Ok, this is pretty straightforward. I don’t tone my prints until I have a fair amount to do, so after fine prints have been made they go straight into the wash. My method is to first wash the prints in a Zone VI Washing Machine for five minutes. Prints float face up in the large tray-like washer. Fresh water flows over the prints, and then drains out the bottom. The prints are then removed and placed in an upright Zone VI Archival Print Washer for about an hour and a half. This washer and many others like it work on a similar principal. Each print is separated by a thin piece of Plexiglas. Water flows in the top on one end and out the other. The Washing Machine measures about 21x14x7. I have two uprights, one for 8x10s and another much larger one designed for 16×20 prints and double the amount of 8x10s. Don’t be misled. Archival washing is a must for long-term preservation of your work, especially if you make fiber prints (I hope you don’t use RC!). Is the double wash overkill? Don’t know, but it works for me.
When the prints have been sufficiently washed they are removed and placed face up on drying screens made of the same material used for outdoor window screens. In fact that is what they look like. Zone VI made mine, but you could easily make them yourself. I know many people dry their prints face down, but that never made sense to me. What if there was something that got onto the screens and dried onto or contaminated your prints? When I built the base of my wooden sink I designed a space for four screens that can hold up to six 8×10 prints. This design enables me slide the screens in and out so I can easily place prints on the screen and remove them when dry, but also to allows convenient access for the occasional washing of the screen material. I used to squeegee my prints before placing them on the screens but I don’t do that anymore. The prints lay on the screens overnight and air dry. Next morning they’re bone dry and ready to be stored in an archival box marked “To Be Toned”. Not very exciting but essential!
Stay safe,
Michael
My process is similar I use a RC washer for a couple of minutes right after fixing and then put prints into a tray of water until I am finished printing, then all go into a archival washer. What kind of fixer do you use? I have started using Formulary TF-4 Archival Rapid Fixer which says to wash for not longer than 35 minutes. I use hypo test and find they are washed in that time. Do you have experience with TF-4?
Robert,
Thanks for weighing in! I used to use TF-4, but changed to TF-5 several years ago, based on discussions with Photographer’s Formulary. Not sure how much difference there is between the two fixers to tell you the truth. It sounds like your approach is sound and gives you the results you need. Maybe I have a little built in overkill to mine, but I have been doing the same thing for years. I recommend speaking with the Formulary folk about the difference between the two fixers. I have always found them to be helpful.
Best,
Michael
Thank you. My mistake, I am actually using TF-5.
Thanks Robert. Let me know how it goes.
Best,
Michael