Handling Fiber Paper in the Darkroom

Video Transcript

"When you're working with a fiber based paper you really need to use a lot more care than when you're working with an RC print. RC's are of course plastic and they can take a little bit more abuse than say one of these fiber based prints can take. I mean these really are a fibrous paper, so when you're picking up your print from the developing tray with your tongs, you want to make sure to not gouge it. You don't want to bend it. There's actually part of this paper that they actually call a spine and believe it or not you can really, you could break it and make this paper, your print feel awful. It will just not really stand up straight or when you matte it, it will have little bumps and creases all over it. Again, it's best if you're spending the time and the money, you want to do this part right. The other trick that I've learned over the years is that when I'm picking up a fiber print, I always try to put my tongs in the black part of the print. Luckily for me most of my work has a lot of black in it. But, I never try to pick up a print where the white is because that will show contamination or dings a lot quicker than the black part will."