gum beginnings

[Laura Valentino <laura@this.is>]

Hi everyone, I finally got set up with a workshop space, gathered my
materials and arranged my schedule to begin my gum printing...so
yesterday and today I jumped right in and started printing. My results
were a little on the faded side...I increased the exposure time, which
helped a bit, but increasing it even more didn't really help more. Maybe
I just need more pigment? Or more layers?

One question I have is about the potassium metabisulfate (it came in a
kit, no instructions), which I had thought was a fixing agent, but turns
out is a clearing agent. Does that mean I develop the print in that
solution? What I actually did, was develop in plain water, then put it
in the clearing solution bath. The color seemed to just slide off when
I put it in the clearing bath!

Another question I have is about sizing. I was using paper that I had
sized myself years ago by dipping in gelatin hardened with formalin. Now
I want to size some new paper with a smoother surface (the old paper was
cold pressed). I think I will use the brush on method. What I have is
250 Bloom Gelatin (a powder) and Glyoxal solution. Do I just mix the
gelatin in cold water, or does it have to be heated? Can I mix a big
batch and just add glyoxal to small amounts as needed, or do I only mix
what I'm going to use at the time? And lastly, is the paper only sized
once, or do you have to size again between colors?

Hope that's not too many questions. Links to websites that explain this
better would also be appreciated. Thanks so much!

Best regards,
Laura