and I haven't had the luck of aquiring one for uber cheap or free.I am using RC paper so I don't need long washing times. Can I just throw them in the sink and rinse them under the tap?

Also, I read that I can leave the prints sitting in water before taking them in for a final rinse. How long can they sit in there?

Thanks!

 

[Ade-oh]

Yup, there's no problem rinsing RC papers in the sink under running water. They'll be good to go in a few minutes.

As for leaving them in water, it shouldn't be a problem either, though they may get slightly recontaminated by fixer if you have more than one there, but a rinse under the tap will sort that out. I've left RC prints bobbing around in water for several hours with no apparent ill effects.

 

[rlouzan]

You need to be aware that RC papers are no good for framing.

http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00ClSY

 

[bsdunek]

While printing, I put mine in a sink full of water with hypo-eliminator. After printing, I wash RC paper in the sink. RC paper adsorbs very little chemical - it's mostly in the emulsion.
For plain fibre papers, I made my own print washer from a galvanized steel wash tub, some copper tubing, and a piece of hose.
The hose connects to a tube soldered near the top tha swirls the water to keep it moving. A short copper tube soldered at the bottom of the side lets out the hypo-laden water. The hose on this has a wire bail that hooks to the edge of the tub to control the water level.
Took me a couple of hours to make and has worked great for many years. 😎

 

[ibcrewin]

Ade/BS: Great! Thanks for the info!

Rlou:Thanks for the insight. I didn't know that. I'm planning on putting them in a coffee table type of book. Do the same rules apply?

I think I'm going to make some prints this week! I am so psyched!

 

[rlouzan]

How do you wash your prints?

No, just framed RC prints🙂

Ade/BS: Great! Thanks for the info!

Rlou:Thanks for the insight. I didn't know that. I'm planning on putting them in a coffee table type of book. Do the same rules apply?

I think I'm going to make some prints this week! I am so psyched!