Re: Gum Humidity Question

[Diana Bloomfield <dhbloomfield@bellsouth.net>]

Well, I just caught up reading the posts on this gum humidity issue,  
and this is the first time I have ever been able to follow anything  
at all about gum--in any way-- on this list.  So, naturally, I feel I  
have to chime in here.

I really just wanted to add that I was fortunate enough to be in  
Kerik's workshop this past weekend in Philadelphia at Project Basho,  
and without a doubt, it was one of the best workshops I've ever  
encountered-- informative, detailed, very hands-on (we all made tons  
of prints all day Sat and all day Sunday)--and it was fun.   It was  
really a great group, too, and I know we all learned  a lot.  I am  
one of the least technically-oriented people I know, and I was very  
impressed with the way Kerik managed to get all this information  
across in such a low-key and easy-to-understand way.  He is also very  
patient.  I know I sound like a paid announcement here, but while I'm  
at it, I may as well add that Project Basho is offering some terrific  
workshops and classes.  The owner, Tsuyoshi Ito, is a very talented  
photographer himself, and a fine host!  So, for my money, the gum  
over workshop was definitely worthwhile--very impressive.

Also, while the humidity was exceedingly high, I don't think the  
development problems were nearly as bad as Kerik has stated.  No  
sandpaper was actually used/harmed in this process. :)  I am glad  
that the issue occurred, though, since I'm living in NC, where the  
humidity is always high--so that experience was very useful.  Better  
that it occurred in a workshop setting, where someone knows what's  
happening, than have it happen to me here at home, alone, and totally  
clueless.  I'm also going to be including some of the prints I made  
in the workshop in this current portfolio exchange, so if anybody  
here is on that list to receive it, you can see the results.

I'll return to my usual lurking status now, but I'm definitely going  
to purchase one of those hygrometers. Thanks!

~Diana




On Sep 26, 2006, at 7:32 PM, ericawd wrote:

> I use a hygrometer I purchased at Home Depot for about $20.00.  It  
> works
> quite well for my purposes.  I can tell you that much above 55%  
> RH,  the
> process does not work.  I think what happens is the solution  
> leaches into
> the gelatin and causes major stain.  This is from my personal  
> experience.
>
> As far as low RH, the RH dropped to 27% last winter here in Memphis  
> and the
> solution set up way to fast to be able to work it properly.  (I had  
> to buy a
> humidifier.)
>
> I have a dehumidifier for the summer months and keep it in the  
> 49-52 range.
> We had our first cold front of the fall and the humidity dropped
> significantly.  The results were rather unexpected-more contrast  
> that I had
> been getting from the same neg.  At first I chalked it up to the  
> vagaries of
> gum, but then I thought about it and started thinking about the  
> drop of
> about 7% I had experienced.
>
> I have only been aware of the effect of RH on gum for the past  
> year.  This
> will be the second winter cycle.  I will see what happens.  I was  
> wondering
> what others have experienced.
>
> Thank you for your input.  Good luck finding a decent hygrometer.
>
> Candace Spearman
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Katharine Thayer" <kthayer@pacifier.com>
> To: <alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca>
> Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2006 5:11 PM
> Subject: Re: Gum Humidity Question