Flattening prints

[wmd]

My only issue with using a display board like that would be possibly getting two creases down the middle of the print where the front two panels come together.

I'll let you know of any issues in that area (I'm still flattening that same print today, plus I added a couple more on top with craft paper between). I don't think a few phone books are heavy enough to crease the gaplines.

They're weighty enough to flatten, but not so much as to damage.

[kryptonite]

Got a big block of wood on 8 prints sandwiched between Kraft paper. Not flattening, been a while.

How much humidity would help with this? Obviously I assume too much is bad, so I want to make sure I get the right amount. Also, how long should I leave the humidifier on? 14hrs/day okay?

Cheers.

[Jah]

Was just wondering, what about prints that have embossed pieces on them, like Emek and Horkeys, if you put to much weight on to flatten I suppose you would be in danger of ruining the embossing

[iambillyg]

Was just wondering, what about prints that have embossed pieces on them, like Emek and Horkeys, if you put to much weight on to flatten I suppose you would be in danger of ruining the embossing

Not if you use weights from the link in my sig.

[kryptonite]

Got a big block of wood on 8 prints sandwiched between Kraft paper. Not flattening, been a while.

How much humidity would help with this? Obviously I assume too much is bad, so I want to make sure I get the right amount. Also, how long should I leave the humidifier on? 14hrs/day okay?

Cheers.

Anyone have an idea? Dealing with moisture is scary!

[electrachrome]

Anyone have an idea? Dealing with moisture is scary!

the only professional guideline I can give you is an ideal museum climate is around 42% relative humidity (rh).

[sixstringer]

Got a big block of wood on 8 prints sandwiched between Kraft paper. Not flattening, been a while.

2PC MAT BOARD
1 CLEAN/DRY IRON

Sandwich 1 print at a time between mat board and iron on it's very lowest setting. It should flatten those stubborn prints. I bought a drymount press on ebay and have used it for this with no issues. Just keep the heat low!

[kryptonite]

Anyone have an idea? Dealing with moisture is scary!

the only professional guideline I can give you is an ideal museum climate is around 42% relative humidity (rh).

Thanks—I looked up flattening w/ humidity online and decided not to try it. Far too many things that can go wrong.

Got a big block of wood on 8 prints sandwiched between Kraft paper. Not flattening, been a while.

2PC MAT BOARD
1 CLEAN/DRY IRON

Sandwich 1 print at a time between mat board and iron on it's very lowest setting. It should flatten those stubborn prints. I bought a drymount press on ebay and have used it for this with no issues. Just keep the heat low!

Thanks, bud. Flattening two prints at once right now. If that doesn't work I'll give this a try. Do you think there's any issue with leaving prints laying on top of each other (not flattening) between Kraft paper for two months? I figure flattening two prints may take two weeks.

Thanks guys

[lukin321]

Ok, so here's a noobish question since I want to try something different. Is it more the weight on top of a print or the position that you keep it in that makes the difference in how quickly something gets flattened. Currently I have a shit ton of books on top of a multi layered foam core sandwich and it works ok. I've seen people mention just holding the foam board together with binder clips but not using any direct weight. Does this work as well?

[mistersmith]

Ok, so here's a noobish question since I want to try something different. Is it more the weight on top of a print or the position that you keep it in that makes the difference in how quickly something gets flattened. Currently I have a shit ton of books on top of a multi layered foam core sandwich and it works ok. I've seen people mention just holding the foam board together with binder clips but not using any direct weight. Does this work as well?

I don't think weight is a super issue. The thing that makes paper want to be rolled is the paper fibers get used to laying that way. Over time, they'll prefer to lay straight again, so long as they are straight. Weight can speed that up I guess, but forcing the issue can't be as good for paper as just letting it do its thing. Being flat will make them flat.

Related: I always let the print chill on its own for a few days before weighing it down at all. Just take it out of the tube and put it somewhere safe, as-is. Over a few days you'll see it "open up," then I weigh it/sandwich it/etc. Probably better for the paper but much easier to handle (and really helps prevent those border "dimples" that happen from your finger and thumb holding the thing flat as it wants to roll back up).

[lukin321]

Thanks Chris that makes sense. I should have mentioned that I typically get a book on each corner right out of the tube and let them flatten for a day or two before moving them to the epic flattening station. So they wouldn't be going into the foam core sammy wanting to roll very much. I'm going to play around with it and see how it works out.

[camaroz06]

What gymnastic technique to you guys like to use to sandwich the prints that like to curl a bit even after sitting out for a few weeks? Usually I lay down foamcore, put down glassine, put the print on the glassine, weight it in the corners, lay down another piece of glassine on top the print, move the weights on top the glassine to hold the "glassine sandwich" down, and then slide another piece of foamcore over the glassine sandwich pushing the weights off as it slides. Anyone have a less tedious method?

[kryptonite]

Weight really doesn't do anything. Had like 60-80 pounds of MDF on top of my foamcore sandwich for THREE weeks and it did nothing. Left my prints lay flat with nothing on them for a while...only a little bit of curve. Just gotta put light poster weights on now and they'll be fine.

So odd!

[KennyRE317]

Weight really doesn't do anything. Had like 60-80 pounds of MDF on top of my foamcore sandwich for THREE weeks and it did nothing. Left my prints lay flat with nothing on them for a while...only a little bit of curve. Just gotta put light poster weights on now and they'll be fine.

So odd!

after messing with a few different options I've also found it to be better with weights or books on just the corner rather than in a huge sandwich with a lot of weight on top

[jlsc]

Just bought my first print and found this post extremely helpful. Thanks everyone.