U of S | Mailing List Archive | alt-photo-process-l | Re: dark gums

Re: dark gums



On Jan 23, 2007, at 6:05 PM, ilana wrote:


However, before reading your
email my plan for tomorrow was to separate the image into 3 negs-- RGB--but
print them all black. But after reading your advice on controlling exposure
and pigment I think I can print one negative with a full range and get what
I want with multiple layers. In fact, I'm realizing that that is the only
way to go, and that is a benefit of printing with gum.
Actually, either way works fine, but I think I prefer the RGB approach when I have the image on color film; I like the way it separates the tones out. (Something you'll learn about gum as you go along: there's no such thing as "the only way to go" when it comes to gum.)


One question though, with the multiple printing/adding pigment, can I have
my sensitize solution [gum, pigment and dichromate] mixed and then add
pigment to it? [what length of time--if any--will the light sensitive
mixture last?] Or do I need to add pigment to the gum each time, and then
mix it with the dichromate?
You can premix the gum and the pigment, but the dichromate must be added fresh each time; the light sensitive mixture is good for only for a printing session. I've had a mix last for five or six hours, but you shouldn't count even on that.

Katharine

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