Re: dark gums
Ilana, The advice that Jack, Catherine, Gordon, and others have already given you is good advice and I don't know if I can add much to their words. As Jack said, gum is a "short scale" process in general, as, say, compared to platinum. So to do one coat dark gums your negs would have to match that short scale. However, I am assuming you are multiple printing, no? And with digital negatives or in camera? All these things make a difference. And after looking at many gums in the Eastman House archives done around the 1900's when the reigning aesthetic was REALLY dark--e.g. some with the highest highlight only about middle grey--I can assure you, dark gums are as possible as anything, as Jack Brubaker said. The neat thing about gum is you can print layer upon layer upon layer so if it isn't dark enough for you, do another layer. As far as I am concerned, a gum print is never done until it is matted, so I tend to mat my gums to keep my hands off of them. The usual recommendation is to do a lightly pigmented long exposure first to print the whole print, then add more pigment to the next layer and print again, and then the final shadow layer add even more pigment and print again, or even shorten the exposure. More pigment added will naturally decrease the exposure anyway. I think the usual number of layers around 1900's was 3-6, and some even did up to 15--which is certainly not necessary.... However, Catherine suggested a carbon pigment and this is also great advice. There is one watercolor pigment that actually has carbon pigment in it--Maimeri Carbon Black pbk7. Otherwise, you can buy the pigment powder but be prepared--it is really fluffy and messy! I think that is all for today. Chris ----- Original Message ----- From: "ilana" <ilanamahala@adelphia.net> To: <alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca> Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 7:51 AM Subject: dark gums Hi all,
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