Jim,

Depends on the paper.  If you're using RC (resin coated) paper, air
drying works great, but if you're using fiber paper you'd be much better
off using either a print dryer or a dry mount press with release paper.
Obviously, you'd want to clip off a bit of border or such to test
temperatures and adhesion properties, etc.  With extremely old papers, I
would NOT immerse the paper for any length of time - too many times I've
seen folks do this only to watch the emulsion float off the base.

Karl

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jim Felder [mailto:felder@knology.net]
> Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 9:07 AM
> To: Karl Wolz
> Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: ?Flattening Glossy Photos? - Absolutely NO Van Content.
>
> DON'T put them in a dry mount press. Put them in the bathroom sink and
> soak them for an hour.
>
> Then put them face-on to the mirror. If you have a roller or brayer,
> roll the backs until the air bubbles are out.
>
> Drain the sink.
>
> When the photos are dry, they will pop off.
>
> I've saw my grandfather do this a hundred times, and I've done it a
few
> myself.
>
> Jim
>
> On Mar 14, 2005, at 9:54 AM, Karl Wolz wrote:
>
> > Good advice, John.  Whenever I get in a situation where I'm working
on
> > irreplaceable items, I call in the experts.
> >
> > However, if put on the spot, my advice would be to slightly moisten
the
> > emulsion side by spraying distilled water out of a trigger spray
> > bottle,
> > letting them sit for a few minutes for the emulsion to soften (if
it's
> > old, it has gotten brittle) and them reshape them in a dry mount
press.
> > You may be able to gain access to a dry mount press at a local
college
> > or such (they tend to be real pricey).
> >
> > Just pressure doesn't really do the job.
> >
> > Karl Wolz
> >
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> > Behalf Of
> >> John Rodgers
> >> Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 5:34 AM
> >> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >> Subject: Re: ?Flattening Glossy Photos? - Absolutely NO Van
Content.
> >>
> >> George Goff wrote:
> >>
> >>> I would like to beg the indulgence of all and the help of any
> > resident
> >>> photographers on the List.
> >>>
> >>> My Sweetheart has been sorting through the wartime (WW II) photos
of
> > her
> >>> father.  The ones which were in an album are amazingly fresh
looking,
> > but the
> >>> dozens of glossy, black and white snapshots which were stored in
> > boxes have
> >> curled
> >>> severely.  Is there a good and proper way to flatten them?  I've
> > weighted
> >>> some of them with volumes of the Britannica, but after a couple of
> > weeks they
> >>> have not flattened very much.
> >>>
> >>> Also, is glassine of mylar the better envelope material for long
tern
> > photo
> >>> storage?
> >>>
> >>> Thanks one and all,
> >>> George
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >> George,
> >>
> >> Check with a GOOD photo shop or a professional photographer. Also
> > check
> >> with your local or otherwise museum. Most museums have either on
their
> >> staff or are connected to professional restorers. They will have
> >> information you can use.
> >>
> >> Regards,
> >>
> >> John Rodgers
> >> 88 GL Driver
> >