Some Kallitype observations
Hello All, I would like to share some recent observations using the Kallitype procedure. Papers: Stonehenge B side (STHG-B) prints better than the other side. Sidedness was determined by sxs comparison of marked sides. Arches Platine (AP 310 gsm) needs less expo than STHG-B, & yields richer, more lustrous tones than STHG-B Graphix Vellum48 shows greater detail than AP Gelatin-sized, formaldehyde-hardened AP and STHG-B produce sharper prints with cleaner highlights than unsized controls. Unsized paper produces delicate softer prints with subtler colors. Graphix Vellum 48: - pre-coat with oxalic acid - use 2 coats of emulsion - exposure will not produce a visible image. So pre-establish exposure w steptab - Pd toner >> cool browns; Au toner >> cool B/W AP or STHG-B: - do not need an oxalic acid pre-coat - one thin coat works well; Dry it, equilibrate paper to room conditions, then expose. Emulsion: - a 6:4 AgNO3:FO mix works better IME than the 5:5 - additives (Au, Pd or Pt) block up shads; this may be corrected by decreasing exposure - Steptab prints indicate that tonal separations are cleaner when additives are omitted. Exposure: Optimum exposure is reached when shadows print a medium-dark ochre. Developer: - 4% KOX develops the print slowly to a cool brown after 5' of development. There was no observable bronzing. - With increasing concentration ( 5, 10 and 20% KOX), development is rapid and proceeds to B/W, bronzing occurs in shadows, and prints are muddier. Toner effects depend on: - the presence of additive in the emulsion - sizing of paper - possibly local factors (water composition, temperature, humidity, etc) - selenium toning (cheap toner!) of sized AP coated with the 6:4 mix printed in cool browns, and showed good detail across tonal range. I have found Sandy King's and Carmen Lizardo's Kallitype publications very helpful. Please feel free to comment/confirm/complement the above. Rajul
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