U of S | Mailing List Archive | alt-photo-process-l | gum printing ratios

gum printing ratios



Hello all,
Thanks for all the help you've given so far--I've been working for 3 weeks
and have made 2 successful prints. I've been doing lots of testing and in
discussion with another gum printer [that my first prints worked and the
latest ones are not] I was telling her that I thought I was getting a handle
on the process when we got into a little disagreement.

So here is the question for everyone: when altering the ratio of gum to
pigment, do most people add a little more gum to get less pigment. And if
so, should the dichromate amount be equal to the total amount of those two?
My friend said that I should always use the exact same stock [which I have
mixed at 1:2 pigment to gum--from there I have been adding pigment or gum
depending] and alter the amount of dichromate? Her way did not work.

I finally understand what each part of the equation will do to my print--but
I'm having trouble deciding which variable should remain constant. Maybe
it's hard without seeing my prints...