Archiving qualities of untoned VC fibre paper

greenspun.com : LUSENET : B&W Photo - Printing & Finishing : One Thread

I'm about to embark on a portfolio's worth of prints, all of my best friend's daughter which I have taken over tha last few years. I want to give her something nice since she may be leaving for New York.

I want to use MGWT fibre, but I don't like what happens to the tone even after 10 seconds in 1:20 selenium, there is a barely perceptable change in the tone as soon as this Ilford paper is immersed in even very dilute selenium. I like this paper best untoned.

My question, then, is how long should the prints last if they are kept in a plastic-sleeved portfolio, and rarely ever opened as I suspect will be the case? Should I be looking for 'good' archival portfolio material?

-- shawn (shawngibson_prophoto@yahoo.com), June 06, 2000

Answers

With a two bath fix, and good wash at least 100 years (based on historical photos).

-- Bill Mitchell (bmitch@home.com), June 06, 2000.

I also use Ilford MG iv FB.

I use selenium toner at about 1:30 and find that a few minutes of toning richens the blacks and gives the photos more pop without a noticeable (to me) change in tone.

Of course, my darkroom has fluorescent lighting (which has almost no red in it) so maybe I'm just not seeing the color shift.

Ilford claims well-washed prints stored in a reasonable environment (New York City may not qualify, last time I breathed there) will outlive us all.

-- Don Karon (dkaron@socal.rr.com), June 07, 2000.


Hi Shawn,

if you want to stabilize your prints without a change of print tone you could use Agfa4s Sistan. It is a image silver stabilizer which does not effect the print tone and stabilizes your prints. It is to be used after the wash.

Wolfgang

-- Wolfgang Holz (wolfgangrh@gmx.net), June 07, 2000.


Sistan, eh? I keep hearing about that stuff, but I thouhgt it was an HCA. What is the chemistry which allows it to archive and not affect the tone? Does anyone have any 5- 10-year experience with it? Just curious, I'm gonna go buy some regardless, and try to find a .pdf at Agfa...thanks. shawn

-- shawn (shawngibson_prophoto@yahoo.com), June 07, 2000.

Hi Shawn,

Re. Sistan: I've been using it for two years now (not enough time to tell) and my print appear fine. Ctein and Steve Anchell have some good/great things to say about it and based on the findings of some of their work, I tried it. One of them did some accellerated tests in a sunny window for 6 months. The Sistan treated print showed slight damage, but the untreated print was significantly damaged. It also has the properties of a wetting agent and will help your prints dry spot free.

Regards,

-- Pete Caluori (pcaluori@hotmail.com), June 07, 2000.



I can't recall the reference (look for posts by Richard Knoppow on usenet) but a study showed that selenium toner will not extend image life unless it is used long enough to produce an image change whereas a sulfide toner like Kodak Brown toner does not need to be used long enough for an image change.

-- Tim Brown (brownt@ase.com), June 07, 2000.

Sistan sound perfect, thanks guys. I will definitely 2-step fix, as per Adams, which I don't usually do (I just use fresh fixer and HCA usually...).

shawn

-- shawn (shawngibson_prophoto@yahoo.com), June 07, 2000.


Sistan is a rhodanide solution. The rhodanide left in the emulsion after the application of Sistan is claimed to catch any silver ion produced through oxidation, light, etc. before it migrates. It then precipitates the silver ion in the form of insoluble clolour-neutral and very inert silver rhodanide.

-- Thomas Wollstein (thomas_wollstein@web.de), June 08, 2000.

My print collection dates back 30+ years. All of the fibre based prints which have been kept in black plastic bags are as good as new. I've never bothered with toning, and I've only ever used an acid hardening fixer. However, I've always washed my prints for at least the manufacturers recommended time. I've never heard of Sistan, it sounds like a lavatory cleaner to me.

The only print that's shown any deterioration is one I've had hanging behind glass over a Gas fire for some years. It's developed a few brown patches where the glass wasn't in perfect contact with the print. Obviously the fumes from the fire have re-acted with the silver (and I probably ought to get the fire checked for safety).

-- Pete Andrews (p.l.andrews@bham.ac.uk), June 08, 2000.


I recommend Agfa sistan too. I treat all my MC paper in Sistan and my chlorbromide paper in Selenium/browntoner.

-- Patric (jenspatric@mail.bip.net), June 15, 2000.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ