Framing CLOUD 9 Prints

1. Do not immediately take the print out of the tube and look at it, put it back in the tube, and take it to the frame shop to have it framed. Such handling needlessly risks damaging or ruining the print before it is framed.

2. Be patient: Leave the print in the mailing tube, unopened, and take the tube to the frame shop, unopened.

3. At the frame shop, do what follows in this order:

1. Whomever is going to open the tube and handle the print should wash their hands and dry their hands and forearms thoroughly;
2. Leave the print inside the tube and prepare a large, flat, smooth, clean, DRY, LIQUID-MOISTURE FREE area. Seal up and put away all containers of any liquid;
3. AVOID WATER, LIQUIDS, MOISTURE. THE INK ON THESE PRINTS IS WATER SOLUBLE. LIQUID OF ANY KIND IS A MORTAL ENEMY to these prints;
4. Make certain the surface the print will be placed upon is dry. WARNING: If the print is placed down on a moist or wet surface and then rolled up, the moisture might leech through to the front of the print or will be transferred to the front of the print when it is rolled up, and that moisture will cause the water soluble ink to dissolve, ruining the print!;
5. Wear clean cotton gloves when handling the print [available at most better photography stores and frame shops];
6. No one with a cold, running noise, or who sneezes a lot, should handle the print;
7. Peel off the scotch tape that holds the plastic end caps to the tube;
8. If a plastic end cap will not come out easily by pulling on it with one's fingers, use a pair of pliers to grab the tab on the cap and pull the cap out;
9. Once a plastic end cap is removed, gently tap the open end on a clean, dry surface to nudge the print down toward the opening;
10. Once the print is near the opening, carefully pinch the white margin around the image and ultra carefully slowly pull the print out of the tube;
11. Do not touch the image itself. Touch only the white margin. I leave it there to help you handle the print without damaging it;
12. Once the print is out of the tube, proceed calmly, slowly, carefully;
13. If you feel like you are going to sneeze, turn your head and sneeze away from the print and try to cover your nose;
14. If you sneeze, clean your hand and leave the print inside the tube until the droplets in the air from your sneeze disappear;
15. If any droplet of any liquid gets on the print, LET THE DROPLET DRY—DO NOT TRY TO REMOVE THE DROPLET. ANY ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE DROPLET WILL SMEAR THE INK IT COVERS, which will damage the print;
16. and let the framer handle the print.

4. Have the frame shop person use archival [acid free, long lasting] materials and UV [ultraviolet] resistant glass or acrylic to protect the image from UV light.

5. If you follow this advice, a CLOUD 9 PHOTOGRAPHY print should last many years. I am told by those who know a great deal more about the technicalities that if you follow this advice the print should last as long as or longer than a photograph made the original way before the digital age.

Back to Home