MorseBlog

As I put the new print cabinet I built to work I am contemplating improvements. One issue is the inevitable curl of fiber-based paper prints. This can reduce the amount of space available or lead to damage to the prints as the drawers are opened or closed. I have considered a number of ideas and seem to be settling on one simple solution I prototyped last night. I bought some 3mm elastic cord and some fabric hooks. I fixed one half of the fabric hook to the inside of the drawer front in the center and then threaded the elastic cord through the other half of the fabric hook before threading the ends into hole drilled in the drawer back corners. (I have tied the ends off in knots to secure the ends but I will need to find another solution as the knots are large enough to prevent the drawers from closing completely.)  The attachment of the cord ends and fabric hook to the drawer was done as low as possible so that when in use it exerts a downward pull.  Fabric Hook on Elastic Co...

Introduction Fiber-based print flattening has a lot of suggested solutions, not all of them have been very satisfactory to me. When I first started print fiber-based paper in earnest I researched different suggestions on forums. They varied from very simple to more complex. There are lots of solutions and many people have their favorite method.  Hang the prints back to back (this was never very satisfactory for me). Sandwich the prints between sheets of blotter paper that is weighted with books. (I only got moldy prints from this.)  Vacuum bags. (never tried) Use of watercolor tape (this lead to this solution  I am not here to challenge other techniques just share what works for me.  The solution I settled on back in 2014 was based on a method that used water color tape which  has a water based adhesive. The idea was as the print dried the paper shrunk and the taped edges held the paper in tension and ...