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Author Topic: Small black mark on white mat - can it be saved?  (Read 2103 times)

uintaangler

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Small black mark on white mat - can it be saved?
« on: April 21, 2016, 05:28:14 pm »

I was getting ready to drop a 16 x 20 print already in an archival white mat into the frame when I noticed a small ( 3/16" ) black mark - top central on the white mat
I tried to erase it with a gum pencil eraser and that helped a bit but it is still noticeable
Is there anything I can do short of re-matting this particular image?
Thanks.
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alain

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Re: Small black mark on white mat - can it be saved?
« Reply #1 on: April 21, 2016, 05:46:54 pm »

I was getting ready to drop a 16 x 20 print already in an archival white mat into the frame when I noticed a small ( 3/16" ) black mark - top central on the white mat
I tried to erase it with a gum pencil eraser and that helped a bit but it is still noticeable
Is there anything I can do short of re-matting this particular image?
Thanks.

You could try with rubber cement.  Has worked for me on some occasions, depends on the mark off course.  Try first on a scrap piece. 
Using a gum pencil eraser will probably leave some marks.
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shadowblade

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Re: Small black mark on white mat - can it be saved?
« Reply #2 on: April 22, 2016, 03:22:02 am »

Is it two-sided?

If so, just flip it around.
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Ernst Dinkla

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Re: Small black mark on white mat - can it be saved?
« Reply #3 on: April 22, 2016, 03:47:28 am »

I was getting ready to drop a 16 x 20 print already in an archival white mat into the frame when I noticed a small ( 3/16" ) black mark - top central on the white mat
I tried to erase it with a gum pencil eraser and that helped a bit but it is still noticeable
Is there anything I can do short of re-matting this particular image?
Thanks.

Never use a gum pencil eraser. Scrape with a surgical knife. When it is too deeply penetrated you have to accept a print loss, ... if it does not fall behind the matte. You could dig deeper with the knife point and fill the hole with scraped inkjet coating from a wasted piece of paper. Compress, drop a bit of poly vinyl alcohol aka gloss enhancer to bond it. There are some ethical rules what is acceptable and what not in repairing a new print ........


Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst

http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm
January 2016 update, 700+ inkjet media white spectral plots
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uintaangler

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Re: Small black mark on white mat - can it be saved?
« Reply #4 on: April 22, 2016, 06:14:14 am »

Ernst, the mark is on the white mat, not the print
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Ernst Dinkla

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Re: Small black mark on white mat - can it be saved?
« Reply #5 on: April 22, 2016, 06:33:19 am »

Ernst, the mark is on the white mat, not the print

Sorry, sometimes I read too fast, had white margins in mind.


Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst

http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm
January 2016 update, 700+ inkjet media white spectral plots
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Paul2660

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Re: Small black mark on white mat - can it be saved?
« Reply #6 on: April 22, 2016, 07:17:48 am »

Pure cotton rag mat?, more than likely it's a seed, or part of a seed.  The best solution, is to take a very sharp point from a no 11 blade, x-acto or similar and try to pick out the spot.  If you can get the spot out, then you can try erasing around the area where the spot was to even it out a bit. 

I mainly use Bainbridge, or Crescent mats here in the US and have seen this issue with both brands, mainly on the 100% pure cotton rag, but have also seen it with the bright core line also.

Paul C
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Paul Caldwell
Little Rock, Arkansas U.S.
www.photosofarkansas.com

pearlstreet

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Re: Small black mark on white mat - can it be saved?
« Reply #7 on: April 28, 2016, 12:46:13 pm »

I never have any luck getting rid of marks. The surface of mats is so smooth that anything you do shows...sometimes only at an angle, but it shows. Good luck with this. If you find a method that works, I'd like to hear about it.
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ripgriffith

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Re: Small black mark on white mat - can it be saved?
« Reply #8 on: April 28, 2016, 01:03:22 pm »

top central on the white mat
If you are heavily invested in using this mat, perhaps it's time to defy convention and sign your mat where the mark is, incorporating the mark into your signature.
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William Chitham

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Re: Small black mark on white mat - can it be saved?
« Reply #9 on: April 29, 2016, 06:29:40 am »

My strategy:
1. Inspect with magnifying glass.
2. Scrape worst off with scalpel.
3. Rub with clean eraser.
4. Inspect again under strong side light.
5. Get a new mat.
The marked one then goes on a pile "just in case". 6-8 months later I throw it away.
Works for me.
William.
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Paul2660

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Re: Small black mark on white mat - can it be saved?
« Reply #10 on: April 29, 2016, 08:01:54 am »

I forgot the eraser part, good catch.  Once you pick out the spot, then the eraser will help to even out the area.  It is very dependent on the spot, i.e. how deep it is and it's size.  However this is not uncommon with rag or other types of mats from Crescent or Bainbridge.

Paul C
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Paul Caldwell
Little Rock, Arkansas U.S.
www.photosofarkansas.com

Miles

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Re: Small black mark on white mat - can it be saved?
« Reply #11 on: April 29, 2016, 08:31:32 am »

I have had some luck using the white plastic type eraser (Pentel Hi-Polymer Eraser).  I find you can be more aggressive with this type.  Good luck.
Miles
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