U of S | Mailing List Archive | alt-photo-process-l | Re: VDB metal bleed in water bath

Re: VDB metal bleed in water bath

thanks for your replies Loris and Judy.
If I can get a hold of some, it seems that Tween 20 is the best plan of  action. I also came across some good info on Mike Ware's website in regards to the Argyrotype process:   
"If there is any 'bleeding' of colloidal silver metal, indicated by a red-brown stain running off dense areas of the image, then the paper fibres are failing to trap the colloidal silver particles, and it is likely that insufficient Tween has been used or the paper is unsuitable"

I have two questions: 
- I have been attempting to coat the paper in a higher humidity environment (it's very dry up here in canada) and have almost 50% RH, but I am exposing and processing at a different location. Is humidity also important just prior to and at the exposure stage?
- Would Photoflo work just as well as Tween? How much Photoflo would one add to the coating solution? Mike Ware includes Tween in his Argyrotype recipe at the amount of .2 cc in 100 cc solution. 
- any idea where on would find Tween 20 other than ordering from B&S? I'm in Toronto, for anyone reading from this neck of the woods. (oh, I'm sorry, that's three questions :)

Mike Ware's website Argyrotype page: 

thanks very much, 
david




On 21-Dec-06, at 2:56 AM, Loris Medici wrote:

You can try to use some Tween (or Ilfotol or Photoflo) in the coating
solution (additionally; try to humify the paper before coating) - it
seems you have coating solution absorbtion problems. I also occasionally
got bleeding w/ double coated Vandyke but not staining (I mean on a
perceptible / disturbing scale). Agitating more vigorously may help too.
You can switch to another paper with a better sizing or size before
using. (BTW, Sandy can provide you useful information about Stonehenge
and iron-silver processes; IIRC, he uses/used that paper extensively for
Kallitypes.)

Regards,
Loris.

-----Original Message-----
Sent: 21 Aralık 2006 Perşembe 06:44
Subject: VDB metal bleed in water bath


hello


Processing some VanDykes today, a number of them started 'bleeding'
from the masked borders. This bleeding  developed into stains. I tried
both leaving the print image size down in the initial water bath (with
very little agitation) and ,at the same time, not adding citric acid to
the water bath. This did work, for the most part . I'm thinking that it
was probably the inversion of the print which helped;  but,  could the
citric acid play a part in this problem?  If the initial water bath was
too acidic  could it cause bleediing? 
I should also say that I was printing on Stonehenge and the paper was
double coated. 
I have found very little information about this staining problem and was
hoping that someone might have some answers or at least a better remedy.
I also really like the look of stonehenge with palladium toned VDB and
am hesitant to switching papers.


thanks
david




david drake photography
www.daviddrakephotography.com

david drake photography
www.daviddrakephotography.com