It is important to tighten your press straps well for good pressing. This can be done more easily by using your foot to tighten the straps as demonstrated in this picture. There are special techniques for pressing seaweeds and other water plants. Put the mounting paper in a pan of water and float the plant onto the paper. Most seaweeds will glue themselves to the paper and make very attractive specimens.
Red algae are particularly beautiful when pressed.
Place wax paper or plastic between the seaweed and the newsprint or the seaweed will glue itself to the newsprint. Drying Specimens look best if dried by having air move over them. This is why sheets of corrugated cardboard are used in the press. Put the whole press in a warm, airy place until the specimens are completely dried out. The air temperature should be no more than 100 F or thereabouts.